Firetail Targets High-Grade Gold with August Drilling at Excelsior Project
Firetail Resources has launched field exploration at its high-grade Excelsior Gold Project in Nevada, preparing for the first-ever diamond drilling campaign to unlock the site's significant gold potential.
- Field exploration underway at Excelsior Gold Project targeting six priority zones
- Initial diamond drilling set for August to define mineralisation and support metallurgical testing
- Historical Buster Mine produced 19,200oz gold at 41g/t, with underground 3D surveys planned
- Firetail gains 100% ownership of Peru’s Picha and Charaque copper projects
- 3D IP geophysical survey completed at Skyline Copper Project, Canada; results expected soon
Exploration Kicks Off at Excelsior Gold Project
Firetail Resources Limited (ASX – FTL) has commenced boots-on-the-ground exploration at its Excelsior Gold Project, situated within Nevada’s prolific Walker Lane Trend. This marks a significant milestone as the company prepares for its maiden diamond drilling campaign, scheduled to begin in August 2025 following completion of the acquisition process.
The initial field program focuses on six priority target areas identified through a combination of historical data, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, and mapping of old shafts, pits, and trenches. Notably, many of these historical workings have no documented sampling records, presenting fresh opportunities for discovery.
Unlocking High-Grade Gold Potential
The Excelsior Project boasts a rich history of high-grade gold production, with the Buster Mine alone having yielded approximately 19,200 ounces at an exceptional grade of 41 grams per tonne. Firetail plans to conduct detailed underground LIDAR surveys of the Buster and Blue Dick Mines to create 3D models of previous workings, which will guide targeted drilling efforts.
The upcoming diamond drilling will be the first ever on site, designed to provide critical insights into the mineralisation style, structural controls, and geotechnical conditions. This approach will also facilitate early metallurgical testing, essential for assessing the economic viability of the resource. Firetail’s Managing Director, Glenn Poole, emphasised the importance of diamond core drilling to understand the complex structural framework of this high-grade system.
Parallel Advances in Copper Assets
Beyond Nevada, Firetail is advancing its copper portfolio with a recently completed 3D Induced Polarisation (IP) survey at the Skyline Copper Project in Newfoundland, Canada. The survey aims to delineate sulphide mineralisation down to 400 meters depth, with results expected in August. Additionally, Firetail has secured 100% ownership of the Picha and Charaque Projects in Peru after its joint venture partner converted their equity into a 1% net smelter royalty, positioning Firetail to fully capitalize on these high-potential copper assets.
Strategic Positioning in Tier-1 Mining Districts
Firetail’s aggressive exploration strategy across multiple jurisdictions reflects its ambition to unlock value in Tier-1 mining districts. The company’s portfolio spans high-grade gold in Nevada and South Dakota, alongside district-scale copper opportunities in Canada and Peru. The integration of modern geophysical techniques, systematic fieldwork, and targeted drilling programs underscores Firetail’s commitment to disciplined, data-driven exploration.
As Firetail moves forward, the market will be watching closely for drill results from Excelsior and geophysical data from Skyline, which together will shape the company’s near-term development trajectory.
Bottom Line?
Firetail’s multi-pronged exploration push sets the stage for a pivotal phase of discovery and resource definition across its Americas portfolio.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the initial diamond drilling at Excelsior reveal about the size and continuity of high-grade gold mineralisation?
- How might the 3D IP survey results at Skyline influence Firetail’s copper exploration strategy in Canada?
- What impact will full ownership of the Picha and Charaque projects have on Firetail’s growth and capital allocation?
