Golden State Mining advances its Western Australia gold exploration with promising air-core drilling results at Southern Cross East and a significant tenement expansion at Yule, setting the stage for a major exploration push.
- Reconnaissance air-core drilling confirms gold anomalism at Southern Cross East
- Large 10 km x 3.5 km gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly supports structural targeting
- Tenement holdings expanded by 154 km² at Southern Cross East and 122 km² at Yule
- High-resolution aeromagnetic survey and follow-up drilling planned
- Exploration expenditure of $248,000 for the quarter with heritage surveys underway
Southern Cross East, Early Drilling Validates Gold Potential
Golden State Mining Limited (ASX, GSM) has reported encouraging early-stage results from its inaugural air-core drilling program at the Southern Cross East project in Western Australia. The reconnaissance program, comprising 17 holes totaling 1,125 metres, targeted a substantial 10-kilometre-long gold-in-soil anomaly identified through detailed geochemical sampling. Assay results revealed two distinct zones of anomalous gold mineralisation, including a standout 6 metres at 0.19 grams per tonne and a 1-metre interval at 0.14 grams per tonne near the end of a hole. These findings lend strong support to the company’s structural targeting model, which interprets the gold dispersion as controlled by thrust faults and secondary dilational structures within an Archaean greenstone setting.
Strategic Tenement Growth and Next Steps
In response to these promising results, GSM has expanded its tenement footprint by an additional 154 square kilometres around Southern Cross East, securing key areas of structural complexity that may host further mineralisation. The company is planning a high-resolution aeromagnetic survey to refine its understanding of subtle geological features and improve drill targeting. Follow-up drilling is being prepared to test extensions of the gold mineralisation trend to the north, south, and east of the initial anomalous zones.
Yule Project Expansion in the Pilbara
Meanwhile, at the Yule project in the Mallina Basin of the Pilbara Craton, GSM has lodged a new exploration licence application covering 122 square kilometres of highly prospective ground. This addition increases the company’s total landholding in the region to approximately 678 square kilometres. The area is geologically significant, straddling the boundary between granitic and sedimentary units and lying near major shear zones. Previous exploration was limited due to extensive sedimentary cover, making GSM’s planned ~4,000-metre air-core drilling program, preceded by a heritage survey, a critical step in unlocking the area’s potential.
Management Perspective and Outlook
Managing Director Michael Moore highlighted the company’s progress, noting that the initial drilling results confirm the presence of bedrock gold anomalism and reveal structural and lithological complexities consistent with orogenic and intrusion-related gold systems. He emphasized that the expanded tenement holdings and upcoming aeromagnetic survey will enable GSM to refine its exploration targets and accelerate drilling efforts. The company’s strategic positioning near significant deposits such as the 11.2 million-ounce Hemi deposit and recent discoveries at the Wagyu prospect further underscores the potential of its Pilbara tenure.
Financial and Operational Summary
During the June quarter, GSM reported exploration and evaluation expenditure of $248,000, with no material mining production or development costs. The company ended the quarter with $720,000 in cash and continues to manage its resources prudently as it advances multiple exploration fronts. Payments to related parties, including directors, amounted to $57,000, reflecting standard remuneration and services.
Overall, Golden State Mining’s June quarter activities demonstrate a methodical and promising approach to gold exploration in underexplored but highly prospective Western Australian terrains. The combination of geochemical anomalies, structural interpretations, and strategic land acquisitions positions GSM well for the next phase of exploration.
Bottom Line?
Golden State Mining’s methodical exploration progress and strategic expansions set the stage for potentially transformative drilling results in WA’s goldfields.
Questions in the middle?
- Will follow-up drilling at Southern Cross East confirm economically viable gold mineralisation?
- How will the planned aeromagnetic survey refine GSM’s structural targeting and influence drilling priorities?
- What impact will heritage survey timing and approvals have on the Yule project drilling schedule?