Siona Gold Discovery Emerges as Game-Changer for ASX:YRL
Yandal Resources (ASX:YRL) has made significant progress in its gold exploration programme, revealing a potentially transformative discovery at its Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project in Western Australia's prolific Yandal Belt. The new Siona discovery by Yandal Resources Ltd, hosted within the previously untested New England Granite, represents a major breakthrough for the company.
Recent drilling at Siona has returned exceptional results, including intercepts of 107m @ 1.0 g/t Au (including 5m @ 3.2 g/t Au and 33m @ 1.4 g/t Au) and 17m @ 4.9 g/t Au (including a spectacular 1m @ 61.9 g/t Au). These results confirm mineralisation continuity over 450m of strike with substantial widths ranging from 12-40 metres.
"The Siona discovery demonstrates the effectiveness of our systematic, geology-driven exploration approach. What's particularly exciting is that we've only just scratched the surface of the New England Granite's potential, with large portions of this 4.4 x 2km intrusion remaining completely untested," said Managing Director Chris Oorschot.
With approximately $7.1 million cash on hand as of March 31, 2025, Yandal is well-funded to advance exploration across its project portfolio throughout 2025.
Multiple Discovery Opportunities Emerging Across Strategic Land Package
Beyond Siona, Yandal has identified several other high-potential targets:
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Arrakis Prospect: Recently defined after successful drilling within the large-scale Caladan target area, where RC drilling confirmed primary gold mineralisation with 11m @ 1.7 g/t Au (to end of hole)
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Caladan Target Area: A major fold structure (3km wide and >8km long) truncated by the Idaho Shear, with geological similarities to the Kalgoorlie district
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New England Granite: Diamond drilling results pending, with heritage surveys scheduled for late May to access additional untested portions of this promising intrusive body
These emerging targets complement Yandal's existing resource inventory, which includes:
| Project | Resource | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flushing Meadows | 268,000 oz Au | Mainly oxide/transitional (77%) |
| Mt McClure | 182,000 oz Au | Historic mining centre |
| Gordons | 20,000 oz Au | Near Kalgoorlie |
Understanding the Geological Significance
The Siona discovery is particularly significant because it demonstrates gold mineralisation within a previously overlooked geological setting. Granite-hosted gold deposits can be substantial in scale and often form part of larger mineralised systems.
In the Yandal Belt, the interaction between intrusive bodies like the New England Granite and major regional structures creates ideal conditions for gold deposition. Yandal's recent ground gravity surveys have enhanced structural interpretations and identified multiple significant structures interacting with the granite – suggesting Siona may be just the first of several discoveries.
The Importance of Gravity Surveys in Gold Exploration
Gravity surveys are geophysical tools that help identify density contrasts in subsurface rocks. These density contrasts often correlate with major structures or intrusive bodies that can host gold mineralisation.
In practical terms, different rock types have different densities, and these variations can be measured at the surface. When processed and interpreted, gravity data can reveal the presence of dense rocks (like dolerite) or less dense rocks (like granite) below the surface. Importantly, gravity surveys can also identify major structural features like faults and shear zones – critical pathways for mineralising fluids.
These surveys are particularly valuable in areas with shallow cover that mask underlying geology, as is the case across much of Yandal's project area. By providing a "map" of subsurface density variations, gravity surveys help exploration teams target drilling more effectively, potentially leading to new discoveries.
Ambitious Exploration Programme Underway
Yandal has outlined an aggressive exploration schedule for the coming months:
- Siona diamond drilling results expected imminently
- 12,500m air-core programme at Caladan commencing late May
- Heritage surveys at New England Granite in late May
- Further air-core drilling at New England Granite scheduled for August
- Follow-up RC drilling planned based on results
Additionally, Yandal has completed a strategic review of its Mt McClure and Gordons Gold Projects, with KPMG Corporate Finance engaged to advise on the potential divestment of these non-core assets, allowing the company to focus resources on the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project.
