Early-Stage Gold Anomalies at Challa Pose Drilling and Resource Risks
Santa Fe Minerals has extended gold anomalies over a 5km strike at its Challa Gold Project in Western Australia and identified new prospects, setting the stage for upcoming air-core drilling programs.
- Extended gold anomalies at Golden Girls prospect over 5km strike
- New gold anomalies discovered at Golden Hope prospect
- 325 additional auger samples collected in May 2025
- Plans for air-core drilling to test Golden Girls targets
- Further sampling required before drilling at Golden Hope
Exploration Progress at Challa Gold Project
Santa Fe Minerals Ltd has provided a significant update on its 100% owned Challa Gold Project located in Western Australia. The company’s recent auger geochemical sampling campaign has successfully extended known gold anomalies at the Golden Girls prospect and uncovered new anomalies at a nearby area now named Golden Hope.
The Golden Girls area has a history of metal detecting and limited drilling, with previous intersections showing anomalous gold values up to 3.74 grams per tonne. The latest sampling, completed in May 2025, involved 325 additional auger samples taken systematically along lines spaced 200 meters apart and holes spaced every 50 meters. This approach has refined the understanding of the gold distribution and extended the anomaly over a 5-kilometer strike length.
Discovery of Golden Hope Prospect
Beyond extending the Golden Girls anomalies, the sampling program identified three new gold anomalies at Golden Hope, located approximately 2 kilometers west of Golden Girls. These anomalies cover strike lengths of 500 meters, 300 meters, and 200 meters respectively, indicating promising new targets for exploration. However, these new anomalies remain open along strike and will require further sampling before any drilling can be planned.
Next Steps and Exploration Outlook
Santa Fe Minerals plans to advance the Golden Girls targets with an air-core drilling program, which is a logical next step to test the subsurface extent of the gold anomalies defined by auger sampling. For Golden Hope, the company intends to conduct additional geochemical sampling to better delineate the anomalies before committing to drilling.
The exploration work is still at an early stage, with no resource estimates or confirmed mineralization widths reported. The company’s methodical approach; combining geochemical sampling with targeted drilling; reflects a disciplined strategy to unlock value from the Challa Gold Project.
With tenure in good standing and no known impediments, Santa Fe Minerals is well positioned to continue its exploration efforts. The involvement of experienced personnel and reputable laboratories adds credibility to the results and future work programs.
Bottom Line?
Santa Fe Minerals’ methodical exploration progress at Challa sets the stage for critical drilling results that could reshape the project’s potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will air-core drilling at Golden Girls confirm economically viable gold mineralization?
- How extensive and continuous are the newly identified gold anomalies at Golden Hope?
- What timeline and budget has Santa Fe allocated for follow-up drilling and resource evaluation?
