Leeuwin Metals has uncovered multiple significant historical gold intercepts at its Marda Gold Project’s Red Boomerang and Deception Hill prospects, expanding exploration potential beyond the existing 342,300oz resource. Drilling plans for the second half of 2026 are progressing alongside a resource upgrade and assay results from 55 pending holes.
- Significant historical gold intercepts outside current resource
- Drilling planned for 2H 2026 at Red Boomerang
- Resource upgrade underway across multiple Marda areas
- 55 drill holes with assays pending
- Ongoing mine permitting and strategic project reviews
New Gold Targets Emerge Beyond Existing Resource
Leeuwin Metals Ltd (ASX:LM1) has spotlighted a string of high-grade historical gold drill intercepts at its Marda Gold Project in Western Australia, specifically at the Red Boomerang and Deception Hill prospects. These results sit outside the current mineral resource of 342,300 ounces, hinting at untapped upside potential in the broader project area.
Among the standout intercepts are 24 metres at 1.79 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from surface, including a richer 15 metres at 2.72 g/t (hole EVB0152), and a sharp 2 metres at 12.82 g/t from 25 metres downhole (EVB0239). Other notable hits include 12 metres at 4.33 g/t, featuring a 1-metre section at 26.4 g/t (EVB0246), and a 66-metre intercept averaging 1.12 g/t with an 18-metre zone at 2.32 g/t (EVB0317). These intercepts, associated with quartz-pyrite veins hosted in porphyry, demonstrate substantial widths and grades that could materially expand the project's gold inventory.
Drilling and Resource Growth on the Horizon
The company is moving swiftly to capitalise on these findings, with drill planning and permitting underway for Red Boomerang, targeting the second half of 2026 for commencement. This follows a recent Leeuwin drilling program that has yielded 55 holes still awaiting assay results, which are expected in the coming weeks. Concurrently, a resource upgrade is in progress across several key project areas including Golden Orb, Evanston, and Marda Central, leveraging the latest drilling data.
Leeuwin’s Executive Chairman Christopher Piggott emphasised the significance of these developments: “Marda continues to generate exciting targets across the board. Alongside these significant historical intercepts, our regional targeting work has identified high-priority drill targets that can add meaningful ounces to the 342,300oz resource base.”
Geological Setting and Exploration Strategy
Red Boomerang and Deception Hill are characterised by three moderately west-dipping lodes within a package of NE-SW striking, steeply northwest-dipping mafic and felsic rocks, with gold mineralisation predominantly hosted in the felsic units near contacts with ultramafic rocks. The mineralisation style and geology suggest potential for further extensions and new discoveries along structurally prospective corridors that Leeuwin is actively assessing.
The company’s strategy includes systematic evaluation of its extensive historical database, ongoing assay receipt and interpretation, and expanding drilling to test new downdip extensions and high-grade trends. This approach is designed to build a robust pipeline of targets to underpin future resource growth and project development.
Permitting and Strategic Reviews Progress
Beyond exploration, Leeuwin is advancing mine permitting and design work, with discussions progressing with MEGA Resources, a partner offering local mining and operational expertise. This follows a non-binding memorandum of understanding signed earlier in June 2026 to explore development, funding, and operational pathways for Marda.
In parallel, the company is conducting strategic reviews of its other assets, including the Cross Lake Lithium project and the William Lake Nickel-PGE project in Canada, both of which target critical battery metals with significant exploration upside. These initiatives reflect Leeuwin’s broader ambition to diversify and capitalise on demand for strategic commodities.
Bottom Line?
Leeuwin Metals’ identification of significant gold intercepts outside its existing resource base at Marda sets the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign and resource upgrade in the second half of 2026, with assay results and permitting progress key to unlocking the project's next phase.
Questions in the middle?
- How will assay results from the 55 pending holes influence the upcoming resource upgrade?
- What is the potential scale and grade continuity of mineralisation at Red Boomerang and Deception Hill beyond reported intercepts?
- How might MEGA Resources’ involvement impact the timeline and economics of mine development at Marda?