Geopacific Resources reports promising near-surface gold intercepts at its Woodlark Gold Project, highlighting new discovery potential adjacent to existing deposits and ongoing drilling to expand resources beyond 1.67 million ounces.
- High-grade gold intercepts at Kamwak near Kulumadau deposit
- Ongoing 30,000m RC and diamond drilling program underway
- Positive assay results from Busai, Boscalo North, and Great Northern prospects
- Plans to extend mineralisation and test new regional targets
- Woodlark Mineral Resource remains at 1.67 million ounces gold
Exploration Momentum at Woodlark
Geopacific Resources Limited (ASX – GPR) has delivered an encouraging update from its Woodlark Gold Project in Papua New Guinea, where recent drilling has revealed new zones of high-grade gold mineralisation. The standout discovery comes from the Kamwak target, situated immediately adjacent to the established 711,000-ounce Kulumadau deposit. Here, near-surface reverse circulation (RC) drilling intersected 7 metres at 2.48 grams per tonne gold from just 21 metres depth, suggesting a promising new corridor of mineralisation.
Expanding Known Resources and Testing New Targets
The current exploration campaign is ambitious, with a 30,000-metre program combining RC and diamond drilling designed to both expand known mineralisation and test multiple new targets across the project area. Alongside Kamwak, significant assay results have been reported from Busai, Boscalo North, and Great Northern prospects, including impressive intercepts such as 2 metres at 11.4 grams per tonne from 9 metres at Busai, and 4 metres at 2.92 grams per tonne from 145 metres at Great Northern.
Diamond drilling is underway to extend RC pre-collars, particularly at Great Northern, while the RC rig has been mobilised to the Woodlark King Mining area to follow up on strong surface sampling results at Little MacKenzie and Wayai Creek. These efforts reflect a strategic focus on both resource development and exploration growth.
Geological Context and Resource Outlook
Kamwak’s mineralisation lies within a structurally favourable corridor exhibiting hydrothermal alteration and geophysical signatures similar to those at Kulumadau, reinforcing its potential as a new discovery zone. The company is also investigating the down-dip extensions of the Kulumadau deposit, with plans to extend mineralisation approximately 50 metres beyond current pit designs.
Despite some drilling challenges such as groundwater limiting hole depths, Geopacific remains confident in delivering resource growth beyond the current 1.67 million ounce gold base. The Woodlark Mineral Resource estimate, last updated in August 2024, stands at 48.3 million tonnes at 1.07 grams per tonne gold, equating to 1.67 million ounces, with ongoing drilling expected to add further ounces.
Rigorous Technical Approach and Environmental Considerations
The company has provided comprehensive technical details on its sampling, assay, and quality assurance protocols, ensuring data integrity and reliability. Geopacific also maintains its mining lease and has addressed environmental factors, including approved deep-sea tailings disposal options, underscoring its commitment to responsible project development.
CEO James Fox emphasised the significance of these early results, stating that the drilling campaign demonstrates confidence in further resource growth at Woodlark, a sentiment that bodes well for the project’s future trajectory.
Bottom Line?
As drilling continues to unlock new zones at Woodlark, Geopacific’s resource growth story is poised for its next chapter.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming assay results from incomplete drill holes impact the current resource model?
- What are the timelines and criteria for upgrading inferred resources to indicated or measured categories?
- How might groundwater challenges affect drilling efficiency and resource delineation in key target areas?