Why This ASX Gold Explorer Should Be On Investors' Radar
Yandal Resources stands out among junior explorers for several compelling reasons:
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Making genuine discoveries: Unlike many explorers recycling old projects, Yandal is making completely new discoveries in untested geological settings
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Strategic location: All projects are within 100km of existing processing facilities in Western Australia's premier gold mining jurisdiction
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Technical excellence: The company's geology-driven exploration approach has proven effective, with systematic work leading to multiple target areas
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Strong backing: The shareholder register includes notable investors like Gold Road Resources (18.4%), Regal Funds Management (18.6%), and highly regarded gold explorer Eduard Eshuys (8.6%)
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Well-funded: With $7.1 million in cash, the company can execute its exploration plans without immediate financing concerns
For investors seeking exposure to gold exploration with genuine discovery potential, Yandal Resources presents a compelling opportunity at its current $43.3 million market capitalisation. With multiple targets advancing simultaneously and a proven technical team delivering results, the company appears well-positioned to build on its recent exploration success.
Understanding the Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project
The Ironstone Well-Barwidgee Project covers a substantial area of 376.6 square kilometres with approximately 53km of strike length along fertile first and second-order structures in the Yandal Belt. Despite its promising geological setting, the area has been historically underexplored due to transported cover and complex regolith that mask the underlying geology.
The project hosts the Flushing Meadows deposit (268,000 oz Au), which sits on a granted mining lease with mineralisation starting at surface. Importantly, 77% of this resource is in oxide and transitional material, potentially offering lower processing costs compared to primary ore.
Recent exploration activities have demonstrated that Yandal's technical team is successfully overcoming the challenges of exploring under cover, with significant new target areas defined through systematic, multi-disciplinary exploration including:
- Ground gravity surveys to define structures and intrusive bodies
- Soil geochemistry to identify anomalies through shallow cover
- Air-core drilling to test regolith anomalies and define bedrock geology
- RC and diamond drilling to test and define mineralisation
This methodical approach has already delivered results at Siona and shows promise across the broader Caladan and New England Granite target areas.
Caladan Target Area: A Significant Opportunity
The Caladan target area represents one of the most promising exploration opportunities within Yandal's portfolio. This large-scale fold structure, measuring 3km wide and over 8km long, is truncated by the Idaho Shear zone – creating a geological setting with similarities to the world-famous Kalgoorlie district.
Recent air-core drilling has confirmed that a gravity high within the target area corresponds to fractionated dolerite – a rock type that hosts numerous significant gold deposits throughout Western Australia. Limited historical drilling in the area (dating back to 1995) was typically shallow, averaging just 22m depth, and on wide-spaced patterns of 400m x 400m.
Despite these limitations, this historical work identified a coherent, 3km long, low-level regolith anomaly. Yandal's recent follow-up drilling has confirmed primary gold mineralisation with results including 11m @ 1.7 g/t Au to the end of hole, leading to the definition of the new Arrakis Prospect.
The company has now completed a small-scale RC drilling programme to confirm mineralisation continuity, geometry, and the presence of multiple structures. A larger-scale 12,500m air-core programme is scheduled to commence in late May to further test this highly prospective area.
Looking Ahead: Key Catalysts and Timeline
Yandal has a clear pipeline of exploration activities and associated news flow expected over the coming months:
| Activity | Timing | Expected Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Siona Diamond Drilling Results | Imminent | Potential to define high-grade domains and improve geological understanding |
| Caladan Air-core Programme (12,500m) | Late May to July | Testing large-scale target with potential for new discoveries |
| RC Follow-up Drilling | Ongoing | Advancing new prospects identified from air-core programmes |
| New England Granite Heritage Survey | Late May | Opening access to untested portions of prospective intrusive body |
| New England Granite Air-core Programme | August | Testing for extensions to Siona and potential new discoveries |
| Caladan Heritage Survey #2 | August | Expanding access to additional prospective areas |
With approximately $7.1 million in cash, Yandal is well-funded to execute this ambitious exploration programme throughout 2025, potentially delivering multiple catalysts for share price appreciation.
For investors considering exposure to the gold sector, Yandal Resources offers a compelling combination of existing resources, new discoveries, and substantial exploration upside in a premier mining jurisdiction, backed by a technically strong team with a proven track record of exploration success.
Ready to Capitalise on Yandal's Latest Gold Discovery?
Don't miss the opportunity to be part of Yandal Resources' (ASX:YRL) exciting journey as they unlock the potential of the Siona discovery and their extensive portfolio in Western Australia's prolific Yandal Belt. With a well-funded exploration programme, strategic holdings in premier gold territory, and the backing of significant industry investors, Yandal is positioned for potential growth. For comprehensive information about their projects, upcoming drilling programmes, and investment potential, visit Yandal's Investor Hub today.
