Arika Resources has identified 17 new high-priority gold targets at its Kookynie Gold Project in Western Australia, leveraging advanced ultrafine soil geochemistry. These untested targets could unlock significant exploration upside in a prolific gold district.
- Seventeen new priority gold targets identified via ultrafine soil geochemistry
- High-priority targets at Mulga Plum-Jeedamya and Cosmopolitan prospects
- Targets represent basement-sourced orogenic gold mineralisation
- None of the new targets have been previously drill tested
- Follow-up soil sampling and reconnaissance drilling planned subject to approvals
Exploration Breakthrough at Kookynie
Arika Resources Limited (ASX, ARI) has announced a significant advancement in its exploration efforts at the Kookynie Gold Project in Western Australia. Utilizing state-of-the-art ultrafine soil geochemistry techniques, the company has pinpointed 17 new high-priority gold targets across the Mulga Plum-Jeedamya tenements and the Cosmopolitan Prospect. These targets, which remain untested by drilling, suggest the presence of basement-sourced orogenic gold mineralisation, a style known for hosting substantial gold deposits.
Strategic Target Areas and Geological Context
The Mulga Plum-Jeedamya area, situated on the western flank of the Kookynie Project, has yielded two standout targets, MJTA 1, covering approximately 750 by 450 metres, and MJTA 9, an elongated zone stretching 2,200 by 300 metres within mafic geological units. Meanwhile, the Cosmopolitan Prospect, located just 2 kilometres northwest of the historical Cosmopolitan Mine, has revealed two priority targets with notable gold assay results, including a peak of 231.8 parts per billion gold.
These discoveries are particularly compelling given the region's rich mining heritage and the structural complexity of the Keith-Kilkenny Tectonic Zone, which hosts the Archean-aged Malcolm greenstone belt. The identified targets align with key structural corridors and geophysical anomalies, enhancing their prospectivity.
Next Steps in Exploration
Arika plans to undertake extensional and in-fill soil sampling to refine these targets further. Subject to regulatory approvals, reconnaissance air-core and reverse circulation drilling are slated for the latter half of 2025. Additionally, drilling activities are set to recommence imminently at the Yundamindra Gold Project, another key asset in Arika’s portfolio.
Managing Director Justin Barton highlighted the strategic integration of geochemical and geophysical data, stating that the recent surveys have delivered "very positive results" and identified multiple coincident targets worthy of follow-up. The company’s approach underscores a methodical and data-driven exploration strategy aimed at unlocking new high-grade gold discoveries under cover, a frontier that has seen limited systematic testing to date.
Regional Significance and Potential
Located within the prolific North-Eastern Goldfields district, the Kookynie Project benefits from proximity to established gold processing infrastructure and historical mining centres. The project’s 80% ownership by Arika, with Nex Metals holding the remaining 20%, positions the company well to capitalize on both resource extensions at known deposits and new discoveries in underexplored areas.
While the newly identified targets are promising, they remain at an early stage, with no drilling results yet available. The upcoming phases of soil sampling and drilling will be critical in validating the potential of these anomalies and advancing them towards resource definition.
Bottom Line?
Arika’s latest geochemical breakthroughs set the stage for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape its gold resource profile.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming drilling results at Mulga Plum-Jeedamya and Cosmopolitan influence resource estimates?
- What is the timeline and regulatory outlook for reconnaissance drilling approvals?
- Could these new targets represent extensions of known deposits or entirely new mineralised systems?