Wagyu’s Hemi-Style Intrusives Confirmed—Can Drilling Unlock Gold Potential?

Geological Confirmation at Wagyu

New Age Exploration Limited (ASX – NAE) has taken a significant step forward in its Pilbara gold exploration efforts by confirming the presence of Hemi-style quartz diorite intrusives at its Wagyu Gold Project. Petrographic and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses conducted on reverse circulation (RC) drill chips have identified numerous quartz diorite bodies exhibiting strong sericite-chlorite-dolomite alteration. These findings are critical because such intrusives are the primary host rocks for gold mineralisation at the nearby Northern Star Resources’ Hemi Gold Project, which boasts an 11.2 million ounce resource.

Implications of Alteration and Geochemistry

The alteration minerals and fracturing observed at Wagyu suggest an extensive hydrothermal system, a key ingredient for gold deposition. Complementing the petrographic work, geochemical analysis by Sugden Geoscience has confirmed strong correlations between gold and arsenic, as well as gold and sericite alteration. These associations refine the exploration model, enhancing the understanding of mineralisation controls and aiding in targeting future drilling.

Strategic Location Within a Proven Gold Corridor

Wagyu’s location, just 5 kilometres west of Antwerp, the westernmost deposit at Hemi, and within the same mineralisation corridor in the Mallina Basin, places it in a highly prospective geological setting. This corridor also hosts other significant gold resources such as Mt Berghaus and Calvert. The geological continuity and similarities in host rock types bolster confidence that Wagyu could host substantial gold mineralisation.

Next Steps in Exploration

Building on these encouraging results, New Age Exploration is advancing plans for further drilling. An aircore program is set to expand supergene zones around key targets, while reverse circulation drilling will test these zones at greater depths and along strike. The company is also preparing to resample high-grade composite assays with finer one-metre splits to refine intercepts. Executive Director Joshua Wellisch highlighted the importance of these findings, noting that Wagyu has the right geological ingredients to support a long-term and systematic exploration program.

Context and Outlook

While the highest gold assay reported so far is modest at 0.4 grams per tonne, the confirmation of Hemi-style intrusives and associated alteration is a foundational milestone. It aligns Wagyu with one of Australia’s most significant gold provinces and sets a clear path for targeted exploration. Investors and analysts will be watching closely as New Age Exploration executes its next drilling campaigns, which could unlock further value and potentially expand the known mineralisation footprint.