Edinburgh Park Drilling Begins: 2,200 Metres Planned at Leichhardt Creek and Mt Dillon
Great Southern Mining has commenced diamond drilling at its Edinburgh Park Project in northern Queensland, aiming to unlock large-scale gold-copper-silver mineralisation indicated by recent geophysical surveys. Funded by Gold Fields Ltd, this marks a pivotal step in advancing the project’s exploration potential.
- Diamond drilling underway targeting large-scale IP anomalies at Leichhardt Creek and Mt Dillon
- Initial program includes three holes totaling approximately 2,200 metres
- Gold Fields Ltd funding exploration with option to earn 75% interest by spending A$15 million
- Targets show geological traits consistent with intrusive-related and epithermal gold-copper-silver systems
- Ongoing IP surveys testing additional prospects including Edinburgh Castle and Molongle
Drilling Commences on Compelling Targets
Great Southern Mining Limited (GSN) has officially begun diamond drilling at its Edinburgh Park Project, located in northern Queensland. This exploration phase targets significant induced polarisation (IP) anomalies that suggest the presence of intrusive-related and epithermal gold deposits. The initial drilling campaign focuses on the Leichhardt Creek area, with three planned holes totaling around 2,200 metres, before moving to the Mt Dillon prospect.
These targets were identified through extensive geophysical surveys and geological mapping conducted over the past 20 months by Gold Fields Ltd, GSN’s joint venture partner. The anomalies correspond with geological features typical of large-scale gold-copper-silver mineral systems, raising hopes for a substantial discovery.
Leichhardt Creek – A Sulphide-Rich Epithermal System in Focus
The Leichhardt Creek drilling program aims to test shallow chargeability IP anomalies that may represent sulphide halos around preserved epithermal systems. One interpretation likens these anomalies to the Mount Leyshon gold-silver mine, located approximately 120 kilometres west, known for its significant mineral endowment.
Field mapping has confirmed the presence of pyrite and extensive quartz veining, with rock chip samples grading up to 10.5 grams per tonne gold. Elevated molybdenum and zoned gold, silver, and base metals in soil geochemistry further support the prospectivity of this area.
Mt Dillon – Targeting a Large-Scale Porphyry System
Following Leichhardt Creek, drilling will shift to Mt Dillon, where a large-scale IP chargeability anomaly was delineated earlier this year. The prospect features a silicified lithocap and advanced argillic alteration consistent with a high-sulphidation epithermal environment, often associated with significant copper-gold porphyry deposits globally.
Two holes are planned to test both the upper chargeable anomaly and a deeper resistivity anomaly interpreted as a zone of pervasive hydrothermal alteration. This approach aims to intersect mineralisation zones that could be analogous to major deposits such as Quebradona in Colombia and Valeriano in Chile.
Expanding the Exploration Footprint
In parallel with drilling, ongoing IP surveys are evaluating additional targets within the extensive 1,750 square kilometre project area. Notably, the Edinburgh Castle and Molongle prospects are under investigation. Edinburgh Castle hosts a cluster of hydrothermal breccias with alteration styles transitional between low and high sulphidation, while Molongle has yielded surface rock chips grading up to 5.27 grams per tonne gold and historical shallow drilling with encouraging intercepts.
The project benefits from a strategic joint venture with Gold Fields Ltd, which has committed up to A$15 million to earn a 75% interest. This partnership brings significant financial backing and technical expertise, positioning Edinburgh Park as a promising exploration frontier in northern Queensland.
Bottom Line?
As drilling progresses, Edinburgh Park could emerge as a key player in Australia’s gold-copper exploration landscape, with results poised to shape the project’s future trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- What initial assay results will reveal about the scale and grade of mineralisation at Leichhardt Creek and Mt Dillon?
- How will ongoing geophysical surveys refine or expand the target portfolio within Edinburgh Park?
- What timeline and milestones will Gold Fields follow to exercise its option and increase its stake?
