Terrain chases deeper gold with IP survey at WA Mid West project

Terrain Minerals has started a fresh induced polarisation (IP) geophysical survey across its Wildflower gold prospect in Western Australia’s red-hot Yalgoo-Singleton Greenstone Belt, nestled in the State’s Mid West mining corridor.

The new exploration program is aimed squarely at uncovering high-grade sulphide-hosted mineralisation lurking below a spread of shallow oxide hits. The company hopes to repeat the success of a similar program at its nearby Lightning and Monza prospects earlier in the year.

The Wildflower prospect forms part of Terrain’s broader Smokebush gold project, 350 kilometres north of Perth, which is already shaping up as a compelling gold play. Last year’s first-pass air core drilling program unveiled a standout 9-metre hit grading 1.17 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from just 30m downhole. 

The upcoming IP survey is designed to target zones of increased chargeability, which is a common indicator of sulphide mineralisation often associated with high-grade gold.

Using geophysical surveys proved a game-changer earlier this year at the company’s nearby Lightning and Monza prospects. The drill rod - guided by chargeability anomalies - jagged an 11m section running at 6.03g/t gold and 43.5g/t silver from 75m downhole. An additional shallow hole hit 3m grading 6.12g/t gold from 26m, including a 1m section going at 15.68g/t and 10.5g/t silver.

Another IP-driven target deeper within the Lightning structure gave up a tantalising 22m slice at 2.71g/t gold from 105m downhole, confirming the technique’s knack for homing in on gold-rich sulphide zones at depth. Adding to the excitement, assays from 19 holes within the 22-hole program are still outstanding and due for release in the next few weeks. 

The company says that picking up these sorts of early-stage exploration results using IP technology highlights the value of using the quick, cost-effective discovery tool on its ground. 

With both Lightning and Monza prospects now showing all the hallmarks of hosting thick zones of gold mineralisation, Wildflower could easily be the next spot to reveal lookalike treasures.

Terrain is wasting no time getting stuck into the hunt for new gold, having already secured approval to sink up to 60 reverse circulation drill holes into Wildflower once the survey pinpoints the most prospective zones. Results from the current geophysical program are expected within the next two months.

The IP campaign is being run across eight survey lines, spaced 400m apart, with room to expand using infill lines if any early signals are picked up. More specifically, the survey will centre on three targets within Wildflower identified by a combination of mapping, soil sampling and earlier drilling.

Terrain Minerals executive director Justin Virgin said: “The results from the 2024 drill program, which also identified broad zones of gold anomalism on the southern edge of a shear zone, reinforce the exploration potential of the Wildflower area to host structurally controlled primary gold mineralisation.”

Meanwhile, the broader region is sizzling, with Capricorn Metals recently moving to snap up Terrain’s neighbour Warriedar Resources, whose tenements sit right alongside Wildflower. The corporate play appears to be a strong vote of confidence in the greenstone belt’s gold potential and adds extra tailwind to Terrain’s charge at its own prospects.

With assay results still pending from Lightning and Monza, an IP survey underway and more drilling imminent, Terrain is clearly gearing up for a pivotal quarter. As the sulphide chase begins at Wildflower, punters will be watching keenly to see if the company can repeat its Lightning strike and turn another anomaly into ounces.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au