Pursuit Minerals has unveiled a comprehensive geological mapping study at its Sascha Marcelina Project in Argentina, defining a district-scale volcanic-hydrothermal system with five priority targets and setting the stage for maiden drilling from September 2026.
- Detailed mapping identifies five priority exploration centres
- Sascha Northwest and Marcelina emerge as top drill targets
- Direct link established between quartz textures and gold grades
- Maiden drilling program to test high-grade mineralisation at depth
- Additional targets provide a robust exploration pipeline
Geological Mapping Unveils District-Scale System
Pursuit Minerals Ltd (ASX:PUR) has completed a landmark geological mapping campaign at its Sascha Marcelina Gold-Silver Project in Argentina's Santa Cruz Province, revealing a sprawling volcanic-hydrothermal system that hosts multiple mineralised centres. The detailed study, conducted over 30 field days earlier this year, has materially enhanced the company's understanding of the structural and hydrothermal framework, enabling more precise drill targeting ahead of its maiden drilling program scheduled for September 2026.
The mapping confirms five discrete exploration targets; Valdivia Brechón, Sascha, Estancia, Marcelina, and Igloo; spread across a district-scale system focused around the Cerro Pellegrini Rhyolitic Dome complex. This volcanic dome, measuring approximately 2.5 by 1.2 kilometres, anchors the hydrothermal system and offers a vertical preservation of mineralisation levels from shallow steam-heated silica caps to deeper boiling zones where precious metals typically concentrate.
Sascha Northwest and Marcelina Take Centre Stage
The Sascha Northwest segment has been confirmed as the project's premier vein target. Geological mapping highlights a well-developed horsetail splay geometry; an architectural feature known to favour hydrothermal fluid flow; and coincides with historical gold anomalism and intense boiling-related quartz textures. Importantly, the mineralised corridor remains open beneath shallow Tertiary cover, presenting a compelling opportunity to discover concealed extensions.
Meanwhile, Marcelina has emerged as a large, integrated hydrothermal system with significant concealed discovery potential. The preserved steam-heated silica cap atop Cerro Pellegrini is now interpreted as a vector to deeper mineralisation rather than the primary target itself. This reinterpretation is supported by coincident historical drilling intercepts, multi-element geochemical anomalies (Au-Ag-Pb-Zn), strong induced polarisation (IP) chargeability responses, and extensive hydrothermal brecciation indicative of vigorous fluid pathways.
Quartz Textures Provide a Direct Vector to Gold
A key breakthrough from the study is the establishment of a direct relationship between specific quartz textures and historical gold grades within the Sascha Vein System. The mapping identifies three principal stages of hydrothermal quartz development, with Stage 2 textures; colloform-crustiform banding and lattice-bladed quartz; consistently associated with higher-grade gold mineralisation. These textures are recognised indicators of episodic boiling in low-sulphidation epithermal systems, the primary mechanism for precious metal deposition.
This insight equips Pursuit with a practical geological tool to prioritise drill targets more effectively, focusing exploration on the most prospective zones within the broader 5.5-kilometre mineralised corridor.
Forward-Looking Drilling Plans Target High-Grade Mineralisation
Capitalising on the integrated geological and geophysical data, Pursuit plans to commence its maiden drilling program from September 2026. The initial phase will focus on the down-plunge extension of the Sascha Northwest corridor, targeting a continuous chargeability anomaly interpreted as a sulphide-rich feeder zone. Historical drill intercepts such as 0.27 metres at 10.74 g/t Au and 1.55 metres at 8.92 g/t Au underpin this target, which remains open down-plunge and untested.
At Marcelina, drilling will test beneath the preserved silica cap to explore the concealed boiling zone where gold grades are expected to concentrate. Proposed drill holes REC-03 and REC-05 are designed to intersect a strong chargeability-resistivity anomaly exceeding 10 mV/V, aligned with historical mineralisation and interpreted feeder structures. Success here could validate the refined exploration model and unlock a significant step change in both grade and scale.
Broader District Pipeline Supports Sustained Exploration
Beyond the immediate focus on Sascha Northwest and Marcelina, the geological review confirms additional promising targets at Estancia, Igloo, and Valdivia-Brechón. Estancia hosts the strongest mineralised structures identified to date, including veins up to 1.2 metres wide with high-grade gold and silver values. Igloo features well-developed hydrothermal breccias and silica alteration with anomalous gold assays, while Valdivia-Brechón presents fault-controlled mineralised corridors with untested potential.
These targets collectively underscore the district-scale nature of the Sascha Marcelina Project, providing Pursuit with a robust pipeline of exploration opportunities beyond its maiden drilling campaign. The company is also finalising a property-wide IP survey to refine drill targeting further, with results expected by the end of Q4 2026.
While the geological mapping and integrated datasets have materially reduced exploration risk, the true scale and grade of the mineralisation remain to be confirmed by drilling. The upcoming program will be pivotal in validating the refined model and determining the project's potential to deliver a significant gold-silver discovery.
Bottom Line?
Pursuit Minerals is poised to transition from geological modelling to discovery-driven drilling at Sascha Marcelina, with high-priority targets offering clear vectors but outcomes hinging on upcoming assay results.
Questions in the middle?
- Will drilling at Sascha Northwest confirm the interpreted sulphide-rich feeder zone and extend the mineralised corridor beneath cover?
- Can Marcelina’s concealed boiling zone deliver a step change in grade and scale beyond the preserved silica cap?
- How will the integration of the forthcoming IP survey results influence drill targeting and exploration strategy across secondary prospects?