Trunkey Creek Gold System Remains Open: What Risks Lie Ahead for Argent Minerals?

Extending the Gold Frontier at Trunkey Creek

Argent Minerals Limited (ASX, ARD) has delivered a compelling update from its Trunkey Creek Gold Project in New South Wales, confirming the presence of extensive high-grade gold mineralisation over a strike length now exceeding 4.7 kilometres. This follows a July 2025 rock chip sampling program that not only validated previous exploration but also uncovered a significant 1.8km southern extension of the mineralised corridor, previously unknown to the market.

The standout assay results include bonanza-grade gold samples reaching as high as 216 grams per tonne (g/t), alongside multiple other samples exceeding 20 g/t. These findings underscore the exceptional tenor of mineralisation, even within mullock dumps; waste material left by historical miners; highlighting the potential for economically viable extraction.

Historical Context Meets Modern Exploration

Trunkey Creek’s goldfield has a rich mining history dating back to the mid-19th century, with over 2,900 ounces of gold historically extracted from shallow workings. Argent’s recent fieldwork has delineated multiple NNE-trending quartz vein systems within a corridor averaging 250 metres wide and locally expanding to 500 metres. The mineralised system remains open along strike to both the north and south, suggesting substantial upside potential.

Complementing the surface sampling, a reinterpretation of historical Induced Polarisation (IP) geophysical data has identified significant chargeability anomalies indicative of sulphide mineralisation, as well as resistive zones associated with quartz-rich structures. These geophysical signatures correlate well with historical workings and surface gold occurrences, providing a robust framework for targeting future drilling.

Next Steps, Drilling and Integration

Building on these encouraging early-stage results, Argent is planning a maiden reconnaissance reverse circulation (RC) drilling program aimed at testing priority gold targets defined by the combination of historical workings, geophysical anomalies, and surface mapping. This step is critical to establishing the depth extent, continuity, and economic viability of the mineralisation.

Strategically, Trunkey Creek’s proximity; just 9 kilometres southeast; to Argent’s flagship Kempfield Polymetallic Project offers intriguing possibilities. Kempfield boasts a substantial silver-lead-zinc-gold resource, recently upgraded to 63.7 million tonnes at 69.75 g/t silver equivalent, containing over 125,000 ounces of gold. The high-grade gold mineralisation at Trunkey Creek could potentially serve as a supplementary feed source, enhancing the overall project economics and operational flexibility.

A Promising Chapter in Argent’s Exploration Story

Managing Director Pedro Kastellorizos emphasised the significance of Argent being the first exploration company in over three decades to gain land access south of Trunkey Township, enabling this breakthrough discovery. The combination of historical data, modern geophysical interpretation, and high-grade surface assays paints a promising picture of a large, shallow orogenic gold system ripe for further exploration.

While these results are preliminary and derived from surface sampling, they set a strong foundation for the upcoming drilling campaign. Investors and analysts will be watching closely as Argent seeks to translate these surface indications into a defined resource and, ultimately, a viable mining operation.