Nexus Minerals has completed its Branches Prospect drilling campaign with strong assay results confirming continuity of a northwest-trending gold system. These findings position Branches alongside Clement and Payns to contribute to an updated Wallbrook Mineral Resource Estimate due in September.
- Final assay results from 37 RC holes at Branches Prospect
- High-grade gold intercepts including 1m at 7.63g/t Au within 13m at 2.00g/t Au
- Branches mineralised trend extends 350m further south, remains open
- 149 RC holes reported across three Wallbrook prospects to date
- Updated multi-prospect Wallbrook MRE targeted for September quarter
Branches Prospect Drilling Completes with Encouraging High-Grade Intercepts
Nexus Minerals Limited (ASX:NXM) has wrapped up its resource definition drilling at the Branches Prospect within the Wallbrook Gold Project, delivering assay results from 37 reverse circulation (RC) holes totaling 3,506 metres. The program has reinforced the presence of a continuous northwest-trending mineralised zone, highlighted by significant gold intercepts such as 1 metre at 7.63 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 3 metres at 4.25g/t gold within a broader 13-metre interval averaging 2.00g/t from 111 metres depth.
These results not only confirm geological continuity between previously reported high-grade zones but also extend the mineralised corridor by an additional 350 metres to the south, leaving the Branches trend open for further exploration. The strongest intercepts emerged from the southern end of the prospect, signalling potential for future growth beyond the current drilling footprint.
Branches Joins Clement and Payns in Wallbrook Resource Update
The Branches drilling forms part of a broader 21,985-metre RC campaign across Wallbrook’s key prospects, including Clement and Payns. To date, assay results have been reported for 149 holes covering 15,667 metres across these three prospects, with the Crusader–Templar prospect extensional drilling results expected to be released in August.
Managing Director Andy Tudor emphasised the significance of the Branches results, noting that the program has advanced geological understanding while providing the density and confidence required for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at Branches. This estimate will feed into an updated multi-prospect Wallbrook MRE, currently constrained to the Crusader–Templar combined resource of 304,000 ounces of gold.
Geological Insights and Drilling Methodology
Gold mineralisation at Branches is hosted within hematite-altered porphyry dykes intruding volcaniclastic rocks, with higher grades associated with quartz-sulphide veining near redox boundaries. The mineralised system dips consistently eastwards and aligns with structural controls similar to those at neighbouring deposits such as Crusader–Templar and Clement.
The drilling employed industry best practice, with one-metre RC samples analysed using Chrysos PhotonAssay™ technology, a method noted for its superior accuracy in detecting coarse gold compared to traditional fire assay. Sampling protocols included rigorous quality control measures, such as certified reference materials and field duplicates, ensuring data reliability for resource modelling.
Next Steps Toward September Quarter Resource Estimate
With Branches assay reporting complete, attention now turns to the final Crusader–Templar extensional results anticipated in August. Independent geologist Jeremy Clark has been engaged to compile the updated multi-prospect Mineral Resource Estimate, targeting completion by the end of the September quarter.
The ongoing drilling success across Wallbrook’s prospects, combined with the open-ended nature of mineralisation at Branches, sets a promising stage for the forthcoming resource update. Investors will be watching closely for the Crusader–Templar results and the subsequent MRE, which will provide a clearer picture of Wallbrook’s gold potential.
Bottom Line?
Branches Prospect assay results bolster Wallbrook’s resource potential, but the true scale hinges on upcoming Crusader–Templar data and the September resource update.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the final Crusader–Templar results impact the overall Wallbrook Mineral Resource Estimate?
- What is the potential size and grade of extensions beyond the current Branches drilling footprint?
- Could further drilling along the open southern trend at Branches materially increase the project’s resource base?