Shallow Gold Strikes Boost Ordell Minerals' Barimaia Project
Ordell Minerals (ASX: ORD) has announced significant shallow gold strikes from its recent drilling campaign at the Barimaia Gold Project near Mount Magnet in Western Australia's Murchison region.
High-Grade Shallow Gold Extends Along 300m Strike Length
The latest assay results from Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling completed in May and June 2025 have confirmed gold mineralisation very close to surface at the McNabs East Prospect over a strike length of 300 meters.
Standout intercepts include:
- 14m @ 1.36g/t Au from just 10m depth (25BARC141)
- 10m @ 1.07g/t Au from 13m (25BARC143)
- 21m @ 0.69g/t Au from 33m (25BARC145), including 6m @ 1.22g/t Au
These results are particularly significant as they confirm that gold mineralisation extends to the base of the transported overburden in this area, making it potentially amenable to open-pit mining methods.
"Gold mineralisation has been intersected very close to surface on the western side of McNabs East over a strike length of 300m," said Michael Fowler, Ordell's Managing Director. "The drilling importantly confirms that mineralisation does extend to the base of the transported overburden in this area."
Expanding the Barimaia Intrusion to 7km Strike Length
One of the most significant developments from Ordell Minerals' shallow gold strikes is the expansion of the prospective Barimaia Intrusion, which is now interpreted to extend over a strike length of 7 kilometers – substantially increasing the exploration potential of the project.
First-pass shallow RC drilling has been completed over this recently extended intrusion, with assay results pending. Additionally, diamond drilling finished in early July with assay results pending for five diamond holes (25BADD011 to 25BADD015) completed on the western side of McNabs East.
Understanding Intrusion-Hosted Gold Deposits
What is an Intrusion-Hosted Gold Deposit?
The Barimaia Project targets intrusion-hosted gold mineralisation, which differs from the typical Banded Iron Formation (BIF) hosted deposits commonly found in the Mount Magnet district.
At Barimaia, gold is hosted within altered felsic bodies (granodiorite intrusions). These are igneous rocks that have undergone chemical alteration through geological processes. The mineralisation style at Barimaia is characterised by:
- Disseminated and veinlet-style gold mineralisation within altered intrusive rocks
- Moderate alteration of the host rock minerals
- Moderate foliation (alignment of minerals) and quartz-pyrite veining
- Broad mineralised zones that may be suitable for bulk mining techniques
This style is similar to the nearby Eridanus deposit, which forms part of Ramelius Resources' Mount Magnet operations and hosts a substantial 1.2 million ounce gold resource with an additional 300,000 ounces already mined.
Future Exploration Plans
Ordell Minerals has outlined a comprehensive exploration strategy for the coming months following these shallow gold strikes:
- Continue expanding the near-surface gold mineralisation on the western side of McNabs East
- Follow up anomalous gold zones identified by wide-spaced air-core drilling
- Conduct further in-fill and extensional air-core drilling along the +7km of prospective strike
- Complete first-pass RC drilling to follow-up intrusion-hosted gold anomalies
- Undertake initial metallurgical test work
With the diamond drilling results expected in the second half of August and remaining RC assays expected later this month, there are multiple near-term catalysts for the company.
Strategic Location in a Tier-1 Mining District
The Barimaia Gold Project occupies a highly strategic position in Western Australia's gold-rich Murchison district. The project:
- Is located adjacent to Ramelius Resources' Mt Magnet mill
- Sits in close proximity to several gold processing plants
- Is exploring for similar deposits to Eridanus (1.2Moz gold resource)
- Has 80.3% ownership by Ordell, with Genesis Minerals (now part of Ramelius) holding 8% of Ordell's shares
Furthermore, the proximity to high-grade gold discoveries in the region enhances the area's prospectivity and potential value.
Why Investors Should Watch Ordell Minerals
Ordell Minerals presents a compelling investment case for gold investors for several key reasons:
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Near-surface gold mineralisation – The shallow nature of gold intercepts potentially reduces mining costs and accelerates development timelines
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Expanding footprint – The prospective intrusion has more than doubled in size to 7km strike length, significantly increasing discovery potential
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Strategic location – Proximity to existing processing infrastructure in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction reduces capital requirements for any future development
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Multiple near-term catalysts – With diamond drilling results and further RC assays pending, there's potential for additional positive news flow
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Targeting a proven deposit style – The exploration model targeting intrusion-hosted gold is validated by the nearby 1.2Moz Eridanus deposit
With drilling set to restart in August and a clear exploration strategy in place, Ordell Minerals' shallow gold strikes are building a solid foundation for the company to continue expanding the gold mineralisation footprint at Barimaia and potentially define a significant gold resource in the heart of Western Australia's prolific Murchison gold district.
In addition, the company's exploration approach shares similarities with other successful projects in the region, such as the Fortitude North project and the expanding Kookynie gold project. The promising heap leach recoveries seen at other nearby projects also highlight the processing potential for any gold resource defined at Barimaia.
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