Taruga Minerals has locked in CorePacific Drilling for a maiden 1,000m diamond drill campaign at its Weioko Gold Deposit on Normanby Island, aiming to validate historical high-grade gold hits and explore deeper mineralisation.
- CorePacific Drilling contracted for maiden diamond drilling
- Program targets historical high-grade gold intercepts and depth extensions
- Weioko drilling set to commence in Q3 2026
- Contract allows for flexible program expansion
- Taruga fully funded for 2026 PNG exploration activities
Drilling Contract Secured to Restart Weioko Exploration
Taruga Minerals (ASX:TAR) has taken a decisive step forward in its Papua New Guinea portfolio by appointing CorePacific Drilling to conduct the first diamond drilling at the Weioko Gold Deposit since 2009. The initial 1,000-metre program is designed to confirm and extend several historical high-grade gold intersections within the East Normanby Gold Project on Normanby Island.
The contract with CorePacific Drilling includes flexibility for additional drilling metres and program extensions, allowing Taruga to respond swiftly to encouraging results without the delays of renegotiation. Drilling is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, following ongoing track clearing and site preparation at Weioko.
Targeting Historical High-Grade Gold Zones and Depth Extensions
Weioko's historical drilling comprises 67 holes totaling 5,792 metres, predominantly shallow (around 70% less than 100 metres deep), with several holes ending in mineralisation, suggesting the system remains open at depth. Noteworthy intercepts include 64.6 metres at 2.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from surface, including 2.9 metres at 33.9 g/t (hole PWED047), and 51.4 metres at 2.0 g/t gold including 3 metres at 16.3 g/t (PWED041).
Taruga’s technical team has identified three key untested opportunities: along-strike extensions of the mineralised corridor, down-dip continuity below existing intercepts, and structurally repeated parallel zones consistent with the district's epithermal gold setting. The maiden drilling will focus on testing these areas, including follow-ups on holes that finished in mineralisation without reaching the base of the system.
Weioko: The Flagship Target in an 8km Gold Belt
The Weioko Gold Deposit sits at the heart of an 8-kilometre-long epithermal gold district within Taruga’s East Normanby Gold Project. With the recent granting of exploration licences EL2830 and EL2831, Taruga now holds full regulatory tenure over Weioko and its key surrounding prospects, covering approximately 488 square kilometres. Weioko remains the most advanced and drill-ready target, making this maiden drilling campaign a pivotal milestone in Taruga’s 2026 PNG exploration program.
CorePacific Drilling will deploy a man-portable diamond core rig capable of reaching depths up to 250 metres. The rig's compact design suits the ridgeline access at Weioko and aligns with responsible exploration practices in Papua New Guinea.
Fully Funded Exploration and Regional Prospects
Taruga is fully funded for its 2026 exploration activities across both the East Normanby Gold Project and the Kol Mountain Copper-Gold Project on New Britain Island. The company plans to release assay results promptly as they arrive from the laboratory and is prepared to expand the drilling program contingent on initial findings. Alongside Weioko, regional fieldwork will continue at other prospects including Lataona Hill, Sipupu, Gwamogwamo, and Wenasia, reflecting a broad and active exploration agenda.
Non-Executive Chairman Paul Cronin highlighted the rapid progress from licence grant to drilling contract, attributing it to diligent historical data digitisation, deposit modelling, and community engagement. This groundwork sets the stage for what Taruga describes as an "exciting target" with significant potential to expand the known mineralised footprint.
Bottom Line?
Weioko’s maiden diamond drilling is a critical test of historical high-grade zones and depth potential, with flexible contracting positioning Taruga to accelerate exploration if results prove promising.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling confirm the high-grade historical intercepts at Weioko?
- How extensive is the mineralisation at depth beyond previous drilling limits?
- Could positive results trigger a rapid expansion of the drilling program in 2026?