Strata Minerals Secures Zelica Gold Project with High-Grade Targets in WA
Strata Minerals has exercised its option to acquire 100% of the Zelica Gold Project in Western Australia’s Laverton Province, aiming to fast-track exploration with drilling planned for late 2025. The project boasts historical high-grade gold intercepts and a granted mining licence, positioning Strata for near-term resource development.
- Acquisition of 100% interest in Zelica Gold Project completed
- Historical drilling shows high-grade shallow oxide gold over ~1km strike
- No exploration activity at Zelica for over 10 years prior to acquisition
- Initial drilling program planned for Q4 2025 to validate and expand resources
- Project located near major gold deposits and processing infrastructure
Strategic Acquisition in a Proven Gold Belt
Strata Minerals Limited (ASX, SMX) has taken a decisive step to bolster its gold exploration portfolio by exercising its option to acquire 100% ownership of the Zelica Gold Project, situated in Western Australia’s highly prospective Laverton Province. This region is renowned globally for its rich gold endowment, hosting multiple multi-million-ounce deposits and established processing facilities.
The Zelica Project comprises three granted tenements covering approximately 2.4 square kilometres. Its location between the gold mining hubs of Leonora and Laverton offers excellent access via maintained roads and proximity to existing infrastructure, factors that could facilitate a smoother path to development.
Promising Historical Data and Exploration Upside
Historical exploration at Zelica has identified near-surface oxide gold mineralisation extending along a strike length of about one kilometre, with mineralisation remaining open both at depth and along strike. Notably, the project has not seen any drilling activity for over a decade, leaving significant potential for resource expansion.
Previous drill results include multiple high-grade intercepts such as 9 metres at 8.8 grams per tonne gold and 13 metres at 3.2 grams per tonne, among others. These results, while encouraging, require validation and extension through modern drilling techniques, which Strata plans to undertake imminently.
Advancing Towards Near-Term Development
Strata has submitted a Program of Works for an initial drilling campaign expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025, subject to drill rig availability. This program aims to infill and step out along the known mineralised zones and explore potential parallel structures that have not been previously tested.
Importantly, Zelica sits on a granted mining licence, which could accelerate the timeline towards mining operations if exploration results prove favourable. Historical metallurgical testing on oxide material demonstrated gold recoveries exceeding 95%, suggesting the potential for efficient extraction methods.
Market Position and Future Prospects
With a current market capitalisation of around $5 million, Strata Minerals views the acquisition of Zelica as a significant value-adding opportunity. Managing Director Peter Woods highlighted the project’s potential to deliver multiple near-term catalysts, especially given the backdrop of record gold prices and successful peer operations in the region.
As Strata finalises settlement and prepares for drilling, investors will be watching closely for initial assay results and any indications of resource growth. The company’s broader portfolio, including other gold and uranium projects, positions it well for diversified exploration success.
Bottom Line?
Strata’s acquisition of Zelica sets the stage for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape its growth trajectory in WA’s goldfields.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm and extend the high-grade zones indicated by historical data?
- How quickly can Strata advance from exploration to potential mining given the granted licence status?
- What impact will the Zelica acquisition have on Strata’s market valuation and investor sentiment?
