Exploration Risks Loom as Torque Targets Deep Extensions at Paris Gold Project

• Awarded $144,500 co-funded Exploration Incentive Scheme grant
• Drilling targets down-plunge extensions beyond current Mineral Resource Estimate
• Focus on two key DHEM conductive plates linked to significant historic gold intercepts
• Paris Gold Project holds 250,000 ounces JORC-compliant gold resource
• Grant underscores strong exploration potential in Western Australian Goldfields

Government Backing Boosts Exploration Ambitions

Torque Metals Limited (ASX: TOR) has secured a significant endorsement from the Western Australian government, receiving a $144,500 co-funded grant under the Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). This funding will support a targeted diamond drilling campaign at the company’s flagship Paris Gold Project, located in the prolific Western Australian Goldfields near Kalgoorlie.

The EIS grant is merit-based and highly competitive, reflecting the government’s confidence in Torque’s exploration strategy and the project’s potential to deliver new discoveries. Managing Director Cristian Moreno described the grant as a “resounding endorsement” and praised the ongoing support from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS).

Targeting Down-Plunge Extensions with Advanced Geophysics

The upcoming drilling program will focus on testing down-plunge extensions of high-grade gold mineralisation beyond the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). Recent Down Hole Electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys have identified two key conductive plates, Plate-1 and Plate-2, that align with historic gold intercepts, suggesting the presence of mineralised zones extending deeper and laterally from known deposits.

One drill hole will target Plate-1, which correlates with a previous intercept of 16.3 metres grading 7.95 grams per tonne gold, indicating a potential downdip extension to the west. A second hole will test Plate-2, associated with intercepts of 15 metres at 12 g/t and 15 metres at 3.85 g/t gold, aiming to confirm extensions to the southwest. These targets lie approximately 200 metres below surface, representing a promising frontier for resource growth.

Paris Gold Project: A Growing Resource Base

The Paris Gold Project currently boasts a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of approximately 250,000 ounces of gold across three deposits, Paris, HHH, and Observation, spanning a 2.5-kilometre strike length within a 57-kilometre prospective greenstone belt. The project remains only partially tested, with significant potential for resource expansion through systematic exploration.

Torque’s broader exploration camp covers around 1,200 square kilometres in a mineral-rich region south of Kambalda, positioning the company well to leverage technical expertise and geological insights in pursuit of further discoveries.

Strategic Implications and Next Steps

The EIS grant not only reduces the financial burden of drilling but also validates Torque’s exploration model, which integrates geophysical data with historical drilling results to efficiently target high-potential zones. As drilling progresses, assay results will be closely watched by investors and analysts eager to see whether these down-plunge extensions can materially increase the project’s resource inventory and enhance its economic prospects.

Torque’s approach exemplifies a disciplined, data-driven exploration strategy in a competitive gold province, balancing risk with the potential for meaningful resource growth.

Bottom Line?

Torque’s government-backed drilling campaign could redefine the Paris Project’s resource potential, setting the stage for a pivotal exploration phase.

Questions in the middle?

• Will the upcoming drilling confirm significant down-plunge extensions to the known gold mineralisation?
• How might new assay results impact the current Mineral Resource Estimate and project valuation?
• Could further government or private funding accelerate exploration beyond the initial drilling program?