Terrain to drill test new gold geological theory in WA’s Midwest

Terrain Minerals’ recent drill success at its Wildflower gold project in WA’s Midwest has caused it to create a new geological model which it will put to the test with the drill bit in a planned December drilling blitz.

The company says it will plough another 2150m of drilling into the Wildflower discovery next month that is located 150km east of Dongara in WA. 

Terrain will also conduct gallium-focused metallurgical research at its Larin’s Lane project. The Minerals Research Institute of WA will test a planned “twin hole” at the project for the viability of gallium extraction from clay-hosted rare earth deposits.

The testing is notable given China imposed export restrictions on the critical mineral in August last year. Gallum is a useful substitute for silicon and can be used in optics, electronics, nuclear engineering and semiconductor fabrication.

In September this year, first pass air-core (AC) drilling tested anomalies at Wildflower which were identified back in 1983. Supergene gold mineralisation was intersected at the company’s Cota (T16W) prospect within Wildflower with a 9m hit grading 1.17g/t gold from 30m headlining that air-core action in the supergene zone.

Results also included a higher-grade interval of 3m at 2.61g/t gold from 33m.

Terrain is now looking to build on the success of the recent air-core drilling with a 16-hole RC program. It will test six high-priority gold targets at depth in search of the primary source of the supergene mineralisation including the Wildflower, Cota, T16, Monza and Lightning prospects.

The targets have been refined using new geological modelling that integrates Terrain’s field mapping, historical data and reinterpreted magnetics.

At Cota and T16, nine holes will probe newly identified structures that coincide with historical elevated gold-in-soil anomalies. Management says the northwest-trending structures are believed to be parallel shear zones associated with the nearby Vault Minerals’ mine Rothsay deposit.

Similarly at Monza and Lightning, parallel structures will be drilled with six holes targeting down plunge extensions and orientations identified by the updated geological models.

Terrain Minerals executive director Justin Virgin said: “The results to date demonstrate that the team is working smart with the aim of creating value for shareholders. With the gold price reaching all-time highs, now is an ideal time to advance potential discoveries and start the new year of on the front foot.”

Situated within WA’s growing Midwest mining region, the Wildflower project is a part of Terrain’s broader Smokebush project within the Yalgoo greenstone belts. Yalgoo is host to several renowned mining areas, including Payne’s Find, Warriedar, Rothsay and 29 Metals’ Golden Grove gold and base metals mining areas all of which lie within 100km of Terrain’s ground.

Terrain is maintaining its momentum, returning to the field just 14 days after releasing first-pass drilling results. The RC drilling blitz is expected to commence in early December, with assay results anticipated by as early as January next year.

Beyond Wildflower, Terrain is actively exploring its Monza and Lightning prospects, where historical drilling has yielded impressive grades, including 2m at 11.3g/t gold and 7m at 2.72g/t gold.

The upcoming drilling campaign at Wildflower marks a crucial step towards unlocking the project’s at-depth potential and could signal a transformational phase for Terrain.

The company should know within a few months if its supergene gold discovery extends into the fresh rock at depth, potentially spelling the beginnings of a serious gold deposit at Wildflower.

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