Albion Resources reports promising extensional drilling results at its Collavilla Prospect, revealing significant gold mineralisation open at depth alongside valuable silver and base metal credits. These findings bolster the economic potential of the Yandal West Gold Project in Western Australia’s prolific Yandal Greenstone Belt.
- Significant gold mineralisation confirmed open at depth at Collavilla
- Multi-element assays reveal substantial silver, lead, and zinc credits
- Regional exploration at Ives Find shows encouraging gold intersections
- Ongoing gravity, IP surveys, and soil sampling to guide next drilling phase
- Albion holds strategic position amid growing corporate interest in Yandal Belt
Extensional Drilling Success at Collavilla
Albion Resources Limited has announced a strong set of assay results from its recent reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Collavilla Prospect, part of the broader Yandal West Gold Project in Western Australia’s highly prospective Yandal Greenstone Belt. The latest batch of 25 drill holes, covering over 2,000 metres, has confirmed significant gold mineralisation extending deeper than previously known, with standout intercepts such as 2 metres at 11.0 grams per tonne gold from 52 metres depth.
These results not only extend mineralisation approximately 50 metres down-dip but also highlight the potential for further depth extensions, a critical factor for resource growth. The presence of high-grade gold at depth suggests that Collavilla remains an open system, inviting more targeted drilling to delineate the full extent of the orebody.
Silver and Base Metal Credits Enhance Prospectivity
In addition to gold, multi-element assays from selected drill holes have revealed significant silver and base metal mineralisation closely associated with the gold. Intercepts include intervals with up to 49.5 grams per tonne silver and combined lead-zinc grades approaching 0.5%. These precious and base metal credits could materially enhance the economic viability of any future resource, adding valuable by-products to the gold mineralisation.
Moreover, elevated levels of copper, bismuth, and tellurium detected in the assays are geochemical signatures often linked to intrusive-related mineral systems, providing important clues about the deposit’s genesis and guiding future exploration strategies.
Regional Exploration and Pipeline of Catalysts
Beyond Collavilla, Albion’s regional exploration at the Ives Find prospect area has returned encouraging gold intersections, albeit at lower grades, across several targets such as Camp, Boiler Room, and Honeycomb. While these do not yet define high-grade zones, they confirm the presence of gold mineralisation and suggest peripheral zones of potentially larger systems.
Importantly, only a small fraction of the extensive Ives Granite intrusive system has been tested to date, leaving ample room for new discoveries. To support this, Albion has commenced a gravity survey at May Queen and plans an induced polarisation (IP) survey to map sulphide accumulations, alongside ongoing soil sampling and granite fertility analyses. These geophysical and geochemical programs are designed to refine drill targets and maintain a steady flow of exploration catalysts.
Strategic Position in a Hotspot of Corporate Activity
Albion’s Yandal West Project is strategically located within the Yandal Greenstone Belt, a region renowned for world-class gold deposits and recent high-profile transactions. Nearby operations by Northern Star Resources and recent asset sales by Strickland Metals underscore the growing corporate interest in the area. Albion’s substantial landholding and early-stage exploration success position it well to capitalise on this momentum.
CEO Peter Goh emphasised the significance of the findings, noting that the combination of high-grade gold with silver and base metals, alongside the open nature of mineralisation at depth, provides strong vectors for future drilling. He also highlighted the broader potential of the Ives Granite system and the company’s commitment to advancing exploration with a robust pipeline of surveys and drilling phases.
Looking Ahead
Albion is awaiting assay results from the remaining 12 drill holes of its current program, expected within three weeks, which will include testing of the Barwidgee Fault and May Queen South prospects. Concurrently, ongoing geophysical surveys and soil sampling will continue to refine exploration targets. Planning is also underway for a third phase of drilling, pending heritage clearances, to further unlock the potential of this promising gold belt.
Bottom Line?
Albion’s latest drilling success at Collavilla deepens the prospect’s promise, but the true scale and economic impact await further assay results and follow-up exploration.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the pending assay results from Barwidgee Fault and May Queen South influence Albion’s exploration strategy?
- What is the potential scale of silver and base metal credits in enhancing the project’s economics?
- How might heritage surveys and regulatory processes affect the timing of the planned third drilling phase?