Marmota Commences Ambitious 10,000m Drill Program at Greenewood Gold Discovery
Marmota Limited (ASX: MEU) has officially launched its maiden drilling program at the Greenewood gold discovery, marking a significant expansion of the company's Gawler Craton gold portfolio. The comprehensive program includes 127 planned RC holes totaling 10,000 meters of drilling, with operations already progressing at an impressive pace of over 300 meters per day.
The drilling campaign represents Marmota's first exploration at Greenewood and the first drilling activity at the site since 2018. This strategic expansion comes at an opportune time, with gold prices currently trading at approximately A$5,000 per ounce—nearly triple the price when Greenewood was last drilled.
Ambitious Drilling Campaign Set to Transform Greenewood
The newly launched program will more than double the total number of RC holes at Greenewood, addressing the limitations of previous exploration work where many existing holes appear to have been drilled too shallow. The campaign includes:
- 127 planned RC holes with an average depth of 79 meters
- 10,000 meters of total RC drilling
- Drilling scheduled to continue throughout July and into August
This represents a significant scaling up of exploration at Greenewood, which has seen minimal drilling compared to Marmota's flagship Aurora Tank deposit. Prior to this program, Greenewood had only received 8,245 meters of total drilling across 126 holes:
| Hole Type | Number of Holes | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| RAB | 12 | 372 m |
| RC | 109 | 7,109 m |
| Diamond | 5 | 764 m |
| Total | 126 | 8,245 m |
Strategic Expansion of Marmota's Gawler Gold Project
Greenewood is strategically positioned within Marmota's growing Gawler Gold project portfolio:
- Located ~35km northwest of Marmota's flagship Aurora Tank gold deposit
- Positioned ~30km northeast of the Challenger Gold mine
- Forms part of the new Golden Moon JV with partner Coombedown Resources
- Marmota holds a 90% ownership stake through its Half Moon entity
The recent ministerial consent to the Golden Moon title transfers (announced June 23, 2025) has cleared the way for this accelerated exploration program, allowing Marmota to capitalise on the favourable gold price environment.
"Marmota's Gawler gold project is progressing beautifully. As our flagship Aurora Tank gold deposit progresses through production-related studies, we are delighted to carry out our maiden program at the nearby Greenewood gold deposit. Marmota is developing a pipeline of adjacent gold deposits, as we rapidly grow and expand our Gawler gold project."
— Dr. Colin Rose, Chairman, Marmota Limited
Understanding RC Drilling: Why It Matters for Gold Exploration
Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling is the method of choice for Marmota's Greenewood program, and for good reason. RC drilling uses high-pressure air to drive a hammer bit and bring samples to the surface through an inner tube, preventing contamination and providing reliable samples.
For gold investors, the choice of RC drilling is significant because:
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Cost-effective exploration: RC drilling delivers quality samples at roughly half the cost of diamond drilling, allowing companies like Marmota to maximise their exploration budget.
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Rapid results: With drilling progressing at over 300 meters per day, RC drilling enables faster exploration and quicker assay results than alternative methods.
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Reliable data: RC drilling provides representative samples with minimal contamination, crucial for accurately determining gold grades and deposit characteristics.
This drilling technique is particularly well-suited to the type of near-surface gold mineralisation typically found in the Gawler Craton, giving investors greater confidence in the quality of upcoming results.
Strategic Timing with Gold Price at Historic Highs
Marmota's expansion at Greenewood comes amid exceptionally favourable market conditions for gold producers and developers. The current gold price of approximately A$5,000 per ounce represents:
- A 212% increase from when Greenewood was last drilled in 2018 (~A$1,600)
- A historically high price level that significantly enhances project economics
- An ideal environment for expanding resource inventories
This price environment dramatically improves the economic potential of gold discoveries, with even moderate-grade deposits potentially offering robust returns. For Marmota, this timing could not be better as the company works to build a pipeline of development projects.
Building a Multi-Deposit Gold Hub in the Gawler Craton
Marmota is strategically positioning itself with multiple gold deposits in close proximity, creating potential operational synergies and economies of scale. The company's Gawler Gold project now includes:
- Aurora Tank (100% owned) – Marmota's flagship discovery featuring bonanza gold grades near surface and excellent metallurgical recovery results
- Golden Moon JV deposits (including Greenewood) – Located close to Aurora Tank, creating obvious economies of scope and scale
- WGCJV gold deposits at Monsoon and Typhoon (MEU: 100% of gold rights)
This hub-and-spoke approach could potentially allow for centralised processing facilities serving multiple mining operations, optimising capital efficiency and operational costs.
Why Investors Should Track Marmota's Greenewood Progress
Marmota's Greenewood drilling program represents a compelling investment catalyst for several reasons:
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Significant scale-up in exploration: The 10,000-meter program will more than double all previous RC drilling at the property, providing a much more comprehensive understanding of the gold potential.
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Strategic timing with gold prices: With gold prices at record Australian dollar levels, new discoveries have enhanced economic potential.
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Proximity to existing discoveries: The location near Aurora Tank and other gold deposits creates potential for resource aggregation and operational synergies.
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Rapid news flow expected: With drilling progressing quickly at over 300 meters daily, investors can anticipate steady updates throughout July and August.
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Growing regional footprint: Marmota is establishing itself as a significant player in the Gawler Craton, one of Australia's most prospective yet underexplored gold regions.
For investors seeking exposure to gold exploration with near-term catalysts, Marmota offers a compelling opportunity as it advances its multi-deposit strategy in a favourable gold price environment.
Key Takeaway:
Marmota has positioned itself as an emerging player in the Gawler Craton gold region, with significant upside potential due to its multi-deposit strategy and favourable gold price environment. With drilling results expected throughout July and August 2025, investors should closely monitor developments at Greenewood as Marmota works to expand its gold resource inventory.
Want to Stay Ahead of Marmota's Gold Discovery Journey?
Don't miss the opportunity to be part of Marmota's ambitious expansion in the Gawler Craton gold region. With drilling results expected throughout July and August 2025, now is the perfect time to learn more about their strategic multi-deposit approach and the promising Greenewood gold discovery. For comprehensive investor information and the latest updates on their 10,000m drilling program, visit www.marmota.com.au today.
