Dart Mining NL has acquired the Skarn Ridge Copper-Gold and Mt Bauple Graphite projects in southeast Queensland for AUD 25,000, adding two exploration permits to its growing portfolio. This strategic move strengthens Dart’s regional presence and exploration pipeline in a historically mineral-rich area.
- Acquisition of Skarn Ridge and Mt Bauple projects for AUD 25,000
- Projects located in southeast Queensland near historic Gympie gold district
- Historic drilling and rock chip samples indicate copper, gold, silver, and graphite mineralisation
- Projects complement Dart Mining’s existing Queensland exploration focus
- Plans underway for further desktop studies, fieldwork, and resource development
Strategic Acquisition in Southeast Queensland
Dart Mining NL (ASX, DTM) has taken a decisive step to broaden its exploration footprint in Queensland with the acquisition of the Skarn Ridge Copper-Gold and Mt Bauple Graphite projects. Purchased from the private FFM Group for a modest AUD 25,000, the deal includes two exploration permits covering a combined area of over 300 square kilometres. This move aligns with Dart’s ambition to establish itself as a significant explorer and developer within the region.
Promising Historical Data Underpins Potential
Though historically underexplored, the Skarn Ridge project area has shown encouraging signs of mineralisation. Limited drilling in 1999 intersected gold grades of 0.5 grams per tonne over 4 metres, while rock chip samples from old workings revealed notable copper concentrations exceeding 5%, accompanied by gold and silver. The presence of chalcopyrite and bornite minerals further supports the prospectivity of the area. Meanwhile, the Mt Bauple project offers graphite potential linked to contact metamorphism of coal measures, a geological setting known to host significant graphite deposits worldwide.
Geological Context and Regional Significance
Both projects lie within the northern New England Fold Belt, a geologically complex zone marked by a history of volcanic activity, sedimentation, and intrusive events. The proximity to the historic Gympie gold mining district, a multi-million-ounce producer, adds strategic value. The Skarn Ridge area hosts various mineralisation styles including skarn copper-gold, sediment-hosted gold, and porphyry copper-molybdenum systems, all associated with late-stage intrusions.
Complementing Dart’s Queensland Portfolio
This acquisition complements Dart Mining’s existing projects such as Triumph Gold and the Coonambula Antimony-Gold project, consolidating a regional presence within a 300-kilometre radius. Managing Director James Chirnside emphasised the low-cost, entry-level nature of Skarn Ridge as a pipeline asset to build on limited historical exploration. The company plans to undertake further desktop studies, spectral analysis, and field reconnaissance to refine exploration targets.
Next Steps and Forward Outlook
Dart Mining is concurrently advancing its farm-in agreement at Coonambula and aims to expand resources at Triumph. The immediate focus includes finalising native title agreements for Skarn Ridge, reviewing recent assay results, and planning second-stage drilling programs. While the historical data provides a promising foundation, the true extent and grade continuity of mineralisation remain to be established through systematic exploration.
Bottom Line?
Dart Mining’s latest acquisition signals a strategic push to unlock Queensland’s mineral potential, but the journey from historic data to resource definition is just beginning.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the timelines and budgets for initial drilling programs at Skarn Ridge and Mt Bauple?
- How will Dart Mining integrate these new projects with its existing exploration and development plans?
- What are the potential challenges in confirming and expanding the historical mineralisation given limited prior exploration?