Tarrina Resources Kicks Off Drilling at High-Grade Christmas Gift Gold Project
Tarrina Resources has launched a 1,200-metre diamond drilling program at its flagship Christmas Gift Gold Project, following extensive historic data validation and geological modelling. The company also advances copper and rare earth element projects in South Australia after a successful $5 million capital raise and ASX relisting.
- Historic gold production of 30,000 oz at 18 g/t from Christmas Gift
- 1,200m Phase 1 diamond drilling program commenced post-quarter
- Updated 2D and 3D geological models refine drill targeting
- Walparuta and Yongala projects progressing with geophysical studies
- Strong cash position of $4 million following $5 million public offer
Exploration Momentum at Christmas Gift
Tarrina Resources Limited (ASX, TR8) has made significant strides in advancing its exploration portfolio, with the Christmas Gift Gold Project in New South Wales taking centre stage. The company recently completed a comprehensive review and re-logging of over 2,200 metres of historic diamond core, integrating multi-element geochemical data and updated geological mapping. This groundwork has culminated in the launch of a 1,200-metre diamond drilling program aimed at testing high-priority targets identified through refined 2D and 3D geological models.
The Christmas Gift project boasts a rich history, with underground mining between 1900 and 1941 producing approximately 30,000 ounces of gold at an impressive average grade of 18 grams per tonne. Historic drilling has revealed broader zones of high-grade gold mineralisation beyond the old workings, including notable intersections such as 13 metres at 13.2 g/t and 8 metres at 17.23 g/t gold. Tarrina’s recent fieldwork has also identified a previously untested north-north-west structural corridor extending over three kilometres, which remains largely unexplored at depth.
Advancing Copper and Rare Earth Targets in South Australia
Beyond gold, Tarrina is progressing its Walparuta and Yongala projects in South Australia, targeting copper, silver, and rare earth elements. The Walparuta project, situated in the Curnamona Province, exhibits IOCG-style copper-gold mineralisation with historic drill intersections confirming significant copper and gold grades. The company is applying modern 3D modelling techniques to existing magnetic and gravity data to prioritise targets for upcoming drilling campaigns.
Meanwhile, the Yongala project covers a vast 1,676 square kilometres within the Adelaide Geosyncline and is prospective for sedimentary copper-silver and carbonatite-related rare earth element mineralisation. Historic sampling has returned encouraging grades, including rock chips with up to 10.8% copper and 57.1 g/t silver, alongside rare earth element anomalies. Tarrina plans to undertake geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and geophysical surveys to refine drill targets in the coming months.
Strong Financial Position Supports Exploration
Following a successful $5 million public offer at $0.02 per share, Tarrina Resources was reinstated to trading on the ASX in late November 2025. The company ended the December quarter with a robust cash balance of approximately $4 million, underpinning ongoing exploration and drilling activities across its project portfolio. Exploration expenditure for the quarter was modest at $90,000, reflecting the early-stage nature of the programs and preparatory work completed.
Chairman Francis De Souza highlighted the company’s strategic focus, "Our initial fieldwork at Christmas Gift has laid a solid foundation for drilling and soil sampling, with significant strike extensions remaining open. Concurrently, our South Australian projects offer exciting potential for new discoveries in copper and rare earths, leveraging modern exploration techniques to unlock value."
As Tarrina advances its exploration agenda, the market will be watching closely for drill results from Christmas Gift and updates on the progress at Walparuta and Yongala, which could materially enhance the company’s resource base and valuation.
Bottom Line?
Tarrina’s methodical approach and strong funding position set the stage for potentially transformative exploration results in 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- What initial results will the Phase 1 drilling at Christmas Gift reveal about the depth and continuity of gold mineralisation?
- How will the integration of new geophysical data influence target prioritisation at Walparuta and Yongala?
- What timeline does Tarrina envisage for defining a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate at Christmas Gift?
