Darlington Gold Potential Tests NSM’s Exploration Strategy and Market Confidence

Exploration Momentum Builds at Darlington

North Stawell Minerals (ASX – NSM) has reported a focused and promising quarter at its Darlington Prospect within Victoria’s prolific Stawell Gold Corridor. The company recommenced diamond drilling with a 2-3 hole program aimed at following up on previously reported high-grade gold intercepts, including standout results such as 2.3 meters at 29.2 grams per tonne gold. These efforts are designed to test the continuity of mineralisation that bears geological similarities to the historic Mariners Lodes, known for their exceptional grades.

Alongside drilling, NSM completed a comprehensive surface geochemistry program, including a gridded soils survey, to map the surface expression of mineralisation. Early test-line results were encouraging, suggesting that the system can be detected at surface, which will guide the next phase of shallow drilling and exploration planning.

High-Grade Gold Confirmed in Historic Waste Sampling

Adding to the positive outlook, grab samples from historic waste heaps on the Darlington-Caledonia trend yielded remarkable gold grades, with one sample returning an extraordinary 315 grams per tonne. These findings reinforce the potential for a high-grade gold system extending over a 3.6-kilometer strike length along the east margin of the Darlington Basalt, a geological feature that also hosts the nearby Stawell Gold Mine.

Financial Strengthening Supports Exploration Ambitions

Financially, North Stawell Minerals strengthened its position by raising $2.02 million through a placement and a non-renounceable entitlement offer. This capital injection ensures the company is well-funded to advance its exploration programs into 2026, including further drilling and surface surveys at Darlington and other priority targets such as Caledonia, Forsaken, and Lubeck Tip.

The company also appointed Steve Boston, a seasoned resources sector leader with a track record of transformative growth, as Senior Advisor to assist with strategic development. This move signals NSM’s intent to leverage experienced guidance as it navigates the next stages of exploration and potential resource expansion.

Shifting Focus from Wildwood to Darlington

While the Wildwood Mineral Resource remains a valuable asset with 87,300 ounces at 2.4 grams per tonne gold, NSM has paused active drilling there to prioritise the higher-grade potential at Darlington. The geological models at Darlington, featuring both Mariners- and Stawell-style mineralisation, offer a compelling exploration target that could complement the nearby Stawell Gold Mine’s operations if developed.

NSM’s strategy emphasizes shallow, high-grade deposits that could serve as satellite sources to the Stawell processing plant, potentially shortening the path to production. The company’s extensive tenement holdings along the Stawell Mineralised Corridor provide a robust pipeline of exploration opportunities underpinned by advanced geophysical and geochemical techniques.