Yandal Resources Hits Record High-Grade Gold at Arrakis Discovery

Record-Breaking Arrakis Gold Hit Lifts Focus on Yandal Resources

Yandal Resources (ASX: YRL) has reported the highest-grade gold intercept ever recorded at its Ironstone Well-Barwidgee (IWB) Gold Project, with 20 metres at 8.7 g/t gold from 84 metres, including 6 metres at 28.3 g/t gold and 3 metres at 52.8 g/t gold in hole 26IWBRC0120. In the ASX announcement dated 10 August 2026, the company said the result came from targeted infill RC drilling across the 1.3-kilometre Arrakis gold discovery in Western Australia's Yandal Greenstone Belt.

The same drill section also returned 12 metres at 1.8 g/t gold from 31 metres in hole 26IWBRC0119, which the company described as the shallowest gold intercept at Arrakis to date. Together, these results are being interpreted by Yandal as evidence that an additional zone of higher-grade mineralisation may be emerging within the broader Arrakis system.

For investors, the update matters because Arrakis does not yet form part of Yandal's current resource inventory. If further drilling confirms continuity, the discovery could become a material contributor to the company's growth pipeline ahead of a planned maiden exploration target in Q3 2026.

The Headline Drilling Results from Arrakis

According to the announcement, assay results have now been received from nine RC holes drilled between the 6,450mN and 6,850mN lines. The programme was designed to identify higher-grade trends within the larger Arrakis mineralised corridor.

The strongest intercepts reported in this batch are set out below.

All intervals are reported as down-hole widths. The company also stated that where very high gold concentrations occur, intercepts can be artificially extended by gold smearing during drilling or sample preparation. Yandal said further drilling is needed to assess whether that effect has influenced the 26IWBRC0120 result.

That qualification is important. It does not diminish the significance of the result, but it does mean investors should focus on whether follow-up drilling confirms the geometry and repeatability of the high-grade zone.

"This is an exceptional result from a drill programme specifically designed to uncover high-grade domains within the 1.3km striking Arrakis gold discovery," said Chris Oorschot, Managing Director of Yandal Resources.

"These new results, combined with previous intercepts on the 6,550mN section, located 100m south, indicate the potential for an additional domain of high-grade gold mineralisation within the Arrakis mineralised structure. Further results and additional drilling will be required to confirm the geometry and continuity of the newly identified high-grade domain."

Why the New High-Grade Zone Matters

In the announcement, Yandal linked the new intercepts on the 6,650mN section with previously reported drilling on the 6,550mN line, including 50 metres at 1.3 g/t gold, including 28 metres at 1.9 g/t gold, from hole 25IWBRC0042. This correlation underpins the company's view that a second, higher-grade domain may be present within Arrakis.

For investors, a high-grade domain is a localised part of a gold system where grades are materially better than the broader mineralised envelope. In practical terms, these zones can be important because they may contribute disproportionately to project value if they prove continuous and mineable.

A higher-grade domain can influence project economics in several ways:

• Higher grade per tonne can improve the metal contained within a smaller volume of rock
• Targeted drilling becomes more efficient once the shape and orientation are better understood
• Future resource work can benefit if continuity is demonstrated through infill drilling
• Potential mine design flexibility may improve if shallow and higher-grade areas are confirmed

At this stage, Yandal has not declared a Mineral Resource for Arrakis. The current results remain exploration outcomes rather than resource definition. However, the combination of high grade, shallow depth, and a 1.3-kilometre mineralised footprint is likely to keep market attention on the project while more assays are pending.

Understanding Arrakis Geology in Simple Terms

The geological setting outlined in the ASX update helps explain why Yandal is focusing on internal high-grade trends rather than simply chasing strike length. Arrakis is hosted in a deformed dacite porphyry intrusive, a type of igneous rock that has been altered and broken up over time.

Gold mineralisation sits within this rock package and is bordered by pillow basalts on one side and dolerite on the other. The company said mineralisation appears to be steeply dipping and structurally controlled. Furthermore, Yandal described two distinct styles of mineralisation at Arrakis.

Broad, Lower-Grade Mineralisation

This style occurs in altered dacite with fine sulphide minerals spread through the rock. In simpler terms, gold is distributed more widely but usually at lower grades. These zones can form broader intercepts that contribute to the overall mineralised envelope.

