Wagyu Drilling Underway: What Risks Could Delay New Age Exploration’s Progress?
New Age Exploration has initiated a significant 4,000-metre drilling program at its Wagyu Gold Project in Western Australia's Pilbara region, aiming to extend known gold mineralisation near the prolific Hemi deposit.
- 4,000m Reverse Circulation drilling program underway at Wagyu
- Focus on extending gold mineralisation and testing new geophysical targets
- Project located 5km from Northern Star’s 11.2Moz Hemi Gold Deposit
- All regulatory and heritage approvals secured for drilling
- Contractor equity participation under negotiation to align interests
Strategic Drilling Program Commences
New Age Exploration Limited (ASX, NAE) has taken a decisive step forward in its gold exploration efforts with the commencement of a 4,000-metre Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at the Wagyu Gold Project, located in the Central Pilbara region of Western Australia. Scheduled to begin mobilisation mid-November 2025, this program aims to build on promising earlier results by extending the strike and depth of known gold mineralisation across multiple high-priority targets.
The Wagyu project sits within the mineral-rich Mallina Basin corridor, a geological setting that hosts several significant gold deposits, including Northern Star Resources’ Hemi Gold Deposit, which boasts an estimated 11.2 million ounces of gold. This proximity places Wagyu in a highly prospective neighbourhood, raising expectations for potential resource growth.
Targeting Extensions and New Zones
The drilling campaign is designed not only to expand shallow enrichment zones but also to explore strike extensions within fresh rock, which could reveal primary mineralisation. A notable focus will be on a newly identified gravity anomaly stretching northwest between Target 10 and Target 11, as well as areas where previous air-core drilling was hindered by a silicified cap. This includes Target 1, where prior drilling returned encouraging gold grades.
Importantly, New Age Exploration has secured all necessary regulatory approvals and heritage clearances, clearing the way for uninterrupted drilling activities. The company is also in discussions regarding part equity participation with the drilling contractor, a move that could strengthen alignment and shared commitment to the project’s success.
Confidence and Momentum
Executive Director Joshua Wellisch expressed enthusiasm about the program, highlighting the technical team’s rapid progress and the strategic choice of contractor. The equity participation talks underscore confidence in Wagyu’s potential and aim to foster a collaborative approach to exploration.
While assay results from this drilling phase are pending, the program’s design to test both extensions of known mineralisation and new geophysical anomalies positions Wagyu as a project to watch closely. The outcomes could significantly influence New Age Exploration’s resource base and future development plans.
Bottom Line?
As drilling progresses, Wagyu’s assay results will be pivotal in defining New Age Exploration’s next growth chapter in the Pilbara gold corridor.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the assay results reveal about the extent and grade of gold mineralisation?
- How will the contractor’s equity participation terms impact project financing and timelines?
- Could successful drilling at Wagyu prompt further exploration or partnerships in the Mallina Basin?
