Great Western Exploration has identified two promising copper-gold targets, Diorama and Baroo, within its Yerrida North Project, setting the stage for a busy drilling campaign following the upcoming Oval program.
- Two new drill-ready copper-gold targets defined – Diorama and Baroo
- Diorama features a large lag copper anomaly with gossanous outcrop and shallow cover
- Baroo is a newly discovered quartz vein with elevated copper rock-chip results
- Drilling at Oval scheduled to commence in March 2026, followed by Juggernaut targets
- Yerrida North Project shares geological traits with prolific Bryah Basin, yet remains underexplored
Exploration Momentum Builds in Yerrida North
Great Western Exploration (ASX – GTE) has expanded its portfolio of copper-gold targets within the Yerrida North Project in Western Australia by defining two additional drill-ready prospects – Diorama and Baroo. These targets lie approximately 70 kilometres from Sandfire Resources’ renowned DeGrussa Copper-Gold Deposit, a benchmark for volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) mineralisation in the region.
Diorama stands out as a compelling DeGrussa-style target, characterised by a significant lag copper anomaly and gossanous quartz outcrops that suggest the presence of weathered sulphides beneath shallow cover. This geological setting hints at potentially substantial copper-gold mineralisation obscured just below the surface. Importantly, Diorama is fully permitted for drilling, with an air core program planned for the June quarter of 2026, following the completion of drilling at the Oval and Juggernaut targets.
Baroo – A Newly Mapped Quartz Vein with Copper Potential
The Baroo target emerged from recent regional geological mapping as a previously unrecognised quartz vein exceeding 140 metres in length and 5 metres in width. Rock-chip sampling has returned elevated copper values, including a peak of 1150 parts per million, underscoring its potential as a copper-gold mineralisation site. Baroo is also drill-ready with all necessary permits in place, and its maiden reverse circulation drilling is slated to occur alongside the Juggernaut targets.
Strategic Drilling Sequence and Regional Context
The company’s immediate focus is on commencing drilling at the Oval target in March 2026, where recent geophysical surveys have identified a coincident gravity anomaly interpreted as the core of a large VHMS system. Following Oval, drilling will progress to the six Juggernaut copper-gold targets before advancing to Diorama and Baroo. This phased approach reflects Great Western’s strategy to systematically test the most promising targets within its extensive landholding.
Yerrida North’s geological framework closely mirrors that of the adjacent Bryah Basin, home to the prolific DeGrussa and Monty VHMS deposits. Despite these similarities, Yerrida North has seen limited targeted drilling historically, presenting a significant exploration opportunity. Great Western now holds 100% ownership of the project and is leveraging extensive legacy data alongside its own fieldwork to build a robust pipeline of copper-gold prospects.
Looking Ahead – Advancing Early-Stage Prospects
Beyond Diorama and Baroo, Great Western has identified several early-stage targets across the Yerrida North area, including Easy Beats, New Springs, and Barrens North and South. These prospects exhibit coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalies and are interpreted as potential VHMS or sediment-hosted copper targets. Ongoing fieldwork aims to rapidly advance these zones, reinforcing the company’s commitment to expanding its exploration footprint in this underexplored region.
Bottom Line?
As Great Western prepares to drill multiple targets in 2026, the Yerrida North Project could soon reveal its copper-gold potential, reshaping the company’s exploration narrative.
Questions in the middle?
- What initial assay results will the upcoming Oval drilling yield, and how might they influence subsequent programs?
- Could Diorama’s shallow cover conceal a substantial VHMS deposit comparable to DeGrussa?
- How will Great Western prioritise and resource the advancement of early-stage targets alongside its drill-ready prospects?