Sixth Diamond Rig Deployed to Boost 2025 Exploration Campaign
Strickland Metals Ltd drilling program at Rogozna has significantly ramped up exploration at its 7.4Moz AuEq Rogozna Gold and Base Metals Project in Serbia with the addition of a sixth diamond drill rig. This strategic expansion of drilling capacity underscores the company's commitment to aggressively advancing what is shaping up to be one of Europe's most promising gold projects.
The new rig will focus specifically on the highly prospective Gradina Deposit, where multiple high-grade gold lodes extend over an impressive ~1,000m strike length and 900m vertical extent. This deployment forms part of Strickland's comprehensive exploration strategy across the project, which now includes:
- Two rigs upgrading the 5.3Moz AuEq Shanac Deposit
- Three rigs conducting in-fill and extensional drilling at Gradina
- One rig focused on new discovery exploration at the Obradov Potok Prospect
With $33.8 million in cash and Northern Star (NST) shares as of the December Quarter, Strickland is well-funded to deliver what it describes as "the largest-ever exploration program at Rogozna" throughout 2025.
Gradina Deposit: The Golden Opportunity
The Gradina Deposit is emerging as a potentially game-changing asset within Strickland's Rogozna portfolio. Previous drilling totaling more than 20,000m has delineated multiple high-grade gold lodes with remarkable characteristics:
- Thickness ranging from 5m to 30m
- Extension over ~1,000m of strike and 900m of vertical extent
- Open in all directions, including up-dip toward surface
- Gold-dominant profile with approximately 90% of metal content being gold
The 2025 Strickland Metals Ltd drilling program at Rogozna will include more than 20,000m of diamond drilling, with key objectives to extend mineralisation up-dip towards surface and demonstrate continuity of the high-grade gold lodes. This work will support a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate scheduled for delivery in late 2025.
What makes Gradina particularly interesting is its gold-rich nature. While other deposits at Rogozna contain significant base metal components, Gradina's mineralogy is heavily weighted toward gold, with zinc and copper each contributing only about 5% of the metal content. In today's record-high gold price environment, this characteristic could position Gradina to challenge the larger Shanac deposit as the preferred stage one development option once its maiden resource is established.
Understanding Skarn Deposits: Why Rogozna's Geology Matters to Investors
Rogozna hosts skarn-style mineralisation, a deposit type that often creates large, predictable ore bodies with excellent economic potential. Skarn deposits form when intrusive magma interacts with carbonate rocks (limestone or dolomite), creating ideal conditions for mineral deposition.
For investors, skarn deposits offer several advantages:
- Predictability: Skarn deposits typically follow geological boundaries in a predictable manner, reducing exploration risk
- Scale potential: They often form large, continuous mineralised zones
- Polymetallic opportunity: The ability to produce multiple valuable metals (in Rogozna's case: gold, copper, silver, lead, and zinc)
- Mining friendly: Generally amenable to efficient bulk mining methods
At Gradina specifically, the strong pyrrhotite alteration with subordinate pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and galena creates a distinctive mineralisation signature. The gold-dominant nature of this skarn (90% gold content) differentiates it from the more polymetallic profile of other deposits at Rogozna.
Rogozna Project Timeline and Next Steps
The intensive Strickland Metals Ltd drilling program at Rogozna is building momentum across multiple fronts, with several critical milestones anticipated:
- Ongoing drilling: Six rigs now operating across the property
- Data analysis: Processing results from recently completed holes at Shanac, Gradina, and Red Creek
- Resource development: Working toward a maiden Mineral Resource at Gradina in late 2025
- Deposit expansion: Continuing to grow the overall Rogozna resource beyond its current 7.4Moz AuEq
The company has already reported progress with two holes completed at Shanac, one at Gradina, and another at the Red Creek Prospect. Results from these holes are pending and will be released once received.
Investment Thesis: Why Strickland Stands Out
Strickland presents a compelling investment case based on several key factors:
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Scale: The Rogozna Project already hosts 7.4Moz AuEq across three deposits (Shanac, Medenovac, and Copper Canyon), with significant expansion potential
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Resource growth trajectory: The current resource includes:
- Shanac: 5.30Moz AuEq (150Mt at 1.1g/t AuEq)
- Medenovac: 1.28Moz AuEq (21Mt at 1.9g/t AuEq)
- Copper Canyon: 0.81Moz AuEq (28Mt at 0.9g/t AuEq)
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Exploration upside: Addition of Gradina to the resource inventory could significantly increase the overall project scale
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Strong financial position: $33.8 million in cash and NST shares provides ample funding for aggressive exploration
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Strategic location: Serbia offers access to European infrastructure and markets
The quality of Rogozna's mineralisation is particularly noteworthy. The Medenovac deposit boasts the highest grade at 1.9g/t AuEq, while Shanac contributes the largest portion of the overall resource with 5.30Moz AuEq. The addition of Gradina could enhance both the grade and size profile of the overall project.
Why Investors Should Follow Strickland's Rogozna Journey
Strickland Metals represents an opportunity to gain exposure to a rapidly advancing European gold and base metals project at a critical stage of development. Several compelling factors make this an attractive story to monitor:
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Resource growth phase: The company is in the value-creating phase of defining and expanding resources
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Exploration momentum: Six drilling rigs now accelerating discoveries and resource definition
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Gold-dominant profile: Particularly at Gradina, where gold comprises approximately 90% of the metal content
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Financial strength: Well-funded with $33.8 million to support extensive exploration programs
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European location: Strategic positioning in a mining-friendly European jurisdiction
The recent deployment of a sixth diamond rig at Rogozna demonstrates Strickland's commitment to rapidly advancing this asset. Managing Director Paul L'Herpiniere's comment that this move will "continue to accelerate exploration across the 7.4Moz AuEq Rogozna Project to take the resource and project scale to the next level" signals the company's aggressive growth strategy.
As Strickland continues to release drilling results throughout 2025 and works toward a maiden resource estimate at Gradina, investors will gain increasing clarity on the full scale and potential of the Rogozna Project. With gold prices near historical highs and the project's gold-dominant nature, Strickland appears well-positioned to capitalise on favourable market conditions.
Wondering How to Capitalise on Europe's Next Major Gold Project?
Discover more about Strickland Metals' ambitious Rogozna Project and their accelerated six-rig exploration programme that's rapidly developing their 7.4Moz AuEq resource in Serbia. With a strong financial position of $33.8 million and a gold-dominant deposit emerging at Gradina, Strickland presents a compelling investment opportunity in the European precious metals sector. Visit Strickland Metals' website to delve deeper into their growth strategy and stay updated on upcoming drilling results throughout 2025.
