Strata Minerals Launches Fieldwork at Biranup, Targets High-Grade Gold Zones

Strategic Review Sparks New Exploration Drive

Strata Minerals Limited (ASX: SMX) has commenced fieldwork at its Biranup Gold Project in Western Australia, marking the company’s first gold-focused exploration activities at this site. This move follows a comprehensive strategic review led by new management, which identified multiple compelling gold targets within the project area, notably the Black Dragon and Red Dragon prospects.

Located just 10 kilometres northeast of the world-class Tropicana Gold Mine, operated by AngloGold Ashanti and Regis Resources, Biranup sits in a highly prospective geological corridor. The proximity to a Tier-1 gold operation underscores the potential significance of Strata’s exploration efforts.

Historical Data Reveals Untapped Potential

Previous exploration by AngloGold Ashanti and Ventnor Resources between 2007 and 2017 included over 1,100 drill holes, predominantly shallow aircore drilling. While these programs confirmed significant gold anomalism, the drilling was generally shallow and spaced widely, leaving much of the mineralised system underexplored.

Notably, rock chip samples from the Black Dragon prospect have returned exceptionally high gold grades, including assays exceeding 100 grams per tonne, with one historic sample reaching 626 g/t Au. Despite these promising results, the structural controls and full extent of mineralisation remain poorly understood, presenting a clear opportunity for Strata to advance the project.

Focused Fieldwork to Validate and Expand Targets

Strata’s initial field activities involve detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling aimed at verifying these historical high-grade results. The company is particularly interested in understanding the orientation and continuity of mineralised veins, which could inform future drilling campaigns.

Managing Director Peter Woods highlighted the excitement around the project, emphasizing the strategic location and the identification of multiple high-priority targets. He also noted that February will be a busy month for Strata, with preparations underway for a maiden drill program at the Penny South Gold Project, signalling a broader exploration push.

Geological Setting and Structural Significance

The Biranup Project lies within the Albany-Fraser Orogen, a vast Neoarchean to Mesoproterozoic fold belt known for hosting significant gold deposits. The Black Dragon and Red Dragon prospects are situated along a major shear zone coincident with a >250 km gravity structure, interpreted as a deep-seated basement fault. This structural corridor aligns with the Northern Albany-Fraser Orogen Gold Corridor, a prolific gold mineralised trend that includes the Tropicana deposit.

Understanding the structural geology is critical, as gold mineralisation at Tropicana and nearby deposits is controlled by shear zones and hydrothermal alteration. Strata’s fieldwork aims to unravel these controls at Biranup, potentially unlocking new zones of mineralisation.

Next Steps and Market Implications

Following the completion of mapping and sampling, Strata plans to assess the results to define the next phase of exploration, which may include targeted drilling to test extensions of known mineralisation and new targets identified during fieldwork. The company’s methodical approach, leveraging historical data and modern exploration techniques, positions it well to add value to the Biranup Project.

For investors, the progress at Biranup represents an early but promising chapter in Strata’s growth story. The project’s location near a major gold mine and the presence of high-grade historical assays provide a solid foundation, but the outcomes of the current fieldwork and subsequent drilling will be pivotal in determining the project’s commercial potential.