Lodestar Minerals’ recent 12,344m drilling campaign at Ned’s Creek confirms high-grade gold continuity and reveals new mineralisation zones beyond the December 2025 Exploration Target, setting the stage for a maiden resource in 2026.
- 12,344m RC drilling completed across three prospects
- Initial assays confirm Exploration Target range of 250,000-300,000 oz Au
- High-grade intercepts include 6m at 7.16g/t and 15m at 1.53g/t Au
- New mineralisation zones extend beyond previous model limits
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for calendar year 2026
Drilling Campaign Delivers High-Grade Gold Intercepts
Lodestar Minerals Limited (ASX:LSR) has wrapped up a substantial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Ned’s Creek Gold Project in Western Australia, delivering initial assay results that not only confirm but expand the company’s December 2025 Exploration Target. Over 106 holes and 12,344 metres were drilled across the Gidgee Flat, Contessa, and Central Park prospects without incident, with the first 13 holes returning assays that include standout intercepts such as 6 metres at 7.16 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 140 metres, featuring a 1 metre interval hitting 35.34 g/t, and 15 metres at 1.53 g/t from 108 metres.
Mineralisation Extends Beyond Previous Boundaries
Significantly, drilling has intersected new zones of mineralisation beyond the previously defined Exploration Target envelope of 250,000 to 300,000 ounces of gold within 5 to 7 million tonnes at 1.0 to 1.7 g/t. The discovery of a parallel high-grade lode at Gidgee Flat, particularly highlighted by hole LNRC125, suggests the mineralised shear zone remains open to the northeast, offering potential for resource expansion. These findings bolster confidence in the continuity and scale of both oxide and fresh rock gold mineralisation across the project area.
Strategic Location and Next Steps
Ned’s Creek’s proximity to established operations such as Catalyst Metals’ Plutonic Gold Mine and Westgold’s Blue Bird Plant near Meekatharra provides logistical advantages for future development. Lodestar’s CEO Coraline Blaud emphasised the transformational nature of the drilling results, noting that the extensive dataset now positions the company to advance towards a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) targeted for later in 2026. Ongoing assay results from the remaining ~5,200 samples and further resampling work will underpin geological modelling and metallurgical testwork to support this milestone.
Technical Rigour and Exploration Strategy
The drilling program was designed to infill and extend known mineralisation, test priority targets, and generate data critical for resource modelling. Sampling and assay protocols followed industry standards, with fire assay used for gold analysis and quality controls including reference materials and duplicates. While the current drilling density is not yet sufficient for a resource estimate, the company aims to establish an Inferred Resource classification upon completion of the program and data integration.
Looking Beyond Ned’s Creek
Lodestar’s exploration portfolio extends beyond Ned’s Creek, with active projects in Chile and the USA, including copper and rare earth elements targets. Recent developments at the Three Saints IOCG Project in Chile and other initiatives indicate a diversified strategy across critical metals and gold. The Ned’s Creek results add momentum to this broader exploration push, with the upcoming maiden MRE representing a key near-term catalyst.
Bottom Line?
Lodestar’s latest drilling at Ned’s Creek not only confirms its existing gold target but hints at a larger resource footprint, making the 2026 maiden resource estimate a pivotal event to watch.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the remaining assay results influence the final Mineral Resource Estimate?
- What metallurgical characteristics will the fresh rock mineralisation exhibit compared to oxide zones?
- Could the newly identified parallel lode at Gidgee Flat significantly alter the project’s development timeline or economics?