Strata Minerals has launched fieldwork at the expanded Zelica South Project following a strategic tenement acquisition, aiming to unlock new high-grade gold targets along an 8km mineralised corridor.
- Fieldwork commenced at Zelica South with geological mapping and rock chip sampling
- Acquisition of tenement P39/6171 consolidates Strata’s footprint in a highly prospective gold corridor
- Recent maiden drilling at Zelica delivered multiple shallow, high-grade gold intercepts
- Follow-up drilling planned for March to extend mineralisation along strike and at depth
- Zelica South remains underexplored despite promising historical results and structural potential
Expanding the Gold Footprint
Strata Minerals Limited (ASX – SMX) has taken a significant step forward in its Western Australian gold exploration campaign by commencing fieldwork at the Zelica South Project. This activity follows the recent acquisition of tenement P39/6171, which adds valuable ground to the company’s existing holdings and extends the known gold mineralised corridor to approximately 8 kilometres.
The newly acquired tenement, located in the Yundamindra District between Leonora and Laverton, includes the Murphy Well 2 and 3 prospects. These areas will be integrated into ongoing geological mapping and rock chip sampling programs designed to identify high-priority drill targets.
Unlocking Underexplored Potential
Zelica South is notable for its underexplored status despite historical indications of gold mineralisation. Previous exploration has identified a gold corridor exceeding 6 kilometres, with rock chip samples returning impressive grades such as 39.60g/t and 6.44g/t gold near surface. However, drilling has been limited, particularly targeting gold, leaving substantial upside potential.
Strata’s field teams are now on the ground conducting detailed geological mapping and sampling to ground-truth historical data and uncover new areas of interest. The company is also leveraging portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis on samples from its maiden reverse circulation drilling program completed late last year to refine its understanding of mineralisation controls.
Building on Maiden Drill Success
The maiden drill program at Zelica delivered encouraging shallow, high-grade gold intercepts over a 1-kilometre strike length, with results such as 10 metres at 3.80g/t gold including 3 metres at 8.36g/t, and other significant hits across multiple holes. These results have validated the prospectivity of the area and set the stage for the next phase of exploration.
Strata plans to commence follow-up drilling in March 2026, aiming to extend mineralisation both along strike and at depth. Notably, the previous drilling had not tested below 90 metres, leaving open the possibility of deeper high-grade zones.
Strategic Consolidation and Future Outlook
The acquisition of tenement P39/6171 for $10,000 cash (subject to standard conditions) consolidates Strata’s position in this highly prospective structural corridor. Managing Director Peter Woods highlighted the strategic importance of this consolidation, noting the company’s commitment to unlocking new discoveries and building scale in the region.
With fieldwork underway and drilling on the horizon, Strata Minerals is positioning itself to capitalise on the underexplored gold potential of the Zelica corridor. The combination of historical data, recent drilling success, and expanded tenure provides a compelling platform for growth.
Bottom Line?
Strata’s expanded Zelica corridor and upcoming drilling campaign could redefine its gold exploration trajectory in WA.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the March drilling confirm extensions of high-grade gold mineralisation at depth and along strike?
- How will assay results from the newly acquired tenement P39/6171 influence exploration priorities?
- What is the potential scale of the gold system across the combined Zelica and Zelica South projects?