North Stawell Minerals Extends Darlington Gold Trend to 800m with New Assays

Darlington Project Expands with Confirmed High-Grade Gold Zones

North Stawell Minerals (ASX:NSM) has sharpened the focus on its Darlington prospect, located 6-8 kilometres north of the iconic Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria, by defining an 800-metre gold trend through recent re-split assays of air core drilling samples. The drilling campaign, designed to test for concealed, high-grade gold systems beneath shallow cover, has returned multiple intercepts exceeding 1 gram per tonne (g/t) gold, including standout results such as 1 metre at 2.18 g/t Au from 29 metres and 3 metres at 1.35 g/t Au from 44 metres (including 1 metre at 2.52 g/t Au).

These results extend the known mineralisation 190 metres to the south of previous high-grade intercepts and suggest the presence of additional mineralised structures up to 100 metres west of the current interpretation, hinting at a more complex system than initially mapped. The mineralisation style, characterised by quartz veining in sedimentary host rocks with significant quartz content, closely parallels the historic Mariners Reef lodes at Stawell, reinforcing the prospectivity of the corridor.

Caledonia Project Strengthens Regional Gold Model

At the Caledonia prospect, also within the northern extension of the Stawell mineralised corridor, re-split assays have confirmed gold mineralisation associated with quartz veining in two northwest-trending veins and a possible north-trending splay. Notable intercepts include 3 metres at 1.70 g/t Au from 35 metres, including 1 metre at 2.75 g/t Au, and 1 metre at 1.86 g/t Au from 52 metres. These findings align with high-resolution soil geochemistry and support the interpretation that mineralisation is preferentially focused along the basalt margin, consistent with the Stawell gold model.

Exploration Strategy Anchored by Stawell Gold Mine Analogue

North Stawell Minerals is leveraging the geological framework of the nearby multi-million-ounce Stawell Gold Mine, which has produced over five million ounces of gold, as a model for exploration. The company’s 445 square kilometre tenement package covers a prospective corridor where basalt domes and faulted sedimentary rocks create favourable structural traps for gold mineralisation. The recent drilling results at Darlington and Caledonia reinforce the idea that significant gold systems may be concealed beneath shallow cover sediments.

Executive Director Bill Reid highlighted the potential for high-grade, plunging shoots within broader lower-grade envelopes, describing these as "high-value targets worth pursuing." The company plans to follow up with diamond drilling and geophysical surveys, including induced polarisation (IP), to refine targeting and test the extent of mineralisation both along strike and at depth.

Tenure Security and Historical Data Integration

NSM’s tenure in the region is robust, with all granted exploration licences current and in good standing. The company holds earn-in agreements on key tenements, including EL007325 "Germania," where up to 90% interest can be secured. The exploration area has a rich history of drilling campaigns dating back to the 1970s, conducted by major players such as Rio Tinto and WMC Resources. NSM has integrated historic data with modern drilling results to build a comprehensive geological model, although some historic assays lack complete QAQC verification.

With a systematic approach combining drilling, geochemistry, and geophysics, North Stawell Minerals is positioning itself to unlock the potential of this under-explored corridor, adjacent to one of Australia’s most prolific gold mines.