Can Strata Minerals Unlock Near-Term Gold Potential at Zelica Amid Historic Lulls?

A New Chapter for Zelica Gold Project

Strata Minerals Limited (ASX, SMX) is moving swiftly to unlock value at its 100% owned Zelica Gold Project in Western Australia, with drilling scheduled to commence by the end of November 2025. This maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign will test a series of high-priority targets along a roughly 1-kilometre strike zone known for its high-grade shallow oxide gold mineralisation.

The Zelica project, situated in the highly prospective Laverton Province, has seen limited exploration in the past decade despite historical drilling revealing significant gold grades near surface. Intercepts such as 9 metres at 8.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from just 27 metres depth highlight the project's potential. Strata aims to validate and expand on these results, with approximately 20 holes planned for a total of 2,000 metres.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure Advantages

Located between the established gold mining hubs of Leonora and Laverton, Zelica benefits from granted mining licences and close proximity to multiple processing mills within 50 kilometres. Access is straightforward via well-maintained roads, reducing logistical hurdles that often delay exploration projects in remote regions.

Managing Director Peter Woods emphasised the company’s intent to rapidly advance the project, noting that the granted mining licence and record gold prices make Zelica a prime candidate for near-term mining opportunities. The initial drilling program is designed to confirm the continuity of mineralisation and identify extensions both along strike and at depth, with follow-up drilling planned contingent on positive results.

Geological Setting and Exploration Potential

The Zelica Gold Project lies within the Archean Yilgarn Craton’s Eastern Goldfields Province, a world-class gold-producing region. The mineralisation is hosted within a steeply dipping shear zone associated with the Celia Fault system, a significant structural feature known to control gold deposits in the area.

Gold occurs in quartz vein arrays within highly deformed schists, with oxide gold mineralisation delineated over a strike length of about 1,000 metres and vertical depths of up to 90 metres. The oxide nature of the gold mineralisation is particularly encouraging, as it typically allows for simpler and more cost-effective extraction methods.

Looking Ahead

Strata Minerals’ maiden drilling program at Zelica represents a critical step in transforming historical data into a modern, robust resource estimate. The company’s proactive approach and the project’s granted mining licences position it well to capitalize on favourable gold market conditions. Investors will be watching closely as assay results emerge, potentially setting the stage for a larger drilling campaign and advancing the project towards development.