Thunderbird Resources Confirms High-Grade Gold and Antimony at NSW Projects
Thunderbird Resources (ASX: THB) has announced significant results from initial exploration efforts at its Rockvale and Kookabookra Projects in New South Wales, confirming high-grade gold and antimony mineralisation through first-pass surface sampling.
Outstanding First-Pass Sampling Results
The company's maiden exploration program has delivered exceptional results, with rock chip and grab samples returning gold values up to 19.3g/t Au at Kookabookra and antimony values reaching 4.1% Sb at Rockvale, along with silver values up to 200g/t Ag.
At the Kookabookra Project, significant gold assays include:
- 19.3g/t Au at British Lion
- 8.56g/t Au at Welcome Stranger
- 2.09g/t Au at Welcome Stranger
Meanwhile, at the Rockvale Project, notable results include:
- 4.12% Sb and 200g/t Ag at Achill
- 1.76g/t Au and 110g/t Ag at Taits Gully
The results confirm high-grade mineralisation previously reported in historical data and provide increased confidence in the projects' potential to host significant gold and antimony deposits.
Strategic Location in NSW Mining District
Both projects are strategically positioned in north-eastern New South Wales, with Rockvale located adjacent to Larvotto Resources' Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project, the largest antimony deposit in Australia and one of the top 10 globally.
The Kookabookra Project hosts multiple historical gold workings, including British Lion Reef, Welcome Stranger, Kookabookra Reef, and Germans Reef, with mineralisation occurring in north-south trending quartz veins parallel to the regional-scale Wongwibinda Fault.
Exploration Rapidly Advancing
Thunderbird Resources has moved quickly following land access agreements to implement initial on-ground fieldwork programs. The company has already completed a soil sampling program at Kookabookra to identify drill targets for testing in Q3 2025.
"We are encouraged by the results from the very first on-ground sampling undertaken by the Company at these strategically located projects. Importantly, the assays confirm previous historical high-grade results and give us increased confidence in the potential of these projects to host significant gold and antimony mineralisation," said Executive Chairman George Ventouras.
At Rockvale's Achill prospect, sampling identified antimony mineralisation over a north-south trending zone of approximately 130m strike length, which remains open to the north and south. The high-grade antimony discovery is associated with quartz veins and breccias containing 1-2% disseminated stibnite.
Understanding Antimony's Strategic Importance
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral by many governments due to its essential role in numerous industries and limited global supply. As a flame retardant in products ranging from clothing to aircraft, antimony is crucial for safety applications. It's also vital in the production of lead-acid batteries, semiconductor devices, and various military applications including night-vision equipment and armour-piercing bullets.
With China controlling approximately 60% of global antimony production, Western nations are increasingly focused on developing alternative supply sources. Australia's Hillgrove mine (adjacent to Thunderbird's Rockvale Project) represents one of the few significant antimony-gold projects outside China, making Thunderbird Resources' exploration efforts strategically important.
Clear Pathway to Drilling
Thunderbird Resources has outlined a clear roadmap for advancing exploration at both projects:
- Analysis of recently completed soil sampling at Kookabookra (results expected in 5-6 weeks)
- Potential Induced Polarisation (IP) survey at Kookabookra in Q3 2025
- Detailed geological mapping and soil sampling at Rockvale's Achill prospect
- Establishment of drill targets for testing in Q3 2025
The company is also finalising additional land access agreements to expand exploration to the eastern part of the Kookabookra Project and to access further targets with historical high-grade gold discovery, silver, and antimony results at Rockvale.
Why Investors Should Follow Thunderbird Resources
Thunderbird Resources confirms high-grade mineralisation across both projects, presenting a compelling opportunity for investors interested in gold and critical minerals exposure:
-
Proven High-Grade Mineralisation: Initial sampling has confirmed significant gold, antimony, and silver values that validate historical data.
-
Strategic Metals Portfolio: The company offers exposure to both precious metals (gold, silver) and critical minerals (antimony) in a geopolitically stable jurisdiction.
-
Exploration Upside: Both projects are largely untested by drilling and modern exploration techniques, creating substantial discovery potential.
-
Experienced Management: The company is implementing a systematic exploration approach aimed at building robust geological knowledge to define technically sound drilling targets.
-
Proximity to Major Deposits: The projects' location adjacent to significant known resources (Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project) enhances the probability of success.
With a focused exploration program underway and gold and silver intercept results pending, Thunderbird Resources confirms high-grade mineralisation that positions the company to potentially deliver significant news flow and value creation for investors in the coming months. Furthermore, the company's approach mirrors recent exploration breakthroughs in gold targets seen elsewhere in Australia's mining sector.
Want to Catch the Next Major Mineral Discovery?
Discovery Alert's proprietary Discovery IQ model provides instant notifications when significant mineral finds are announced on the ASX, giving you the opportunity to act before the broader market. Explore why major discoveries like those mentioned can lead to substantial returns by visiting Discovery Alert's dedicated discoveries page.
