Dundas Minerals reports promising drilling results at its Baden-Powell gold deposit, revealing extensions to mineralised zones and setting the stage for an updated resource estimate.
- New drilling extends gold mineralisation north, south, and at depth
- Significant intercepts include 16m @ 1.0g/t and 8m @ 1.3g/t gold
- Current inferred resource stands at 23,000 ounces of gold
- Further assay results from 1m samples expected in March 2025
- Additional drilling planned at Baden-Powell and Olympia prospect
Encouraging Drilling Results at Baden-Powell
Dundas Minerals Limited (ASX: DUN) has announced a successful drilling campaign at its Baden-Powell gold deposit, located approximately 60km north of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. The recent program, completed in December 2024, comprised 15 reverse circulation holes totaling 2,053 metres, aimed at testing extensions to the existing mineralised zones.
Initial assay results from 4-metre composite samples have revealed multiple significant gold intercepts, including 16 metres at 1.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 84 metres, and 8 metres at 1.3 g/t gold from 92 metres. These results suggest the mineralisation is open both along strike and at depth, with new zones identified beyond the current resource boundaries.
Resource Growth Potential and Geological Context
The Baden-Powell deposit currently holds an inferred mineral resource of approximately 23,000 ounces of gold, hosted within a felsic unit enclosed by ultramafic rocks. The mineralisation is associated with quartz veining and silica-sericite alteration, typical of Archaean lode gold deposits in the region.
Notably, 83% of drilling to date has been confined to depths of 100 metres or less, leaving considerable untested potential at greater depths and along strike. The recent drilling has extended mineralisation to the northwest and down plunge, with encouraging results from holes situated outside the existing resource envelope, indicating possible resource expansion.
Next Steps and Broader Exploration Plans
Dundas is awaiting assay results from 1-metre samples, expected in March 2025, which will provide higher resolution data to refine the geological model and support an updated mineral resource estimate. The company plans to incorporate these results with existing data to better define the deposit’s extent and grade continuity.
Looking ahead, Dundas intends to commence additional drilling at Baden-Powell from March 2025, alongside exploration at the Olympia prospect, a greenfield target located north of Baden-Powell within a granted mining lease. Olympia lies within the prolific greenstone belt and represents a promising opportunity for further gold discoveries.
Managing Director Shane Volk highlighted the significance of these results, stating that the drilling has confirmed the potential to grow the gold resource both at depth and along strike. The upcoming drilling campaigns and assay updates will be critical in unlocking the full value of these projects.
Bottom Line?
With mineralisation open in multiple directions and further assays pending, Dundas Minerals is poised for a pivotal resource update that could reshape its gold portfolio.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming 1m assay results impact the current resource estimate?
- What is the exploration potential and timeline for the Olympia prospect?
- Could deeper drilling beyond 150m reveal significantly larger gold zones?