Wagyu Drilling Done, But Assay Results Will Decide Project’s Fate
New Age Exploration has wrapped up a significant 40-hole reverse circulation drilling program at its Wagyu Gold Project in Western Australia, with assay results expected in the coming months. The program targeted extensions of high-grade gold mineralisation linked to Hemi-style intrusives near a major gold deposit.
- 40 RC drill holes completed for 4,034 metres at Wagyu Gold Project
- Drilling targeted extensions of Hemi-style gold mineralisation
- Samples sent to Intertek Laboratories; results expected February–March 2026
- Project located near Northern Star’s 11.2 million ounce Hemi Gold Deposit
- Visual observations consistent with previous drilling; assays pending
Drilling Campaign Completion
New Age Exploration Limited (ASX, NAE) has successfully completed its reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Wagyu Gold Project, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The campaign comprised 40 drill holes totalling 4,034 metres, surpassing the initial target of 4,000 metres. Despite challenging conditions, including temperatures soaring to 47 degrees Celsius, the program was executed safely and efficiently, with the drill rig now demobilised.
Strategic Targeting of Hemi-Style Mineralisation
The drilling focused on testing strike and depth extensions of high-grade gold mineralisation associated with Hemi-style intrusives, an exploration model inspired by the nearby Northern Star Resources’ Hemi Gold Deposit, which boasts an estimated 11.2 million ounces of gold. The Wagyu Project lies just 5 kilometres west of this significant deposit within the mineralised Mallina Basin corridor, a region known for its prolific gold systems.
Preliminary Geological Observations
Visual examination of drill chips revealed intrusive lithologies, quartz veining, sericitic alteration, and sulphide mineralisation consistent with previous drilling campaigns. Notably, drill holes at Target 10 displayed promising signs of mineralisation between 54 and 66 metres depth, featuring 10–15% quartz veining and 1–3% pyrite sulphides. However, these observations remain qualitative and cannot substitute for assay data in confirming economic mineralisation.
Assay Results and Next Steps
Samples from the drilling program have been dispatched to Intertek Laboratories in Perth for analysis, with assay results anticipated progressively from February through March 2026. The assays will provide critical data to validate the presence and extent of gold mineralisation and guide the planning of subsequent drilling phases. New Age Exploration’s Executive Director Joshua Wellisch emphasised the importance of these results in advancing the understanding of the Wagyu intrusive system.
Regional Context and Exploration Outlook
The Wagyu Gold Project is situated within a highly prospective gold corridor that hosts several large deposits, including Northern Star’s Hemi. Previous drilling at Wagyu has returned encouraging gold intercepts, such as 8 metres at 5.0 grams per tonne gold and 4 metres at 2.5 grams per tonne gold. The current drilling program’s focus on extending these mineralised zones reflects a strategic approach to unlocking the project’s potential. Further geological interpretation and assay results will be pivotal in shaping the next exploration steps.
Bottom Line?
As assay results loom, Wagyu’s potential to mirror its prolific neighbour keeps investors watching closely.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming assay results confirm economically viable gold grades at Wagyu?
- How might the new drilling data influence resource estimates or project valuation?
- What are the planned timelines and targets for the next phase of exploration?
