Albion Resources has reported impressive near-surface gold intercepts at its Collavilla Prospect in Western Australia, highlighting a standout 11m at 20.0 g/t gold from just 17m depth. A detailed gravity survey is underway to pinpoint further high-grade targets within the expansive Ives Find granite.
- All 12 initial RC drill holes returned gold mineralisation near surface
- Highlight intercept of 11m at 20.0 g/t Au including 5m at 38.9 g/t Au
- Drilling tested a small 100m x 100m zone within a 4km x 750m granite intrusive
- Ground gravity survey underway to identify concealed mafic greenstone zones
- Ongoing fully funded RC drilling program with ~1,100m remaining
Strong Start at Collavilla
Albion Resources has kicked off its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Collavilla Prospect within the Yandal West Gold Project in Western Australia with highly encouraging results. Assays from the first 12 holes, covering just a 100m by 100m area, revealed gold mineralisation in every hole, including a remarkable intercept of 11 metres grading 20.0 grams per tonne (g/t) gold starting at a shallow 17 metres depth. This intercept even includes a 5-metre section at 38.9 g/t Au, underscoring the potential for high-grade shoots near surface.
The drilling campaign is testing a small portion of the much larger Ives Find granite intrusive, which spans approximately 4 kilometres by 750 metres. The shallow nature of these intersections bodes well for potential future mining operations, as near-surface mineralisation typically reduces extraction costs.
Geological Insights and Exploration Strategy
Albion’s geological team has identified a strong correlation between the high-grade gold veins and thicker bands of mafic greenstone rock structurally entrained within the granite. These mafic zones appear to create favourable conditions for gold mineralisation, acting as hosts or conduits for high-grade shoots. This insight has prompted the company to initiate a detailed ground gravity survey across the entire Ives Find granite to detect additional concealed mafic rafts or dykes that could host further gold mineralisation.
The gravity survey, conducted by Atlas Geophysics, covers an area of 4.5 km by 1.3 km and aims to refine drill targets beyond the initial Collavilla zone. The results, expected in the coming weeks, will guide follow-up drilling to test down-dip extensions and other prospective areas within the Yandal West project.
Ongoing Drilling and Future Prospects
To date, Albion has completed 1,900 metres of RC drilling out of a planned 3,000-metre program, with approximately 1,100 metres remaining. The program is fully funded and scheduled to resume in early August after a short break. Assays for about 1,300 metres of recently drilled holes are pending, including follow-up holes targeting a historical high-grade intercept of 3 metres at 15.0 g/t Au, which remains open at depth.
In addition to Collavilla, Albion is evaluating other targets within the Yandal West project, such as Collavilla East and West, Barwidgee Central, and the May Queen prospect. The company is optimistic that integrating geological interpretations with geophysical data will unlock further high-grade zones, potentially expanding the resource base significantly.
Market and Strategic Implications
These early results mark a promising start for Albion’s exploration efforts in the Yandal Greenstone Belt, a region known for its prolific gold deposits. The combination of high-grade near-surface intercepts and a large unexplored granite intrusive offers a compelling exploration upside. Investors will be watching closely as new assay results and gravity survey data emerge, which could materially impact the project’s valuation and development trajectory.
Bottom Line?
Albion’s early drilling success and ongoing geophysical work set the stage for a potentially transformative discovery at Yandal West.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the pending assays confirm extensions of the high-grade gold zones at Collavilla?
- How will the gravity survey results influence the next phase of drilling and target prioritisation?
- What is the potential scale and economic viability of the broader Ives Find intrusive gold system?