Neometals Unveils High-Grade Gold Hits at Barrambie Ranges Drilling
Neometals has released initial gold assay results from its Barrambie Ranges drilling program, revealing promising high-grade intercepts that reinforce the project's exploration potential while advancing the Ironclad deposit towards production.
- 82-hole RC drilling program completed at Barrambie Gold Project
- First assays from 75 samples show significant high-grade gold intercepts
- Notable intercepts include 5m at 5.64g/t Au and 2m at 11.75g/t Au
- Ongoing routine assays for remaining samples with results pending
- Focus remains on advancing Ironclad deposit with updated resource estimate due Q1 2026
Exploration Progress at Barrambie
Neometals Ltd (ASX – NMT) has completed an extensive reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its wholly owned Barrambie Gold Project in Western Australia. The program, comprising 82 holes totaling 8,457 meters, targeted the Barrambie Ranges gold trend, including historically significant sites such as the Golden Treasure mine and the Mystery mine.
Initial assay results have been returned from a selective subset of 75 samples, approximately 2% of the total collected, highlighting encouraging high-grade gold mineralisation. Among the standout results are a 5-meter intercept grading 5.64 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including a 2-meter section at 13.27 g/t, and a 2-meter intercept at 11.75 g/t, with a 1-meter portion reaching 21.88 g/t. These findings underscore the potential for narrow, high-grade veins along the Barrambie Ranges trend.
Geological Context and Significance
The Barrambie Ranges gold trend is structurally complex, characterised by two intersecting vein systems that likely contribute to the formation of high-grade shoots. The drilling targeted extensions and repetitions of mineralisation beneath historic workings, as well as adjacent parallel structures. The presence of quartz veining and associated alteration minerals in the samples guided the prioritisation for expedited assay, reflecting a strategic approach to rapidly assess mineral potential.
Historical data and recent assays suggest a pronounced nugget effect, where free gold particles cause significant grade variability in small samples, posing challenges for accurate resource estimation. Neometals acknowledges this and plans to refine sampling and assay techniques as exploration advances.
Next Steps and Strategic Focus
While the Barrambie Ranges results are promising, Neometals emphasises that these are preliminary and selective assays. Routine analysis of the remaining samples from Barrambie Ranges, as well as from the Ironclad and Mystery prospects, is ongoing. The company anticipates reporting Ironclad assay results in January 2026, followed by an updated Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and mine plan in the March quarter.
Managing Director Chris Reed highlighted that the company’s immediate priority remains the advancement of the Ironclad deposit towards commercial production, leveraging the initial 13,000-ounce inferred resource established earlier in 2025. The broader Barrambie Project, which also hosts one of the world’s highest-grade titanium deposits currently under divestment, continues to offer significant exploration upside for gold.
Neometals’ exploration strategy reflects a measured balance between rapid assessment of high-potential targets and the rigorous validation required to underpin future resource development. The company’s ongoing work will be critical in converting exploration targets into defined mineral resources and ultimately into production assets.
Bottom Line?
Neometals’ early Barrambie Ranges assays hint at rich gold veins, but full results and resource updates will define the project’s true potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Neometals address the high nugget effect to ensure accurate resource estimation?
- What timeline is expected for the full assay results and updated Mineral Resource Estimate at Barrambie?
- How might the divestment of the titanium asset impact funding or focus on gold exploration?
