Gateway Mining Unveils Key Mustang Gold Trend, Launches 25,000m Aircore Drill Program
Gateway Mining has identified a significant gold mineralisation trend at its Mustang Shear structure within the Yandal Gold Project, prompting a major 25,000-metre aircore drilling campaign starting mid-October.
- Mustang Shear structure hosts promising gold mineralisation analogous to Horse Well deposits
- Multi-element geochemistry and petrology confirm geological model and prospectivity
- Historic drilling was shallow and wide-spaced, missing primary mineralised targets
- 25,000m aircore drilling program to test Mustang and its convergence with Celia Shear
- Diamond drilling planned at Dusk 'til Dawn following aircore program; $12.1m cash and securities
Gateway Mining Targets New Gold Horizons at Mustang
Gateway Mining Limited (ASX – GML) has announced a pivotal development in its exploration efforts at the Yandal Gold Project in Western Australia. The company has identified a key mineralised trend along the Mustang Shear structure, a geological setting analogous to the nearby Horse Well Gold Camp, which hosts the Palomino and Warmblood gold deposits.
Executive Chairman Andrew Bray highlighted the structural significance of Mustang, noting the convergence of the Mustang and Celia shear zones as a potential catalyst for enhanced gold mineralisation. This convergence, combined with multiple northeast cross-cutting structures, may create zones of intensified mineralisation, often referred to as 'blow outs'.
Geochemical and Petrological Insights Bolster Prospectivity
Recent multi-element geochemistry analysis of over 600 historic bottom-of-hole samples, alongside detailed petrological studies, have validated the geological model underpinning Mustang's potential. These analyses revealed two distinct lithological populations; mafic and felsic/intermediate volcanics; whose contacts align precisely with the Mustang and Celia shear structures. This contact zone is known to host high-grade gold mineralisation at Horse Well, reinforcing the prospectivity of Mustang.
Petrographic examination confirmed intense shearing and mylonitic textures at the contact zones, associated with anomalous concentrations of gold and pathfinder elements such as silver, bismuth, molybdenum, tungsten, and arsenic. The presence of dacitic dykes, which pre-date shearing, suggests structural complexity conducive to high-grade gold deposits.
Historic Drilling Limitations and Upcoming Exploration
Historic drilling at Mustang was predominantly shallow, vertical, and widely spaced, largely failing to penetrate transported cover and adequately test the primary mineralised shear zones. Despite this, anomalous gold trends spanning 12 kilometres along the Mustang and Celia shears were identified, indicating a substantial mineralised footprint yet to be fully explored.
To address these gaps, Gateway plans a substantial 25,000-metre aircore drilling program commencing mid-October. This program aims to systematically test the Mustang shear and its intersection with the Celia shear, utilizing an aircore rig capable of drilling beyond typical resistance points to obtain high-quality fresh rock samples. Following this, a diamond drilling campaign is scheduled at the Dusk 'til Dawn prospect to the north.
Financial Position and Strategic Outlook
Gateway Mining remains well-funded, with approximately $12.1 million in cash and liquid ASX-listed securities as of the June quarter, supporting its aggressive exploration agenda through 2025 and 2026. The company is also advancing geochemical soil sampling and geophysical surveys at other project areas, including Great Western and Dusk 'til Dawn, to refine targets and enhance geological understanding.
These developments position Gateway Mining to potentially unlock significant new gold resources within the Yandal Gold Project, leveraging advanced geological modelling and targeted drilling to build on the region’s established gold endowment.
Bottom Line?
As Gateway Mining embarks on its largest drilling campaign yet at Mustang, the market will be watching closely for assay results that could redefine the company’s resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming aircore drilling confirm high-grade gold mineralisation continuity along Mustang and Celia shears?
- How might the convergence of Mustang and Celia shear zones influence the scale and grade of mineralisation discovered?
- What impact will the Dusk 'til Dawn diamond drilling results have on Gateway’s overall resource strategy?
