iTech Minerals reports standout soil sampling results at Reynolds Range, confirming field-portable XRF as a reliable exploration tool and uncovering a new gold-antimony zone at Falchion. Drilling results are imminent.
- Peak soil assays of 12.1 g/t gold and 9.1% antimony
- Strong correlation between pXRF and lab assays for arsenic, antimony, and lead
- New mineralised zone identified at Falchion extending strike over 180m
- pXRF validated as cost-effective, rapid targeting method across 13km of structures
- Drilling results from current campaign expected within 2-3 weeks
pXRF Technology Proves Gamechanger for Reynolds Range Exploration
iTech Minerals Ltd (ASX:ITM) has delivered a significant boost to its Reynolds Range project in the Northern Territory by validating portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) as a rapid, low-cost soil geochemistry tool. The company's recent soil sampling campaign returned exceptional peak gold values of 12.1 grams per tonne (g/t) and antimony assays up to 9.1%, with the pXRF results correlating strongly with laboratory assays, particularly for key pathfinder elements arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb).
Managing Director Mike Schwarz described the results as a "gamechanger," highlighting that pXRF enables real-time, in-field vectoring to gold-antimony mineralisation. This approach slashes both cost and turnaround time compared to traditional lab-only programs, allowing iTech to screen extensive prospective structures quickly and efficiently.
Strong Correlations Confirm pXRF Reliability for Targeting
The trial involved 182 soil samples from the Sabre and Falchion prospects, analysed first by pXRF in the field, then sent for comprehensive laboratory assays. Statistical analysis reveals strong Spearman rank correlations of 0.91 for arsenic, 0.87 for antimony, and 0.81 for lead between pXRF and lab data. While pXRF tends to underestimate absolute concentrations by a factor of 1.2 to 1.8, its ability to reliably rank anomalous samples makes it ideal for first-pass targeting.
Notably, arsenic measured by pXRF correlates with gold assays at 0.83, nearly matching laboratory arsenic's 0.86 correlation, confirming arsenic as the most effective pathfinder for gold at Reynolds Range. Antimony also shows a moderate-to-strong correlation with gold (0.72), consistent with a coherent epizonal gold-antimony-arsenic mineral system.
New Mineralisation Zone at Falchion Extends Strike Length
The soil program identified a previously unrecognised mineralised zone at Falchion, approximately 180 metres northeast of recent drilling. This new anomaly spans over 100 metres of strike, defined by contiguous samples showing elevated gold (up to 314 parts per billion), arsenic (up to 1,011 ppm), and a standout 9.1% antimony assay; the highest in the program. The strong multi-element coincidence suggests a robust gold-antimony mineralised system extending beyond known limits.
This discovery adds to the expanding footprint of the Reynolds Range project, which already benefits from a recently flown drone magnetic survey delineating more than 13 kilometres of prospective structures along the Stafford Gold Trend, itself part of a broader 42-kilometre mineralised corridor. iTech plans to leverage pXRF-supported soil geochemistry systematically across these targets to refine drill vectors.
Drilling Campaign Underway with Results Imminent
iTech is currently conducting a 56-hole, approximately 7,000-metre drilling program at Reynolds Range, with results from the initial phase expected within the next two to three weeks. Drilling is scheduled to recommence on 20 July 2026, aiming to test both the newly defined Falchion zone and other high-priority targets identified through integrated geochemical and geophysical data.
The company’s partnership with SQM International Pty Ltd for lithium rights on the project adds further strategic value, although iTech retains full ownership of gold and antimony commodities. The ongoing exploration, combined with the cost efficiencies introduced by pXRF, positions Reynolds Range as a compelling development opportunity in a region with a complex geological setting and a history of promising base and precious metal anomalies.
Bottom Line?
iTech’s validation of pXRF technology not only accelerates exploration but also expands the potential footprint of gold-antimony mineralisation at Reynolds Range, with drilling results poised to confirm the new Falchion zone’s significance.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm economic grades in the newly identified Falchion zone?
- How will the systematic rollout of pXRF-supported soil sampling reshape exploration strategies across the Stafford Gold Trend?
- What cost savings and efficiency gains can iTech realise by integrating pXRF into its broader exploration workflow?