Terrain Minerals has revealed an ambitious exploration roadmap for 2025, pitching a diversified drilling assault of gold, nickel, copper and gallium targets across its core projects throughout Western Australia.
The company is gearing up for two significant reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaigns at its flagship Smokebush gold-gallium and Lort River nickel-copper projects which is set kick-off this month and continue through the quarter and beyond.
Following the completion of a December drilling campaign at the Wildflower gold prospect within the broader Smokebush in WA’s Mid West, Terrain is set to ramp up stage 2 shortly with 1368m of impact RC.
The company’s initial drill program has already uncovered several promising targets including, the Monza and Lightning prospects which feature newly defined parallel gold structures. Terrain has also unveiled a potentially high-value addition to its gold stocks following a recent reinterpretation of previous geophysical work at the nearby Mirja structure.
Terrain says it will also look to capitalise on new geological models that suggest considerable untapped potential also remains beneath historic gold anomalies at Wildflower’s Target 16 and Cota (Target 16 West) prospects to the southwest.
The company’s gallium prospect, Larin’s Lane, also lies within the broader Smokebush gold project however Terrain began to evaluate it for gallium and rare earths following the discovery of encouraging levels of both minerals from air-core (AC) drilling in December 2023.
After assessing the metal’s likely future market significance, the company has shifted some of its exploration focus to gallium in the anticipation of what it sees as an imminent increase in industry demand - particularly given China’s recent clamp-down on its international gallium trade.
Terrain says a twin RC hole is planned for the end of the quarter to obtain metallurgical samples for recovery studies to be conducted by Curtin University. Results from Curtin’s studies are expected by about mid-year and the company says it will be looking to optimise environmentally friendly extraction methods for the in demand critical metal.
Perhaps the highest impact drill testing for Terrain will come at its Lort River nickel-copper project in WA’s Albany-Fraser Belt, home to the renowned Nova-Bollinger deposit.
The project is primed for its maiden RC drilling program to test a substantial high-priority sulphide bedrock conductor identified by high powered electromagnetic surveys.
With a number of similarities to the region’s legendary "eye" geological features at Nova’s magmatic nickel-copper sulphide discovery, Lort River has a like about it and offers some encouraging signs to deliver what could be the next major nickel-copper find in the long poured over belt.
Terrain Minerals Executive Director Justin Virgin said:“I am thrilled with the momentum building across Terrain's portfolio as we embark on an ambitious 2025 exploration program. Our focus on key commodities like gold, copper, nickel, and the emerging critical metal, gallium, positions us well to capitalise on the growing global demand.”
Terrain’s portfolio also includes two promising projects currently awaiting tenement approvals.
Its Biloela copper-gold project in Queensland spans a substantial 2462km² along strike from the multi-million ounce Cracow gold mine which looks like a prime candidate to become a key exploration focus for the company once granted.
The second back pocket project awaiting approval is the Carlindie Lithium project situated in the heart of WA’s lithium-rich Pilbara region. Carlindie spans 1135km² and is strategically located near the established major deposits being developed by Pilbara Minerals and Azure Minerals.
While focusing on its core exploration activities, Terrain says it remains open to commercial opportunities including joint ventures or partial sales of non-core assets.
“By diversifying across critical and traditional commodities, we are ensuring Terrain’s relevance in both emerging and established markets,” Virgin said.
Terrain’s balanced exploration push in the new year which includes diversification across critical and traditional commodities has it well placed to take advantage in both emerging and established markets.
The company is clearly pressing its foot down on exploration activities with plenty of impact drilling to kick-off the year, none more so than its Nova-Bollinger look-a-like target, set for testing later this quarter.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Andrew Todd
