Middle Island Resources has identified a significant gold system at its Zabrnjica Prospect within the Priboj Project, Serbia, setting the stage for a planned drilling campaign in 2026. This discovery adds a compelling new dimension to the company’s underexplored Serbian portfolio.
- Broad gold-in-soil anomaly over 600m by 200m at Zabrnjica
- Rock chip assays confirm bedrock gold mineralisation up to 1.91g/t Au
- Geological setting suggests potential for large replacement-style gold system
- Initial five-hole reverse circulation drilling planned for 2026
- Additional copper exploration activities underway in adjacent licences
Emerging Gold Potential at Zabrnjica
Middle Island Resources Limited (ASX:MDI) has announced encouraging exploration results from the Zabrnjica Prospect, part of its Priboj Project in Serbia. The company has delineated a broad, coherent gold-in-soil anomaly extending approximately 600 metres in length and up to 200 metres wide, with assay results exceeding 10 parts per billion (ppb) gold. This anomaly lies within highly altered, quartz-veined sedimentary rocks, a geological setting that is consistent with large-scale replacement-style gold systems.
Rock chip sampling has further confirmed the presence of gold mineralisation in bedrock, with assays reaching up to 0.68 grams per tonne (g/t) in outcrop and 1.91 g/t in float samples. These findings are particularly notable given that the area had not been subject to modern gold exploration prior to Middle Island’s work.
Strategic Exploration and Drilling Plans
Building on these promising results, Middle Island has planned an initial five-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program for the 2026 field season, pending land access approvals. This drilling will test the highly altered gold mineralised sediments and aims to better define the extent and grade of the mineralisation.
Chief Executive Officer Peter Spiers highlighted the significance of the discovery, drawing parallels to world-class deposits such as the Donlin Creek gold system in Alaska, known for its multi-million-ounce gold endowment. Spiers emphasised the Priboj Project’s underexplored nature and the company’s disciplined approach to unlocking value through systematic exploration.
Broader Regional Context and Copper Targets
The Priboj Project is situated within the Western Tethyan Mineral Province, a world-class geological belt hosting major copper and gold deposits. Middle Island’s portfolio spans 14 licences covering approximately 620 square kilometres, including the Priboj, Jermovac, and Ober licences.
Alongside gold exploration, the company is advancing copper-focused programs. Notably, a three-hole RC drilling campaign is planned at the Jelaca Prospect targeting volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) style copper mineralisation, supported by a substantial copper-in-soil anomaly and rock chip samples assaying up to 10.3% copper. Further soil sampling is also proposed across the Jermovac licence, which has already yielded highly anomalous copper results.
Next Steps and Market Implications
Middle Island is awaiting assay results from other exploration programs across its Serbian assets, including the Bobija and Timok projects. The company’s progress at Zabrnjica, combined with its copper exploration initiatives, positions it well to potentially deliver transformative discoveries in a highly prospective but underexplored region.
Investors and analysts will be watching closely as drilling commences and further assay data emerges, which will be critical to validating the scale and economic potential of these targets.
Bottom Line?
As Middle Island prepares to drill its new gold target, the Priboj Project could soon shift from exploration to discovery stage, reshaping its growth trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling at Zabrnjica confirm a significant gold resource?
- How will land access approvals impact the timing and scope of exploration activities?
- What are the implications of concurrent copper targets for Middle Island’s portfolio value?