Great Southern Mining Launches Deep Drilling to Unlock Hidden Riches in WA

Government-Backed Drilling Program Kicks Off

Great Southern Mining Ltd (GSN) has initiated a strategically important diamond drilling campaign at two of its key Western Australian projects, supported by co-funding from the state government’s Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS). The program targets the Diorite Hill Layered Intrusive Complex within the East Laverton Project and the Golden Boulder area of the Duketon Gold Project, with total grants of up to $337,500 facilitating deep drilling that could significantly advance the company’s exploration prospects.

Probing the Depths of Diorite Hill’s Intrusive Complex

The Diorite Hill target is notable for its extensive layered mafic-ultramafic intrusive complex spanning approximately 110 square kilometres. GSN’s first diamond hole, planned to reach 900 metres, aims to test two discrete seismic reflector horizons interpreted as dense, metal-rich stratigraphic units analogous to the famed Merensky Reef of South Africa’s Bushveld Complex. This reef-style mineralisation is prospective for platinum group elements (PGEs), nickel, copper, and other base metals.

Previous exploration in the area was shallow and inconclusive, largely due to transported cover and the blind nature of the target horizons, which do not outcrop at surface. The current drilling, leveraging reprocessed seismic and aeromagnetic data, represents a novel approach in Western Australia and could unlock a new frontier for PGE and base metal discoveries.

Golden Boulder: First Deep Drilling to Illuminate Gold Structures

Following Diorite Hill, the diamond rig will move to the Golden Boulder target within the Duketon Gold Project, where GSN plans at least two diamond holes, including a 700-metre deep co-funded hole at the Ogilvies prospect. This will be the first deep drilling below 150 metres in the area, which has seen promising shallow reverse circulation drilling results with high-grade gold intercepts, including assays exceeding 70 grams per tonne.

The drilling aims to test major structural controls on gold mineralisation, particularly the Rosemont Fault and related shear zones, which are believed to channel gold-bearing fluids from depth. Understanding these structural and stratigraphic frameworks is critical for unlocking the full potential of the Golden Boulder area and could inform broader exploration strategies across the Duketon Gold Belt.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

GSN’s Managing Director Matthew Keane emphasised the significance of the EIS funding in enabling these technically advanced drilling programs. The integration of seismic data, a technique more commonly applied in large global layered intrusions, alongside detailed structural analysis, positions GSN to make meaningful advances in understanding and potentially expanding its resource base.

While assay results from the current drilling are pending, the program marks a pivotal step in testing innovative exploration concepts that could yield substantial discoveries in two highly prospective Western Australian mining districts.