Lightning Minerals Targets High-Grade Gold with 1,300m Drill Program at Mt Turner

A New Chapter for Mt Turner

Lightning Minerals (ASX, L1M) is gearing up to kick off its inaugural diamond drilling program at the Mt Turner Gold Project in Queensland, marking a pivotal step following its recent acquisition of the asset through Lotus Minerals. Scheduled to begin the week of 15 September 2025, the campaign will see up to 1,300 metres drilled across five high-priority gold targets.

The Mt Turner project, located near Georgetown in North Queensland, has a rich history of shallow open-pit mining and exploration dating back to the 1980s and 1990s. Previous drilling and mining efforts uncovered near-surface, high-grade gold mineralisation, with notable intercepts such as 16 metres at 3.56 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 12 metres at 6.5 g/t gold. These results underpin the company’s confidence in the project's potential.

Strategic Targeting and Soil Sampling

Lightning Minerals’ geology team has been actively refining drill targets, focusing on extensions of mineralisation beneath historic open pits and along the 14-kilometre Drummer Fault system. This fault structure is a significant geological feature believed to host multiple gold-bearing zones. The upcoming drilling will explore depths up to 150 metres, where previous exploration was limited or absent.

Complementing the drilling, a soil sampling program is nearing completion along a 9 to 14-kilometre stretch of the Drummer Hill Fault. Samples collected every 20 metres along fence lines spaced 100 metres apart will be analysed to detect coherent linear gold anomalies. These results, expected within 4 to 6 weeks, will help refine and expand drill targets, potentially unlocking new zones of mineralisation.

Experienced Partners and Forward Momentum

GeoDrill Australia, selected through a competitive tender process, has been appointed as the drilling contractor. The company’s expertise and track record align with Lightning Minerals’ standards for operational excellence and safety. Managing Director Alex Biggs expressed optimism about the campaign, highlighting the multiple targets identified and the potential for delineating significant gold mineralisation along the Drummer Fault.

Beyond Mt Turner, Lightning Minerals continues to advance exploration at its lithium projects in Brazil and Canada, as well as other Australian assets. The company’s diversified portfolio positions it well to capitalize on both gold and critical minerals markets.

Looking Ahead

As drilling progresses and assay results come in, investors and analysts will be watching closely for signs of continuity and grade that could underpin a future resource estimate. The combination of historical data, new soil geochemistry, and modern drilling techniques offers a promising pathway to unlocking value at Mt Turner.