Waratah Minerals Uncovers New High-Grade Gold Zones at Consols

Exploration Momentum Builds at Consols Zone

Waratah Minerals (ASX:WTM) has reported significant progress in its Spur Gold Corridor project in New South Wales, with recent drilling extending the Consols Zone mineralisation by 160 metres both to the south and north-northwest. The latest reverse circulation (RC) drilling results have confirmed the presence of high-grade gold mineralisation, reinforcing the potential scale of this emerging epithermal gold system.

Notably, drill hole SPRC079 returned a standout intercept of 9 metres at 5.59 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 183 metres, including a high-grade 3 metres at 16.21 g/t Au. Similarly, SPRC080 intersected a broad zone of 93 metres at 0.51 g/t Au from 288 metres, with higher-grade intervals within this, such as 25 metres at 1.20 g/t Au. These results build on earlier intercepts from SPRCD062, which had previously delivered 208.7 metres at 1.17 g/t Au, highlighting the continuity and robustness of the mineralised system.

Expanding Drilling Campaign and Technological Advances

Waratah is intensifying its exploration efforts with two diamond drill rigs currently active at Consols, targeting the high-grade zones identified in prior drilling. The company plans to add two more rigs within the next three weeks, aiming to accelerate the pace of drilling and infill the mineralised zones. This operational ramp-up signals Waratah’s commitment to rapidly advancing the Spur Gold Corridor towards a more comprehensive resource definition.

In parallel, Waratah is adopting Chrysos PhotonAssay™ technology for gold analysis. This method uses a 500-gram sample and is particularly effective at detecting coarse gold particles that traditional 50-gram fire assays may miss. The Photon assay offers faster turnaround times and improved accuracy, which is critical for timely decision-making in exploration. The company will continue to use conventional fire assays selectively for quality assurance.

Broader Context and Future Outlook

The Spur Project, situated in the highly prospective East Lachlan region, is considered a promising epithermal-porphyry gold and copper system. Waratah’s ongoing drilling at both the Consols and Spur Zones continues to reveal encouraging mineralisation at depth and along strike. For example, diamond tail drilling at the Spur Zone extended mineralisation down plunge with intercepts such as 18 metres at 1.65 g/t Au from 435 metres.

While these results remain at an early stage and true widths of mineralisation are still being defined, the expanding footprint and consistent high-grade intercepts suggest significant upside potential. The company’s methodical approach to drilling, combined with advanced assay techniques, positions Waratah well to unlock further value from the Spur Gold Corridor.

Investors and market watchers will be keenly awaiting the upcoming assay results from ongoing drill holes, which will provide further clarity on the scale and grade continuity of this gold system. The deployment of additional rigs and the adoption of Photon assay technology are likely to enhance the speed and quality of data flow in the near term.