Neometals Ltd has launched its maiden gold drilling program at the Barrambie Gold Project in Western Australia, marking the first such effort in two decades. The program aims to validate historic high-grade gold mineralisation and explore new targets within a richly prospective greenstone belt.
- Maiden gold drilling program commenced at 100% owned Barrambie Gold Project
- Historic production of ~27,000 ounces at exceptionally high grades (~27.8 g/t Au)
- Exploration Target estimated between 335,000 and 775,000 ounces of gold
- Initial drilling focuses on Ironclad prospect with 12 planned holes totaling 1,000 meters
- Historic data conceptual; further exploration needed to confirm mineral resource
Historic Opportunity Reignited
Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) has embarked on a significant new chapter at its Barrambie Gold Project in Western Australia, initiating the first gold drilling campaign in over 20 years. This maiden program is designed to test the gold potential of a largely under-explored greenstone belt that historically produced high-grade gold, with records indicating approximately 27,000 ounces mined at an exceptional average grade of 27.8 grams per tonne.
The Barrambie Project spans roughly 40 kilometers of strike within the Barrambie Greenstone Belt, a geological setting known for its rich mineralisation but with minimal modern exploration since the late 20th century. Neometals’ renewed focus on gold complements its existing interests in titanium and vanadium at Barrambie, underscoring the project’s multi-commodity potential.
Exploration Target and Drilling Strategy
Based on historical drilling data, which was mostly shallow (less than 60 meters depth), Neometals has defined an Exploration Target ranging from 8 million tonnes at 1.3 g/t gold to 10.5 million tonnes at 2.3 g/t gold. This equates to an estimated 335,000 to 775,000 ounces of gold, though the company cautions that these figures remain conceptual pending further exploration and validation under current JORC standards.
The initial drilling phase targets the Ironclad prospect within the historic Sugarstone mining centre. This area is characterised by complex structural geology, including stacked pods of mineralisation along a 600-meter strike length. The program plans 12 reverse circulation holes totaling 1,000 meters, aiming to verify historic intercepts, understand mineralisation geometry, and refine geological models.
Historic Highlights and Technical Context
Historic drill intercepts at Ironclad are compelling, with notable results such as 14 meters at 12.58 g/t gold and 25 meters at 4.3 g/t gold. These high-grade intersections, alongside rock-chip samples collected by Neometals in 2024 showing grades above 4 g/t, reinforce the prospect’s potential. The mineralisation is structurally controlled, associated with shear zones and quartz vein stockworks, typical of orogenic gold systems in the Yilgarn Craton.
Neometals’ Managing Director, Chris Reed, emphasised the significance of this drilling campaign: "We are excited to be drilling for gold at Barrambie, representing the first programme in two decades designed to test the broader gold potential of this under-explored, historic, high-grade mine camp."
Next Steps and Broader Implications
Following the Ironclad drilling, subject to board approval and heritage clearances, Neometals plans to extend exploration to other historic mining centres within Barrambie, notably the Barrambie Ranges underground mine, which historically yielded over 15,000 ounces at nearly 30 g/t gold. The company’s approach combines modern exploration techniques with a robust review of historic data, aiming to unlock new discoveries in a region with existing processing infrastructure.
While the historic data provide a promising foundation, Neometals acknowledges the need for cautious interpretation given the conceptual nature of the Exploration Target and the variable quality of legacy data. The ongoing drilling results will be critical in confirming the presence and extent of gold mineralisation and guiding future resource development.
Bottom Line?
Neometals’ maiden gold drilling at Barrambie could redefine the project’s value, but the market awaits concrete results to confirm the historic promise.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling confirm the high-grade gold mineralisation suggested by historic data?
- How might Neometals balance its multi-commodity focus between gold, titanium, and vanadium at Barrambie?
- What are the timelines and potential hurdles for expanding drilling beyond Ironclad to other historic centres?