High-Grade Gold Intercepts Spur Hammer Metals’ Drilling Plans at Yandal Project
Hammer Metals has identified promising high-grade gold targets adjacent to the multi-million-ounce Bronzewing mine, setting the stage for a significant drilling campaign at its Yandal Gold Project in Western Australia.
- High-grade gold intercepts (>20g/t Au) found less than 40m from Hammer’s Bronzewing South tenement boundary
- Planned Reverse Circulation and diamond tail drilling to test mineralisation at depth
- Historical drilling gaps identified due to transported cover masking deeper mineralisation
- Multiple target zones including Boundary Eastern, Boundary Northern, Central Zone, and Ken’s Bore to be explored
- Renewed exploration focus driven by strong gold prices and comprehensive geological review
Context and Historical Insights
Hammer Metals Limited (ASX: HMX) has announced a strategic pivot back to its Yandal Gold Project in Western Australia, spotlighting the under-explored Bronzewing South tenement. This area lies immediately south of the prolific Bronzewing gold mine, which boasts a multi-million-ounce resource now held by Northern Star Resources. Despite its proximity to such a significant deposit, Bronzewing South has seen limited effective drilling, largely due to a zone of transported cover that has masked deeper mineralisation.
Historical drilling by Great Central Mines NL in 1995 and Newmont Yandal Operations Limited in 2002 uncovered high-grade gold intercepts, including a standout 2m at 20.8g/t Au just 40 metres from Hammer’s tenement boundary. However, these promising zones remained largely untested within Hammer’s tenure, with shallow drilling efforts in 2019 only returning modest results, highlighting the need for deeper exploration.
New Exploration Targets and Planned Drilling
Hammer’s recent comprehensive geological review has identified several high-priority targets within the Bronzewing South tenement. The Boundary Eastern Zone, adjacent to historical high-grade intercepts, is a primary focus. The company plans to deploy Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling programs complemented by diamond tail drilling to penetrate beneath the transported cover and test mineralisation at depth.
Additional targets include the Boundary Northern Zone, where previous RC drilling encountered host stratigraphy but no mineralisation, suggesting deeper zones remain to be tested. The Central Mineralised Zone, located approximately 1,700 metres south of the Bronzewing mine, has yielded encouraging shallow gold intersections in past drilling, including a notable 20m at 1.5g/t Au, which Hammer intends to extend both in depth and strike.
Beyond Bronzewing South, the Ken’s Bore area has attracted attention due to its proximity to the Hamster granite contact and historical soil anomalies. Previous rock chip sampling and drilling have indicated gold mineralisation, prompting plans for further soil sampling and RC drilling to delineate this structurally controlled target.
Strategic Implications and Market Context
Hammer Metals’ renewed focus on the Yandal Gold Project comes amid a robust gold price environment and heightened investor interest in gold exploration. The company had previously prioritized its Queensland copper-gold projects but now sees significant value uplift potential by advancing exploration in Western Australia.
Managing Director Daniel Thomas emphasised the untapped potential near a world-class gold deposit, noting the historical neglect of drilling in key structural positions. The upcoming drilling campaigns, scheduled before the end of the financial year, aim to unlock this potential and could materially enhance Hammer’s resource base.
With a market capitalization of approximately $25.7 million and a solid cash position, Hammer is well-positioned to execute its exploration strategy. The company’s methodical approach, combining historical data with modern drilling techniques, underscores a disciplined pursuit of value creation in a highly prospective gold belt.
Bottom Line?
Hammer Metals’ upcoming drilling at Bronzewing South could redefine its resource potential and reshape investor sentiment in the Yandal Gold Project.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the planned deep drilling confirm the continuity and economic viability of the high-grade mineralisation near the tenement boundary?
- How might Hammer Metals’ renewed focus on Yandal impact its broader portfolio and capital allocation strategy?
- What are the potential timelines and market reactions to the forthcoming drilling and soil sampling results?
