Latest Drilling Expands Promising Gold Discovery in Yandal Greenstone Belt
Yandal Resources (ASX: YRL) has announced significant expansion of its Arrakis gold structure, with new air-core drilling results extending the mineralised zone by an additional 400m to the southeast. The structure now spans over 1.2km in strike length and remains open in both directions, highlighting the substantial discovery potential at the Caladan target area within the company's Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Gold Project.
Key results from the latest batch of drilling include:
- 11m @ 1.4 g/t Au from 71m in hole 25IWBAC044, including 6m @ 2.3 g/t Au from 72m
- 1m @ 1.0g/t Au from 87m to end of hole in 25IWBAC044
These new intercepts build upon previously reported results that established the initial Arrakis discovery, including:
- 11m @ 2.1 g/t Au from 90m in 25IWBAC023, including 7m @ 3.1 g/t Au from 92m
- 12m @ 1.1g/t Au from 45m in 25IWBAC032
- 12m @ 0.5g/t from 70m to EOH in 25IWBAC032
The Caladan air-core program has now been completed, with a total of 132 holes drilled for 13,458 meters. Results for just 46 holes have been received so far, with the remaining assays expected in the coming weeks.
"Results continue to demonstrate the discovery potential of the Caladan target area. Again, we have seen mineralisation occurring in a very consistent position relative to the 3km Arrakis regolith anomaly. Results demonstrate the potential for the now more than 1.2km long mineralised structure that remains open along strike to the northwest and southeast to be further extended," commented Yandal Resources' Managing Director, Chris Oorschot.
Strategic Location in Prolific Gold Province
The Caladan target area, including the Arrakis Prospect, is strategically positioned in the Yandal Greenstone Belt, located 60km south of Northern Star's Jundee mining complex and 18km north of the recent Siona discovery. The geological setting bears similarities to the Kalgoorlie district, where the Boulder-Lefroy Fault truncates folded mafic stratigraphy.
The Arrakis structure was initially identified through a 3km long low-level regolith anomaly, which the current drilling confirms is associated with a significant primary mineralised structure at depth. Mineralisation is consistently hosted within sheared and altered dolerite, with recent results also indicating the presence of a felsic intrusive (porphyry) proximal to the gold zones.
Understanding Regolith Anomalies in Gold Exploration
In gold exploration, regolith anomalies are geochemical signatures found in weathered surface material that can indicate the presence of gold mineralisation beneath. These anomalies form when gold-bearing structures at depth weather over millions of years, with trace amounts of gold migrating upward through the weathering profile.
The Arrakis regolith anomaly extends for 3km, but typical of many gold deposits in Western Australia, shows depletion in the upper weathering profile. This is why deeper drilling through the depleted zone was necessary to confirm the presence of primary gold mineralisation at depth.
Explorers look for consistent patterns in these anomalies, as they often reflect the geometry and orientation of underlying structures. The consistent positioning of gold intercepts relative to the broader Arrakis anomaly provides strong evidence of a significant mineralised system.
Geological Setting and Mineralisation Style
The Caladan target area presents a large-scale northwest plunging fold, truncated by the Idaho Shear to the southwest. The Idaho Shear is interpreted as a second-order structure linking the Ockerburry Shear Zone to the east and the Barwidgee Shear Zone to the west.
Mineralization at Arrakis appears to be associated with sheared and altered dolerite or diorite, displaying strong chlorite-sericite alteration and evidence of oxidised sulphide minerals. The recent drilling has also identified a previously unknown felsic intrusive (porphyry) associated with the mineralisation, which may represent an important control on gold deposition.
The Caladan Fold structure is 3km wide and over 8km long, lying under loose to well-cemented transported cover with an average depth of 8m. This broad structural setting shares similarities with the Kalgoorlie district's renowned gold systems.
Upcoming Exploration and Development Plans
Yandal Resources has outlined an aggressive follow-up program to further define and expand the Arrakis discovery:
- Results from an additional 86 holes from the Caladan air-core program are expected over the next 4-6 weeks
- Follow-up RC and further air-core drilling scheduled for August to test beneath recent intercepts and target mineralisation in fresh rock
- Heritage surveys booked for late August and September to clear closer-spaced drill lines across the interpreted mineralised structure
- Additional air-core drilling currently underway at the New England Granite target area
This systematic approach will help determine the geometry of the mineralisation and confirm the continuity of the gold system along strike and at depth.
Investment Perspective: A Developing Gold Story
Yandal Resources presents a compelling investment opportunity for several reasons:
- Strategic land position in the prolific Yandal Greenstone Belt, home to multi-million-ounce gold deposits
- Systematic exploration approach that has successfully identified a significant new gold structure
- Open mineralisation with substantial room for expansion in multiple directions
- Multiple target areas within the broader project, providing numerous discovery opportunities
- Well-funded position to continue aggressive exploration
The Arrakis discovery adds significant value to Yandal's existing mineral resource inventory of 470,200 ounces across its project portfolio. With only a fraction of the drill results received to date and mineralisation remaining open, there is considerable potential for the Caladan target area to develop into a substantial gold system.
Technical Analysis of Recent Results
The most recent intercept in hole 25IWBAC044 (11m @ 1.4 g/t Au from 71m, including 6m @ 2.3 g/t Au from 72m) occurred in moderately weathered rock. The mineralisation is characterised by sheared dolerite or diorite with strong chlorite-sericite alteration and evidence of oxidised sulphide minerals as fine disseminations. Minor quartz veining was also observed within the interval.
Significantly, this hole ended in 1m of gold mineralisation (1m @ 1.0g/t Au) associated with an oxidised quartz-phyric felsic intrusion. This represents the first instance of a felsic intrusion being associated with the Arrakis structure, potentially indicating a more complex mineralised system than initially thought.
Why Investors Should Follow Yandal Resources
Yandal Resources represents an opportunity to invest in a gold explorer with both established resources and significant growth potential. The company has demonstrated its ability to make new discoveries through systematic exploration, and the Arrakis structure shows characteristics of a potentially significant gold system.
With the air-core program now complete and follow-up drilling scheduled, the coming months will bring a steady flow of news as additional results are received and the true scale of the discovery becomes clearer. The company's strong cash position ensures it can maintain exploration momentum through 2025.
For investors seeking exposure to gold exploration in a tier-one mining jurisdiction, Yandal Resources offers a compelling combination of existing resources, new discoveries, and systematic exploration across a large and prospective land package in one of Australia's premier gold districts.
Ready to Capitalise on Yandal's Emerging Gold Discovery?
With significant expansion of the Arrakis gold structure now extending over 1.2km and remaining open in multiple directions, Yandal Resources presents a compelling investment opportunity in one of Australia's premier gold districts. To learn more about this developing gold story in the prolific Yandal Greenstone Belt and stay updated on upcoming drilling results, visit Yandal's Investor Hub today.
