Golden Horse Minerals Launches Deep Drilling to Unlock Hopes Hill Potential
Golden Horse Minerals has initiated a significant diamond drilling campaign at its Hopes Hill gold project, aiming to deepen geological insights and expand high-grade mineralisation zones with government-backed support.
- Mobilisation of diamond core rig for ~2,500m deep drilling campaign
- Two deep drill holes co-funded by WA Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme
- Down-hole electromagnetic surveys to target pyrrhotite-rich gold mineralisation
- RC drilling productivity increased by 50% to extend +4km Hopes Hill trend
- Focus on enhancing geological knowledge to support future resource estimation
Diamond Drilling Commences at Hopes Hill
Golden Horse Minerals (ASX – GHM) has taken a decisive step forward in its exploration strategy by mobilising a diamond core drilling rig to its flagship Hopes Hill gold project in Western Australia’s prolific Southern Cross region. The campaign, targeting approximately 2,500 metres of drilling, marks the first time deeper mineralisation zones at Hopes Hill will be tested with diamond core technology, which offers enhanced geological and structural data compared to previous drilling methods.
The initial phase includes two deep diamond drill holes co-funded through the Western Australian Government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS), underscoring the project’s strategic importance and potential. These holes will not only probe deeper targets but also serve as platforms for down-hole electromagnetic (DHEM) geophysical surveys, a technique aimed at detecting off-hole conductors that may indicate pyrrhotite-rich gold mineralisation, a hallmark of the Southern Cross gold province.
Enhanced Geological Understanding and Resource Growth
Golden Horse’s Managing Director, Nicholas Anderson, emphasised the significance of this drilling phase, highlighting its role in building upon encouraging prior results. The diamond drilling will provide critical data on geology, mineralisation, bulk density, and structural features, all essential for compiling a robust and validated drill database. This foundation is crucial for future mineral resource estimation and potential resource growth at Hopes Hill.
Complementing the diamond drilling, the company has ramped up its reverse circulation (RC) drilling efforts, increasing productivity by approximately 50% with the rig now operating seven days a week. This intensified activity focuses on extending known high-grade zones along the more than 4-kilometre Hopes Hill trend, including key areas such as Hopes Hill Central, North, South, and the Irene Betty prospect.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
The integration of diamond drilling with advanced geophysical surveys represents a sophisticated approach to exploration, aiming to unlock deeper and potentially richer mineralisation that has eluded previous campaigns. The scheduled DHEM surveys, expected to be completed by early next quarter, could substantially expand the footprint of mineralisation tested by each drill hole, enhancing the project’s upside.
Golden Horse’s ongoing efforts reflect a confident outlook on Hopes Hill’s potential, supported by government co-funding and a methodical exploration program. Investors and analysts will be keenly awaiting assay results and geophysical data to assess the impact on the project’s resource base and valuation.
Bottom Line?
Golden Horse’s deep drilling and geophysical surveys could redefine Hopes Hill’s resource potential, setting the stage for a pivotal exploration breakthrough.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the assay results from the deep diamond drill holes reveal about mineralisation depth and grade?
- How might the DHEM surveys alter the understanding of off-hole mineralisation extensions?
- What impact will the increased RC drilling productivity have on the timeline for resource updates?
