Sierra Nevada Gold (ASX: SNX) has discovered a new high-grade gold-silver-polymetallic breccia beneath shallow cover at its As Safra project in Saudi Arabia, revealing a more complex and extensive mineral system than previously known.
- New Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn breccia discovered 400m south of Central Copper Zone
- High-grade intercepts include 11m @ 1.15g/t Au and 108.7g/t Ag
- Discovery suggests multiple mineralising events in a large magmatic-hydrothermal system
- Only a small fraction of the 5.5km corridor drilled, significant exploration upside
- Expanded Phase 2 drilling program planned, exceeding 25,000m
Polymetallic Breccia Discovery Transforms As Safra Exploration
Sierra Nevada Gold (ASX:SNX) has unveiled a previously unrecognised high-grade gold-silver-polymetallic breccia system at its flagship As Safra Copper-Gold Project in Saudi Arabia. The breccia lies beneath shallow cover roughly 400 metres south of the project's Central Copper Zone, marking a significant expansion of the known mineralisation footprint.
The standout drill results come from two reverse circulation holes, ASRC0011 and ASRC0012, which intersected intervals such as 11 metres grading 1.15 grams per tonne gold, 108.7 grams per tonne silver, 0.21% copper, 4.64% zinc, and 1.88% lead starting at 49 metres downhole. This polymetallic breccia is spatially distinct from the previously identified copper-gold skarn mineralisation, indicating multiple mineralising pulses within a large magmatic-hydrothermal system.
Geological Complexity Suggests District-Scale Potential
SNX's CEO Adam Oehlman highlighted the discovery's implications: "This materially advances our understanding of the As Safra mineral system. We now have evidence that the system evolved through multiple mineralising stages and was capable of producing copper-gold skarn mineralisation, skarn Au-dominant zones and precious-metal-rich polymetallic breccias."
The breccia's intermediate-sulphidation geochemical signature broadens the exploration model beyond the copper-dominant skarn, supporting the interpretation of As Safra as a district-scale mineral system with complex metal zonation and multiple mineralisation styles. The breccia remains open along strike and at depth, with true width and overall geometry yet to be established.
Exploration Corridor Largely Untested, Follow-Up Drilling Planned
The polymetallic breccia discovery lies within a 5.5-kilometre mineralised corridor, of which only a small proportion has been drill tested to date. SNX is integrating geological, geochemical, and geophysical datasets; including magnetic, gravity, and induced polarisation surveys; to refine targeting and identify feeder structures and intrusive centres.
Results from 21 remaining Phase 1 drill holes targeting copper zones, alongside updated geophysical interpretations, are expected in the coming weeks. These will inform an expanded Phase 2 program planned to exceed 25,000 metres of combined RC and diamond drilling, aimed at extending known mineralisation, testing concealed targets, and exploring gold zones yet undrilled.
This approach builds on SNX’s earlier work confirming a continuous copper system along the corridor, reflecting strong vertical and strike continuity and polymetallic potential across multiple mineralisation styles High-Grade Copper Drilling Confirms Large Mineralised System at As Safra.
Favourable Operating Environment Underpins Project Progress
As Safra benefits from robust government support under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which has modernised mining regulations and streamlined permitting. SNX operates locally through its wholly owned subsidiary Arabian American Minerals, positioning the company to efficiently advance exploration and build in-country capability.
The project’s location within the Arabian-Nubian Shield, a region hosting major mineral deposits, and the strong metal zonation observed at As Safra, underscore its prospectivity. The discovery of the polymetallic breccia beneath shallow cover further validates SNX’s integrated targeting strategy and opens new avenues for exploration beyond historic workings.
Bottom Line?
SNX’s polymetallic breccia discovery at As Safra redefines the project’s scale and complexity, setting the stage for a major exploration campaign that could unlock district-scale value.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming Phase 1 drill results reshape the understanding of mineralisation continuity?
- What is the potential size and grade of the breccia system once its geometry is fully defined?
- How might the polymetallic breccia relate genetically to the copper-gold skarn and other mineralisation styles?