Lead Dominates Soil Geochemistry as Taruga Reports High-Grade Rock Chips at Thowagee

• Lead identified as dominant soil geochemical signature extending beyond historical workings
• Gold anomaly aligns with interpreted structural shear zone, extending approximately 1km
• High-grade polymetallic rock chip results confirm presence of lead, silver, zinc, copper, and gold
• Taruga exercises option to acquire 100% ownership of Thowagee project
• Plans underway for expanded soil sampling, geophysical surveys, and targeted drilling

Exploration Breakthrough at Thowagee

Taruga Minerals Limited (ASX – TAR) has announced encouraging results from its inaugural soil geochemistry program at the Thowagee project in Western Australia's Northern Gascoyne province. The program has identified lead as a dominant geochemical signature, revealing new mineralisation trends beneath shallow cover that extend beyond the previously defined 1km by 1.2km soil sampling grid. This finding suggests a broader mineralised system than historical records had indicated.

Complementing these soil results, earlier rock chip sampling near historical workings returned high-grade polymetallic assays, including lead concentrations exceeding 12%, silver grades over 100 grams per tonne, and notable zinc, copper, and gold values. These combined data points reinforce the prospectivity of the Thowagee area for base and precious metals.

Gold Anomaly Highlights Structural Controls

A standout feature of the soil sampling program is the identification of a distinct gold anomaly trending northeast to southwest, coinciding with a structural shear zone interpreted from magnetic geophysical data. This gold-in-soil anomaly extends roughly one kilometre and is supported by elevated arsenic levels, a common pathfinder element in gold systems. The alignment of this anomaly with a magnetic shear zone suggests structural controls on mineralisation, providing a compelling target for follow-up exploration.

Technical Director David Chapman emphasised the significance of these findings, noting that the soil geochemistry has proven effective in delineating mineralised trends and their extensions under cover. He highlighted the potential for a larger mineralised system than previously understood, with ongoing work aimed at expanding the strike length of known mineralisation and testing new targets.

Strategic Acquisition and Next Steps

In a strategic move, Taruga has exercised its option to acquire 100% ownership of the Thowagee project, consolidating its position in the Northern Gascoyne province. This acquisition complements Taruga's existing contiguous landholding of over 416 square kilometres, positioning the company well for systematic exploration in this emerging mineral province.

Looking ahead, Taruga plans to expand its soil and rock chip sampling programs, integrate geophysical surveys such as magnetics and gravity to refine structural interpretations, and commence targeted drilling to test mineralisation halos adjacent to historical workings. The company also intends to undertake petrophysical and mineralogical analyses on core samples to better understand the deposit characteristics and guide future exploration.

While these early-stage results are promising, the true extent and economic viability of the mineralisation remain to be confirmed through drilling and further studies. Nonetheless, Taruga's methodical approach and expanding footprint in the region underscore its commitment to unlocking the Thowagee project's potential.

Bottom Line?

Taruga’s expanding footprint and integrated exploration approach at Thowagee set the stage for potentially significant discoveries in the Northern Gascoyne.

Questions in the middle?

• How will upcoming drilling programs validate the extent and grade of the identified mineralisation?
• What is the potential scale of the gold anomaly relative to known deposits in the region?
• How might the integration of geophysical data refine target prioritisation and reduce exploration risk?