Gateway Mining Accelerates RC Drilling at Yandal Gold Project
Gateway Mining has kicked off reverse circulation drilling at its Yandal Gold Project, targeting major mineralised footprints identified by extensive aircore drilling. The company is deploying multiple rigs to rapidly delineate high-potential zones ahead of resource definition.
- RC drilling commenced following extensive aircore success
- Two rigs active with potential third this quarter
- Focus on Haflinger, Great Western, Cowza, and Celia South
- Project supported by $15.7 million cash and $5.6 million in liquid securities
- Further aircore results pending from southern project areas
RC Drilling Launches New Phase at Yandal
Gateway Mining Ltd (ASX:GML) has transitioned from aircore to reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its Yandal Gold Project, marking a pivotal step towards defining the scale of its mineralised zones. After a brief delay caused by rig maintenance, the first RC rig is now operational onsite, with a second rig arriving imminently and the possibility of a third rig being deployed within the quarter to accelerate exploration efforts.
The RC program is designed to test the extents of mineralisation uncovered during an extensive ten-month aircore campaign, which delineated kilometre-scale gold footprints along key structural corridors. This groundwork has generated multiple standout targets including Haflinger, Great Western, Cowza, Celia South, Rubicon, Hummer, and Mustang, setting the stage for a more focused and deeper drilling phase.
Targeted Focus on High-Priority Zones
The initial RC drilling is concentrated around Haflinger, where a discovery hole returned 64 metres at 1.2 grams per tonne gold from 56 metres depth, including 24 metres at 2.4 grams per tonne gold. Following this, the rig will move to Great Western, a target notable for a 4-kilometre-long gold-mineralised doleritic unit and a promising epithermal system. Meanwhile, the second rig will focus on southern targets Cowza and Celia South, both of which host known high-grade gold mineralisation and structural settings favourable for further resource growth.
This approach aims first to delineate the footprints of mineralisation in fresh rock before progressing to resource growth and definition drilling later in the year. The potential addition of a third RC rig could expedite follow-up drilling and resource planning, depending on early results and operational logistics.
Strong Financial Position Supports Exploration
Gateway Mining enters this drilling phase well capitalised, with $15.7 million in cash and $5.6 million in liquid ASX securities as of the March 2026 quarter. This liquidity underpins the company's ability to sustain an aggressive exploration program through 2026, including the planned deployment of multiple RC rigs and ongoing assay processing.
Further aircore assay results from the southern portions of the project, including Cowza, Cowza North, and Ward, are expected to be released shortly, potentially adding new targets or refining existing ones. The company’s management emphasises the excitement around delineating the scale of the mineralised system at Yandal, suggesting a period of active news flow as drilling progresses.
Bottom Line?
Gateway’s ramp-up to multi-rig RC drilling signals a critical phase in testing the Yandal Project’s gold potential, with initial focus on robust targets and a solid balance sheet backing exploration ambitions.
Questions in the middle?
- How will initial RC drilling results at Haflinger and Great Western influence the scale of resource estimates?
- What impact could the addition of a third RC rig have on the pace and scope of exploration this quarter?
- Will upcoming aircore results from southern targets reshape Gateway’s drilling priorities or expand the project’s footprint?
