Ordell Minerals Uncovers High-Grade Gold Corridor at Barimaia
Ordell Minerals has reported significant diamond and RC drilling results at its Barimaia Gold Project in Western Australia, revealing wide zones of gold mineralisation including a spectacular 0.3m intercept grading 109.89g/t Au. The mineralised zone remains open for expansion, with further drilling planned.
- Diamond drilling extends McNabs East gold mineralisation over 500m strike
- High-grade intercepts include 0.3m at 109.89g/t Au with visible gold
- Wide zones of gold mineralisation remain open along strike and at depth
- First-pass RC drilling identifies new shallow target east of The Furnace prospect
- Metallurgical testwork confirms free milling gold with excellent recovery
Exploration Breakthrough at McNabs East
Ordell Minerals Limited (ASX, ORD) has delivered a compelling update from its Barimaia Gold Project in Western Australia's Murchison region, reporting strong assay results from recent diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaigns. The highlight is a remarkable 0.3-metre intercept grading 109.89 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, accompanied by visible gold, within a broader 25-metre zone averaging 2.43g/t Au. These results significantly expand the known mineralisation at the McNabs East Prospect.
The drilling program, conducted in July 2025, successfully extended the strike and plunge of gold mineralisation to the east, with wide zones of mineralisation now confirmed over a 500-metre strike length. Importantly, this mineralised corridor remains open both along strike and at depth, offering substantial upside potential for resource growth.
Geological Insights and High-Grade Zones
The gold mineralisation is hosted within a broad granodiorite intrusion, characterised by silica-sericite alteration and quartz-pyrite veining. The presence of visible gold in core samples from hole 25BADD013 underscores the high-grade nature of the system. Other notable intercepts include 33 metres at 0.87g/t Au and 18 metres at 1.46g/t Au from adjacent drill holes, highlighting multiple stacked zones of mineralisation.
Ordell’s Managing Director, Michael Fowler, emphasised the significance of these findings, noting that the recent drilling has revealed some of the best high-grade gold seen at Barimaia to date. He described the mineralised corridor as gently plunging and highly prospective, setting the stage for targeted follow-up drilling.
Expanding the Exploration Footprint
Beyond McNabs East, wide-spaced first-pass RC drilling over the extended Barimaia Intrusion identified a new shallow gold target approximately one kilometre east of The Furnace prospect, with an encouraging intercept of 5 metres at 3.06g/t Au from 25 metres depth. This discovery opens additional avenues for exploration along the intrusion’s strike.
Looking ahead, Ordell plans to recommence RC drilling imminently, followed by diamond drilling in early September and air-core drilling in October. These programs aim to systematically expand the known mineralisation, test potential down-plunge extensions, and explore the extensive +7km strike length of the Barimaia Intrusion.
Metallurgical Testwork Supports Project Viability
Complementing the drilling success, metallurgical testwork on composite samples from Barimaia indicates the gold is free milling with a significant gravity-recoverable component (35-40%). The tests demonstrated rapid gold leaching kinetics and low reagent consumptions, suggesting efficient and cost-effective processing potential. Both transitional and primary ore composites exhibited medium hardness, further supporting favorable mining and processing conditions.
Situated near established gold operations such as Ramelius Resources’ Mt Magnet mill, Barimaia benefits from a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction and infrastructure, enhancing its strategic appeal.
Bottom Line?
With high-grade gold zones expanding and new targets emerging, Ordell’s Barimaia project is poised for a pivotal phase of exploration that could reshape its resource profile.
Questions in the middle?
- How will these latest drilling results influence Ordell’s upcoming resource estimate?
- What are the implications of the high gravity gold component for processing costs and recovery rates?
- Could the newly identified shallow target east of The Furnace lead to a separate economic deposit?
