11.5km Gold Anomaly Confirmed at Great Western by Gateway Mining

Gateway Mining's Great Western Discovery

Gateway Mining Ltd (ASX, GML) has released compelling new data from its flagship Yandal Gold Project in Western Australia, confirming a large and coherent gold system at the Great Western target. The recent surface geochemical sampling has delineated an impressive 11.5-kilometre strike length of strong gold anomalism, with peak soil gold values reaching up to 500 parts per billion (ppb). This extensive anomaly is mapped along the margin of a sanukitoid intrusion, a geological setting known to host significant gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields region.

Geological Context and Target Zones

Executive Chairman Andrew Bray highlighted the significance of the discovery, noting that the Great Western system exhibits characteristics akin to major gold camps such as Jundee, St Ives, and Kanowna Belle. The gold anomalism aligns with a structurally complex shear corridor adjacent to the intrusion, with four principal target areas identified, the dilational zone where shears decouple and converge; the mafic-intermediate volcanic contact; north-west trending shear splays in the Northern Archaean Block; and a high strain zone wedged between the intrusion and the Archaean Block. These targets collectively suggest a substantial and prospective gold system.

Supporting Geophysical Evidence

Complementing the geochemical data, a 2D Induced Polarisation (IP) survey has detected a distinct resistivity anomaly coincident with the gold-in-soil anomaly and the intrusion margin. This geophysical signature is interpreted as alteration associated with the mineralised shear structure, reinforcing the prospectivity of the Great Western target. The lack of significant cover in the area means mineralisation is expected to be at or near surface, a factor that could simplify future exploration and development.

Next Steps and Financial Position

Gateway is preparing two stratigraphic diamond drill holes designed to provide critical geological information to refine upcoming reverse circulation (RC) drilling programs. While these initial holes are not specifically targeting gold mineralisation, the pervasive soil anomalism and structural complexity leave open the possibility of early significant intersections. Financially, Gateway is well positioned to advance its exploration agenda, with approximately $12.1 million in cash and liquid ASX-listed securities at the end of the June quarter, bolstered by a recent $22.5 million capital raising.

Broader Regional Significance

The Great Western discovery sits in a highly prospective corridor, just 6 kilometres west of the Mustang-Pony corridor and near the Horse Well gold camp. This proximity to established gold provinces adds weight to the potential for Great Western to evolve into a significant new gold camp within the Eastern Goldfields. The combination of extensive surface anomalism, supportive geophysical data, and strategic location underscores the importance of Gateway's ongoing exploration efforts.