Antipa Minerals Reclaims Full Control and Accelerates Drilling at Minyari Project
Antipa Minerals has consolidated its Paterson Province tenements into the expansive Minyari Project, resumed full ownership of Wilki and Paterson Projects following partner withdrawals, and launched a major drilling campaign targeting resource growth and new discoveries.
- Consolidation of Minyari Dome, Wilki, and Paterson Projects into a 4,060km² Minyari Project
- Launch of Phase 1 CY2025 drilling program with 389 holes totaling 35,000m
- Strong assay results including high-grade gold up to 90.7 g/t and copper up to 16.9%
- Newmont and IGO withdraw from Wilki and Paterson farm-in agreements, returning 100% ownership to Antipa
- Robust financial position with A$40 million cash and no debt at quarter end
Strategic Consolidation and Ownership
Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX: AZY) has taken a decisive step in its development trajectory by consolidating its 100%-owned Minyari Dome, Wilki, and Paterson Projects into a single, belt-scale Minyari Project spanning 4,060 square kilometres in Western Australia's Paterson Province. This move simplifies the company's asset base and aligns its exploration and development efforts under one expansive and strategically located umbrella.
Significantly, Antipa regained full ownership of the Wilki and Paterson Projects following the withdrawal of major farm-in partners Newmont Corporation and IGO Limited. Newmont’s exit from Wilki triggered a payment of A$590,000 to Antipa, while IGO’s departure from Paterson returned full management control to Antipa as of April 2025. These developments position Antipa as the sole driver of exploration and development in these highly prospective tenements.
Robust Exploration and Drilling Program
Building on its consolidated position, Antipa commenced a substantial Phase 1 drilling program in April 2025, comprising 389 holes for a total of 35,000 metres. This multi-method campaign includes air core, reverse circulation (RC), and diamond core drilling designed to both expand the existing Mineral Resource at Minyari Dome and test numerous high-potential greenfield targets across the broader project area.
The Phase 2 CY2024 drilling results, recently completed and reported, underscore the project's potential with multiple thick, high-grade gold and copper intersections. Highlights include exceptional mineralisation grading up to 90.7 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 16.9% copper over a 0.55-metre interval at the Minyari Deposit, and a 77.6-metre intercept at 1.3 g/t gold from the GEO-01 Main Zone, including high-grade zones of 12.3 g/t gold and 4.1% copper.
Advancing Pre-Feasibility and Development Workstreams
Antipa is progressing several critical pre-feasibility study (PFS) workstreams, including metallurgical test work, environmental assessments, permitting, and financing strategies. The PFS builds on a 2024 Scoping Study that confirmed the technical and financial viability of a standalone gold mining and processing operation at Minyari Dome. The company is actively engaging with industry consultants and potential debt advisors to refine project design and capital structure options.
Environmental and heritage surveys are underway, supporting regulatory submissions and community engagement. The company is also recruiting key personnel to bolster project development capabilities, reflecting its commitment to advancing Minyari towards production readiness.
Financial Strength and Capital Management
Antipa ended the quarter with a strong cash position of approximately A$40 million and no debt, providing a solid financial foundation for its aggressive exploration and development programs. The company completed a 10:1 share consolidation in early March 2025 to streamline its capital structure, aligning its share base with its growth stage and peer group.
During the quarter, Antipa expended around A$0.8 million on exploration activities and reported ongoing payments to related parties consistent with director fees and salaries. The company’s financial discipline and strategic capital management underpin its capacity to fund extensive drilling and project advancement without immediate reliance on external financing.
Regional Exploration and High-Potential Targets
Beyond Minyari Dome, Antipa is targeting several compelling prospects within the Minyari Project. The Wilki Project’s Parklands and Jezabeel targets, located near Greatland Gold’s Telfer mine, present large-scale surface geochemical anomalies with shallow cover, ideal for near-term drill testing. Similarly, the Paterson Project hosts multiple gold and copper prospects, including the Collie geophysical target, which returned encouraging base metal and pathfinder element results indicative of a distal mineral system.
These regional targets, combined with the resource growth potential at Minyari Dome and GEO-01, position Antipa to deliver significant value through both resource expansion and new discoveries in one of Australia’s most prolific mineral provinces.
Bottom Line?
Antipa’s consolidation and aggressive exploration set the stage for a pivotal year in resource growth and project development.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Antipa finance the next stages of development without farm-in partners?
- What are the timelines and milestones for the ongoing pre-feasibility study and permitting?
- Can the high-grade zones at Minyari Dome translate into a commercially viable mining operation soon?
