Viking Mines’ Northern Duplex Gold Find Spurs Expanded Drilling Program

Discovery at Northern Duplex Target

Viking Mines Limited (ASX:VKA) has announced a significant breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Northern Duplex Target within the First Hit Project in Western Australia. The initial Phase 1 drilling results have revealed two distinct gold-bearing zones along a previously untested ~23km strike of the Zuleika Shear, a geological structure known for hosting multi-million ounce gold deposits.

The standout intercept comes from drill hole VKRC0083, which returned a broad zone of 27 metres at 0.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold starting from 69 metres depth. Within this interval, multiple higher-grade one-metre intercepts were recorded, including 2.9g/t, 1.1g/t, and 1.5g/t Au. These results are notable given the lack of prior bedrock drilling over this extensive area, underscoring the greenfields nature of the discovery.

Geological Significance and Regional Context

The assay results exhibit characteristics typical of a mesothermal gold system, which is consistent with other prolific gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields region. Viking’s tenure covers over 25km of the Zuleika Shear, a structure that hosts significant gold camps such as the nearby Riverina-Mulline (>1.3 million ounces) and Davyhurst Camp (>1.2 million ounces) located 40km to the south.

Managing Director Julian Woodcock expressed enthusiasm about the results, highlighting the strategic value of the large, largely untested landholding. He emphasized that the discovery validates Viking’s approach of systematic, heel-to-toe drill traverses across structurally complex targets and opens the door to identifying new gold deposits in a highly prospective corridor.

Expanded Drilling and Next Steps

Encouraged by the initial findings, Viking has expanded its Phase 1 drilling program to approximately 7,400 metres, completing four drill traverses across the Northern Duplex Target. While assays for only the first traverse have been received, results from the remaining three traverses are expected in March 2025. These pending results could further delineate gold mineralisation and refine target zones for follow-up work.

Looking ahead, Viking is preparing for Phase 2 drilling focused on the Central Duplex Target, which features complex structural geology and a significant near-surface gold anomaly. This program is slated to commence in March 2025, potentially accelerating the pace of exploration across the First Hit Project.

Broader Exploration Strategy

Beyond drilling, Viking is considering additional exploration techniques such as infill auger sampling and high-resolution magnetic geophysics to enhance target definition across the extensive strike of the Zuleika Shear. These efforts aim to improve the resolution of gold anomalies and guide future drilling campaigns more effectively.

The First Hit Project benefits from proximity to existing infrastructure and processing facilities, including the Davyhurst Mill operated by Ora Banda Mining, which could facilitate future development if economic mineralisation is confirmed.