Lode Resources Confirms Broad Gold Mineralisation at Uralla Project

Extensive Gold Intercepts Confirm Intrusive Related Gold System Potential

Lode Resources Ltd (ASX:LDR) has delivered a fresh wave of encouraging drilling results from its 100% owned Uralla Gold Project in New South Wales. Recent reverse circulation (RC) scout drilling has unveiled 23 new gold mineralisation intercepts, including standout hits such as 9 metres at 1.00 g/t Au and 17 metres at 0.46 g/t Au with higher-grade zones nested within. These findings reinforce the emerging narrative of Uralla as a significant Intrusive Related Gold System (IRGS), a deposit style globally associated with large-tonnage gold resources.

Geophysical Evidence Points to Large Mineralised Intrusive Stock

The new drill results dovetail with geophysical data revealing a large circular feature beneath the surface, interpreted as a mineralised intrusive stock measuring approximately 400 by 350 metres. This structural hallmark aligns with IRGS characteristics, where mineralisation is often linked to intrusive bodies at depth. The presence of broad, near-surface gold-bearing lodes across multiple prospects, such as the Dyke Lode, Little Dyke Lode, and Red Gum Lode, adds weight to the model, suggesting the potential for a sizeable deposit.

Systematic Exploration Builds Confidence in Project Scale

Managing Director Keith Mayes highlighted the significance of the consistent results across different prospects, noting that each drill hole contributes to a clearer understanding of the system's scale. The exploration program continues to define vein-style mineralisation associated with structural dilations and felsic dykes, which could support medium-sized deposits. Importantly, the exploration data points towards a potentially large mineralised intrusive body at depth, which is the key to unlocking large-tonnage potential at Uralla.

Project Footprint and Historical Context

Covering over 300 square kilometres, Lode’s Uralla Gold Project encompasses much of the historic Uralla Goldfield, one of the earliest and most productive gold-producing regions in NSW. Despite its long mining history, the recognition of the IRGS deposit style at Uralla is relatively recent and carries significant implications for discovery potential. The project’s exploration licenses sit within the New England Fold Belt, a region known for its mineral endowment but still underexplored for IRGS deposits.

Pathfinder Elements and Mineralisation Zonation Support IRGS Model

Additional geochemical evidence comes from the zonation of pathfinder elements, particularly antimony, which is typically deposited further from the heat source of mineralised intrusive plutons. The observed antimony anomalism radiates outward from the circular geophysical feature, consistent with the zonation patterns expected in IRGS systems. This supports the hypothesis of a blind pluton acting as both the source and host for gold mineralisation, with potential for breccias, stockworks, and disseminations within intrusive and country rocks.

Next Steps in Exploration

Lode Resources plans further drilling to test lateral and depth extensions of the mineralisation, aiming to refine the geological model and evaluate the large-tonnage potential. While the current data spacing is insufficient for a formal resource estimate, the consistent intercepts and geological indicators provide a compelling case for continued investment in the Uralla project’s exploration program.