Duketon Mining Begins 5,500m Drilling Program at Barlee, Completes Boodanoo RC Drilling

Drilling Commences at Barlee Gold Project

Duketon Mining Limited (ASX:DKM) has commenced its maiden drilling program at the Barlee Gold Project, marking the first-ever drilling activity across this greenfield area. The program, planned to cover approximately 5,500 metres, includes around 4,000 metres of aircore and 1,500 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling. As of the announcement date, roughly 400 metres have been completed, with initial drilling focused on the Scooby Prospect.

The Scooby Prospect drilling has intersected sheared mafic and felsic lithologies, geological features that may be relevant to gold mineralisation. The program aims to test six high-priority prospects identified from the company’s 2025 geochemical sampling campaign, which revealed large-scale, high-amplitude gold-in-soil anomalies. These prospects include Astro, Scooby, Tiger, Gromit, Odie, and Lost Bolt, each characterised by significant gold anomalies ranging from 37ppb to 235ppb.

Target Areas and Geological Context

The Astro Prospect is the highest priority target, defined by a gold anomaly measuring 1,800 metres by 800 metres, with a peak value of 204ppb gold. Other notable targets include the Tiger and Gromit Prospects, which have recorded maximum gold values of 230ppb and 235ppb respectively. The Lost Bolt Prospect, previously drilled, is being revisited with a focus on the western margin adjacent to the Clampton Fault, an area lacking historical drilling.

Most of these prospects are situated within the Archean Diemals Formation of the Marda–Diemals Greenstone Belt, a geological setting known for clastic metasedimentary rocks. The Odie Prospect lies within the mafic-dominated Marda Complex of the same belt. The proximity of these targets to the domain-bounding Clampton Fault may be significant for mineralisation potential.

Completion of Boodanoo Project Drilling

Concurrently, Duketon Mining has completed an 800-metre RC drilling program over twelve holes at the Boodanoo Project. All samples have been dispatched for assay, with results anticipated within four to six weeks. This follows previous soil sampling that identified significant gold anomalies at Boodanoo, supporting targeted drilling efforts.

Managing Director Stuart Fogarty commented that this phase represents an important milestone for the company, noting the scale and number of anomalies identified at Barlee. He indicated that success at any of these targets could be highly significant, potentially leading to the emergence of a new gold camp in the region.

Next Steps and Market Context

As assay results from both the Barlee and Boodanoo drilling programs are pending, the ultimate exploration outcomes remain uncertain. The company’s approach reflects a methodical testing of geochemical anomalies with the potential to expand its resource base. The current drilling campaign follows earlier announcements detailing the identification of these anomalies and preparatory work, including mobilising rigs and site clearance.

Investors and market observers will likely monitor forthcoming assay data closely to assess the significance of these initial drilling results. The Barlee Project’s location within a known greenstone belt and the scale of the anomalies provide a geological rationale for exploration, though confirmation through assay and further drilling will be essential.