Trek Metals has expanded its Christmas Creek exploration by adding a diamond drill rig to complement ongoing reverse circulation drilling, aiming to deepen geological insights and target high-grade gold zones.
- Second diamond drill rig secured from DDH1 for Christmas Creek project
- Diamond drilling to target deeper gold mineralisation and structural details
- Ongoing reverse circulation drilling focusing on high-grade Martin Prospect
- Initial assay results from RC drilling expected mid to late July 2025
- Project located in Kimberley region, previously held by Newmont
Expanding the Exploration Horizon
Trek Metals Limited (ASX – TKM) has announced a significant expansion of its exploration activities at the Christmas Creek Gold Project in Western Australia's Kimberley region. The company has engaged a second drilling contractor, DDH1 Drilling, to provide diamond core drilling services alongside the ongoing reverse circulation (RC) drilling program. This move marks a strategic step to deepen exploration efforts and enhance geological understanding of the project’s gold mineralisation.
Why Diamond Drilling Matters
Diamond drilling offers a more detailed and precise method of sampling compared to RC drilling, allowing geologists to retrieve solid core samples that reveal the rock’s structure and mineral content in three dimensions. Trek Metals’ CEO Derek Marshall highlighted that the diamond rig will enable the team to access deeper parts of the system and gain clearer insights into the structural controls of the gold mineralisation, particularly at the Martin Prospect where previous drilling uncovered promising high-grade gold intervals.
Targeting High-Grade Zones
The current RC drilling program is focused on extensions of high-grade gold zones identified in drill-hole 24XRC097 at the Martin Prospect, which returned notable intercepts including 10 meters at 12.66 grams per tonne gold from 59 meters depth, and another 10 meters at 7.34 grams per tonne from 94 meters. These results have set the stage for a more detailed follow-up with diamond drilling, expected to commence in early July as the rig arrives on site.
Broader Project Context
The Christmas Creek Project represents a district-scale opportunity, situated at the intersection of major tectonic lineaments that are known to host significant mineral deposits. Previously part of Newmont Exploration’s portfolio, Trek Metals acquired the project in late 2023 and has since been advancing exploration with a focus on both gold and rare earth elements. The recent heritage surveying completion has also cleared the way for testing additional targets within the project area.
Looking Ahead
Investors and analysts will be watching closely for the initial batch of assay results from the ongoing RC drilling, expected in mid to late July 2025. These results, combined with forthcoming diamond core data, will be critical in assessing the true potential of the Christmas Creek gold system and guiding future exploration and development decisions.
Bottom Line?
Trek Metals’ dual-rig approach at Christmas Creek could unlock deeper, high-grade gold zones, setting the stage for a pivotal exploration phase.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the diamond drilling confirm deeper extensions of the high-grade gold zones at Martin Prospect?
- How might the new structural data from diamond core samples influence resource modelling?
- What are the implications of the expanded drilling program for Trek Metals’ project timeline and capital requirements?