Christmas Gift Gold Project Drilling Begins: 1,200m Targeting Up to 17 g/t Gold Zones
Tarrina Resources has initiated a 1,200-metre diamond drilling campaign at its Christmas Gift Gold Project in NSW, aiming to validate and extend historic high-grade gold mineralisation. Complementary soil sampling is also underway, with initial results expected by March 2026.
- 1,200m diamond drilling program commenced targeting high-grade gold zones
- Four HQ core holes planned over a 20-day continuous drilling schedule
- Historic drill results show multiple intersections exceeding 10 g/t gold
- Extensive auger soil sampling underway to explore strike extensions
- Project strategically located near major Lachlan Fold Belt gold mines
Exploration Resumes at a Historic Gold Site
Tarrina Resources Limited (ASX, TR8) has kicked off its maiden diamond drilling program at the Christmas Gift Gold Project, situated within the prolific Lachlan Fold Belt of southern New South Wales. This 1,200-metre program, comprising four HQ-size core holes, marks a significant step in testing the high-grade gold mineralisation that historic drilling and mining have hinted at for decades.
The Christmas Gift area is no stranger to gold exploration, with previous operators intersecting impressive grades such as 13 metres at 13.20 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 8 metres at 17.23 g/t gold. However, much of the historic drilling was shallow, with only two holes extending beyond 150 metres depth. Tarrina’s current program aims to replicate these high-grade intersections using modern quality assurance protocols and to probe deeper and along strike for extensions of the mineralised system.
Strategic Drilling and Soil Sampling
The drilling is designed to test a north-northwest striking magnetic anomaly identified in recent geophysical surveys, with holes oriented west-southwest to cross multiple geological boundaries. The first hole, CGProp4, targets an area with no prior deep drilling, while subsequent holes focus on replicating historic high-grade results beneath the old Christmas Gift mine and exploring potential extensions.
Alongside drilling, Tarrina has commenced an extensive auger soil sampling program across untested northern and southern strike extensions. With over 2,700 samples planned and more than 1,000 collected to date, this geochemical work aims to refine target areas and complement the drilling data.
Context Within a Rich Gold Province
The Christmas Gift Project benefits from its location within the Lachlan Fold Belt, a region hosting several major operating gold mines such as Tomingley, Peak Hill, and Lake Cowal. It lies just 60 kilometres from the Adelong Gold Mine, currently under development, underscoring the district’s ongoing gold potential.
Tarrina’s Chairman, Francis De Souza, highlighted the timing of this exploration, noting the gold price’s strong performance, recently surpassing A$7,000 per ounce, significantly higher than when drilling last occurred at Christmas Gift in 2006. This favourable market backdrop enhances the project’s appeal and potential economic viability.
Looking Ahead
Initial assay results from the diamond drilling and soil sampling are anticipated from March 2026. Tarrina plans to integrate these findings with ongoing geological modelling and historic data re-logging to develop a maiden mineral resource estimate. Subject to positive outcomes, follow-up reverse circulation drilling is expected to test extensions further, potentially expanding the known gold system.
With $4 million in cash reserves, Tarrina is well-positioned to advance exploration not only at Christmas Gift but also at its other projects in South Australia. The coming months will be critical in determining whether the historic promise of Christmas Gift can translate into a new resource and, ultimately, a viable mining operation.
Bottom Line?
As Tarrina Resources drills deeper into Christmas Gift’s historic gold zones, the market awaits assay results that could redefine the project’s potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the new drilling confirm the historic high-grade gold intersections with modern assay standards?
- How extensive are the strike and depth extensions of the gold mineralisation beyond known zones?
- What impact will the current gold price environment have on the project’s development timeline and economics?
