Untested Deep Targets at Walparuta Pose Both Opportunity and Exploration Challenge
Tarrina Resources has integrated historic and new geophysical data to reveal significant untested copper-gold-cobalt targets at its Walparuta Project in South Australia, highlighting a large magnetic-gravity anomaly down dip from known mineralisation.
- First unified 3D geological model combining historic and recent data at Walparuta
- Large coincident magnetic and gravity anomaly identified, extending 400m down dip
- Historic drilling confirms copper-gold mineralisation associated with magnetite alteration
- Six additional untested magnetic-gravity targets discovered across the project
- Plans underway for geological mapping, geochemical sampling, and ~6,000m drilling program
A New Chapter for Walparuta Exploration
Tarrina Resources Limited (ASX, TR8) has taken a significant step forward in exploring its 100%-owned Walparuta Copper-Gold Project in South Australia’s Curnamona Province. By combining historic geological mapping with recent high-resolution magnetic and gravity surveys, the company has constructed the first-ever unified 3D geological model of the Walparuta mine area. This integrated approach has unveiled a large, coherent magnetic-gravity anomaly that remains untested by previous drilling campaigns.
Magnetic and Gravity Data Point to IOCG Potential
The newly identified anomaly begins approximately 70 metres below surface and extends roughly 400 metres down dip to the south-east of the historic Walparuta Mine. This coincident magnetic and gravity signature is interpreted as a dense, magnetite-rich alteration zone typical of iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) systems, which are known for hosting significant copper, gold, and cobalt mineralisation. Historic drilling, although limited and not optimally oriented, has intersected copper and gold mineralisation associated with magnetite-rich breccias, reinforcing the prospectivity of the target.
Historic Drilling Supports New Targets
Previous drilling at Walparuta has returned encouraging intersections such as 38.1 metres at 0.26% copper and 0.31 grams per tonne gold from 15.2 metres depth, and 36.6 metres at 0.37% copper and 0.27 grams per tonne gold from 39.6 metres. These mineralised zones correlate strongly with magnetic susceptibility data, suggesting that the magnetic anomalies detected could directly indicate extensions of copper-gold mineralisation. Notably, the strongest magnetic and gravity responses identified in the new model have not been tested by any historic drill holes.
Multiple New Targets Across the Project
Beyond the main Walparuta mine area, Tarrina has identified six additional coincident magnetic and gravity anomalies with similar geophysical characteristics. These targets, hosted within comparable lithologies, remain untested except for one where historic drilling returned low-level copper anomalies. The company views these as lower priority relative to the main Walparuta target but plans to advance them as exploration progresses.
Next Steps, Mapping, Sampling, and Drilling
Tarrina’s immediate focus will be on refining these targets through detailed geological mapping, geochemical soil and rock chip sampling, and petrophysical studies to better understand the magnetic and density signatures. The company is also evaluating additional geophysical techniques to improve target resolution ahead of a planned ~6,000 metre drilling program. This program aims to test the deeper magnetic-gravity anomalies and potentially define maiden mineral resources at Walparuta.
Chairman Francis De Souza emphasised the significance of the integrated 3D targeting, noting its similarity to the successful exploration approaches used at nearby Havilah Resources’ Kalkaroo and Mutaroo deposits. The scale and geometry of the new targets suggest a potentially larger IOCG-style system than previously recognised, underscoring the importance of optimising drill targeting to unlock the project’s full potential.
Bottom Line?
Tarrina’s Walparuta project stands at a pivotal point, with new 3D modelling revealing promising IOCG targets that could reshape the company’s exploration trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling confirm the inferred correlation between magnetic intensity and higher copper-gold grades?
- How will additional geophysical techniques refine the targeting of these large, deep anomalies?
- What is the potential scale and grade of mineralisation compared to regional IOCG analogues like Kalkaroo?