Narrower, Higher-Grade Mineralisation

This style is linked to stronger deformation, more intense silica and sulphide alteration, and breccia textures along the margins of the dacite. In plain language, these are the more broken and altered parts of the system where gold appears to have concentrated more strongly.

The record intercept in 26IWBRC0120 is reported to sit directly below an intermediate porphyry and within partially weathered, heavily deformed dolerite with minor quartz veining. That setting is considered consistent with the higher-grade style Yandal is targeting.

This matters because geology often determines whether isolated high grades become a coherent ore zone or remain only isolated shoots. The next drilling results, especially deeper core results, should help test that interpretation.

Key Drilling Terms Explained

• RC drilling is a common exploration method that returns rock chips to surface for sampling. It is fast and relatively cost-effective.
• Estimated true width (ETW) is the company's estimate of the actual thickness of the mineralised zone after considering drill angle.
• g/t gold means grams of gold per tonne of rock. For context, 8.7 g/t gold over 20 metres is a strong exploration result in most Australian gold settings, although economic significance depends on continuity, mining method and metallurgy.

Arrakis Remains Outside Yandal's Current Resource Base

The broader context is also relevant. Arrakis sits within Yandal's 100%-owned IWB Gold Project, which covers about 456 square kilometres between the Jundee and Bronzewing mining districts in the northern Yandal Greenstone Belt.

While Arrakis is still at the exploration stage, Yandal already has an existing gold resource base across IWB and Mt McClure. The current mineral resource summary reported by the company is shown below.

Source: Yandal Resources ASX announcement dated 10 August 2026.

The key point is that Arrakis is not yet included in those figures. That creates both interest and uncertainty. Interest, because a maiden exploration target could point to a new inventory addition. Uncertainty, because investors still need to see scale, continuity and then resource work before assigning stronger development value.

Near-Term Catalysts from Arrakis and the Wider Project Portfolio

In the report, Yandal set out an active pipeline of results due over August and September. The most closely watched catalyst may be the pending diamond core tail from 26IWBRC0121D, which the company said is located about 60 metres down-dip from the headline intercept in 26IWBRC0120.

Diamond core differs from RC drilling because it retrieves solid rock core. That gives geologists more confidence in structural interpretation, rock texture and the exact position of mineralisation. For a potential high-grade domain, that additional detail can be particularly important.

A heritage survey completed in July has also cleared the way for 50-metre spaced infill drilling across the full Arrakis discovery area. That tighter drill spacing could help Yandal move from broad discovery drilling toward a clearer picture of internal grade distribution.

The announced near-term catalysts include:

What Investors May Watch Next

The latest Arrakis results strengthen the case that Yandal may be defining more than a broad, moderate-grade gold system. The company's interpretation now points to a potentially separate higher-grade zone within the structure, supported by both the record intercept in 26IWBRC0120 and shallow mineralisation in 26IWBRC0119. That said, several questions remain open.

Has the Geometry of the High-Grade Zone Been Confirmed?

Not yet. The geometry, width and continuity of the interpreted high-grade domain still require confirmation. Yandal has stated that further drilling and pending assays are needed before conclusions can be drawn about the zone's overall shape and extent.

Why Is the Diamond Tail Result So Closely Watched?

The pending diamond core result from 26IWBRC0121D may help determine whether the high-grade zone continues at depth. It will also test whether the structural interpretation holds up beyond a single stand-out RC hit, making it one of the more significant near-term data points for the project.

Does the Shallow Mineralisation Change the Picture?

Potentially, yes. The intercept of 12 metres at 1.8 g/t gold from 31 metres suggests gold may occur relatively close to surface in parts of the system. That can be relevant in future mining studies if continuity is established across the Arrakis footprint.

Is Arrakis Already Classified as a Mineral Resource?

No. Arrakis remains an exploration-stage discovery. A maiden exploration target is planned for Q3 2026, but that is not the same as a JORC Mineral Resource, and investors should treat it accordingly until further definition work is completed.

For now, Yandal's 10 August 2026 update marks a material step forward in the Arrakis story. The project has moved from broad anomaly testing to a stage where internal grade zoning is becoming clearer. The next round of assays should show whether the record hit is an isolated feature or part of a larger high-grade shoot within the Arrakis gold system.

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