Key Permits Secured as Great Western Targets Potential Massive Sulphide Deposit

A New Chapter in Copper-Gold Exploration

Great Western Exploration (ASX, GTE) is gearing up for a pivotal drilling campaign at its Oval Copper-Gold Targets within the Yerrida North Project in Western Australia. With all necessary permits now secured, the company plans to commence diamond drilling in March 2026, aiming to test what it interprets as the core of a potentially large Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) copper-gold mineralisation system.

This target is not just any anomaly; it is a coincident gravity high that aligns with a modelled VHMS horizon, suggesting the presence of dense, sulphide-rich rocks. The geological setting and geophysical data point to a system comparable to the nearby DeGrussa Copper-Gold Deposit, one of the region’s most significant VHMS discoveries.

Geological and Structural Insights

The Oval and Oval South Targets are now considered by Great Western to be part of a single, extensive mineralisation system. Previous drilling has largely tested the fringes, but the upcoming 750-metre diamond drill-hole is designed to penetrate the heart of the gravity anomaly, potentially intersecting massive sulphides at depth.

Key to this prospectivity is the location along major structural features, including the Ida Fault and a growth fault interpreted by the Geoscience of Western Australia. These faults likely acted as conduits for mineralising fluids, focusing copper and gold deposition in the subsurface. The target horizon is hosted within siltstone units exhibiting strong VHMS geochemical signatures, reinforcing the exploration thesis.

Strategic Drilling and Future Plans

Great Western has engaged its preferred drilling contractor and is poised to begin operations in early March. The company’s methodical approach reflects confidence in the geological model and the potential scale of the system. Following the Oval drilling, attention will shift to six Juggernaut Copper-Gold Targets, with access approvals anticipated in the same quarter.

This staged exploration strategy underscores Great Western’s commitment to unlocking value from the Yerrida Basin, a region geologically analogous to the Bryah Basin that hosts DeGrussa. The company’s ongoing work programs and geophysical surveys continue to refine target definitions, enhancing the likelihood of a significant discovery.

Implications for Investors and the Market

For investors, the upcoming drill results will be a critical catalyst. Confirmation of VHMS mineralisation at depth could transform Great Western’s project portfolio and elevate its standing in the copper-gold exploration sector. However, as with all early-stage exploration, uncertainty remains until assay results are received and interpreted.

Nonetheless, the combination of robust geological data, strategic location, and methodical exploration planning positions Great Western Exploration as a company to watch in 2026.