Lode Resources has unveiled promising high-grade antimony and gold intercepts from initial drilling at its New England Antimony Project, alongside large soil anomalies that hint at substantial mineralisation potential.
- High-grade antimony intercepts up to 6.18% Sb at Rock Abbey
- Extensive soil sampling reveals large, open-ended antimony anomalies
- New England Project covers 1,914 km2 with 19 known antimony prospects
- Rock Abbey mineralisation shows geological parallels to deeper Magwood system
- Further drilling and soil sampling planned to expand targets
High-Grade Antimony Intercepts at Rock Abbey Prospect
Lode Resources Ltd (ASX:LDR) has reported a series of high-grade antimony and gold intercepts from its initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Rock Abbey prospect, part of its expansive New England Antimony Project in NSW. Notably, drill hole RKA015 returned 2 metres at 3.15% antimony (Sb), including 1 metre at a striking 6.18% Sb, alongside gold grades up to 0.23 g/t. Other holes, such as RKA003 and RKA014, also delivered encouraging grades, confirming the prospect’s potential.
The Rock Abbey mineralisation occurs within fault breccia style lodes hosting stibnite (Sb₂S₃) mineralisation, enveloped by a distinctive silica/sericite alteration halo. The lode strikes WSW-ENE and dips steeply north, with drill intercepts generally representing true widths. Geological logging noted quartz veining and chalcedonic breccia associated with the mineralisation, alongside fine-grained pyrite halos.
Large Soil Anomalies Extend Exploration Upside
Complementing the drilling, Lode’s systematic soil sampling program has delineated substantial antimony anomalies near both Rock Abbey and the nearby Magwood mine prospect. At Magwood, an 850-metre-long soil anomaly northwest of the mine aligns with gold mineralisation in float samples, with gold assays reaching 3.34 g/t. Another open-ended anomaly lies 700 metres southwest along strike.
Rock Abbey itself hosts antimony anomalies extending over a 1,000-metre strike length, including exceptionally high soil samples up to 1,315 ppm Sb adjacent to artisanal workings. These anomalies are considered largely uncontaminated by historical mining activity, providing clean targets for follow-up exploration.
Strategic Positioning in a Premier Antimony Province
The New England Antimony Project spans 1,914 km2 across two exploration licences (EL9662 and EL9319), hosting 19 recorded antimony prospects with minimal prior modern exploration. This makes Lode the largest exploration licence holder in the New England Fold Belt, a region with a historic antimony production pedigree and relevance to today’s critical minerals supply chain.
Importantly, the Rock Abbey mineralisation shares striking geological similarities with the Magwood mine, where workings extend to 300 metres depth and historical drilling intercepted up to 4.8 metres at 9.92% Sb. This parallel suggests that Rock Abbey’s shallow high-grade intercepts may represent the uppermost expression of a potentially larger mineralised system, pending deeper drilling.
Next Steps in Exploration and Broader Portfolio Context
Lode plans further soil sampling, auger drilling, and deeper RC drilling to test extensions beneath the current shallow intercepts and to refine targets across the project area. This work aims to delineate both existing and new prospects within the largely underexplored licences.
The New England Antimony Project complements Lode’s critical metals portfolio, which includes the Montezuma Antimony Project and Granville Tin Project in Tasmania, where drilling and resource development activities are underway. Together, these assets position Lode as a notable player in Australia’s critical minerals sector amid growing demand.
Bottom Line?
Lode’s early drilling and soil surveys at New England reveal a promising antimony system with significant upside pending deeper exploration.
Questions in the middle?
- Will deeper drilling at Rock Abbey confirm a larger, high-grade antimony system akin to Magwood?
- How will ongoing soil sampling refine target prioritisation across the extensive New England licences?
- What are the metallurgical characteristics of the Rock Abbey mineralisation and implications for processing?