Tali Resources is set to begin a 10,000m aircore drilling campaign at West Arunta in May, leveraging new geophysical surveys to test multiple high-potential prospects.
- 10,000m aircore drilling starts in May
- 1,800km2 Falcon gravity survey completed
- GSWA magnetic data released for target refinement
- Additional drilling planned for Khya, Don Juan, Alakol
- $220,000 government grant supports Khya and Vanda drilling
Drilling Campaign Kicks Off Amid New Geophysical Insights
Tali Resources Ltd (ASX:TR2) is poised to commence a substantial 10,000-metre aircore drilling program at its West Arunta Project in late May, with all necessary approvals now secured. This expansive campaign targets ten priority prospects, many of which have never been drilled before, underscoring the underexplored nature of this emerging mineral region in Western Australia.
The prospects include a mix of gravity-only anomalies, combined gravity and magnetic highs, and magnetic-only anomalies, all situated near the Central Australian Suture; a major crustal-scale structure that may control mineralisation. The company is targeting copper, critical minerals, and precious metals, with two prospects, Chilka and Hutt, receiving second-phase drill testing after initial exploration. This drilling push builds on the company’s earlier announcements outlining the program scope and objectives 10,000m aircore drilling program.
New Gravity and Magnetic Data Strengthen Targeting
Central to Tali’s renewed exploration momentum is the completion of a large-scale 1,800km2 Falcon airborne gravity gradiometry survey flown at 600m and 400m line spacing. This survey fills gaps where previous gravity data were sparse, revealing broad structural features critical for prospect identification. Complementing this, the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA) released an extensive airborne magnetic and radiometric dataset in April 2026, conducted at a finer 100m line spacing across Tali’s tenure.
Integrating these datasets allows Tali to refine existing targets and potentially identify new zones of untested mineralisation. This multi-layered geophysical approach is designed to unlock the West Arunta’s complex geology and guide the upcoming drilling phases with greater precision. The strategy reflects the company’s systematic exploration methodology and follows earlier data reviews that expanded the prospect pipeline geophysical surveys and heritage clearances.
Plans for Follow-Up Drilling at Key Prospects
Looking beyond the May aircore program, Tali is planning additional drilling campaigns in the second half of 2026 at the Khya, Don Juan, and Alakol prospects. Khya stands out with a large-scale gravity high anomaly of up to +1mGal coincident with a 3.5km magnetic high, located adjacent to the Lake Mackay Fault. Notably, this area has never been drilled before, offering a fresh opportunity to explore for copper and critical minerals.
Supporting this effort, the Western Australian Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration has awarded Tali a $220,000 Exploration Incentive Scheme grant to co-fund drilling at Khya and the nearby Vanda prospects. Meanwhile, Don Juan and Alakol form part of a 45km system of alkaline ultramafic dykes with both magnetic and gravity signatures. Previous drilling intersected aillikites with anomalous rare earth elements, and rock chip sampling by Toro Energy Ltd in 2011 returned total rare earth oxide values up to 4%, hinting at significant critical mineral potential.
These follow-up programs aim to build on earlier exploration successes and test whether the larger aillikite complexes contain economically significant critical mineral units, a key focus for future resource development.
Bottom Line?
With drilling imminent and fresh geophysical data in hand, Tali’s West Arunta campaign will be a critical test of the project’s mineral potential amid limited prior exploration.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the new aircore drilling confirm significant mineralisation at the largely untested prospects?
- How will integration of gravity and magnetic data refine the search for copper and critical minerals?
- Can the rare earth element anomalies at Don Juan and Alakol translate into viable resources?