Marquee Resources has launched an eight-hole reverse circulation drilling program at its Yindi Gold Project, focusing on a statistically refined central corridor to test for primary gold mineralisation beneath transported cover.
- Eight-hole, 1,125m first-phase RC drill campaign underway
- Focus on central corridor with high-grade historic intercepts
- Geostatistical refinement guides target prioritisation
- Historical 2m at 12g/t Au intercept remains untested at depth
- Drilling aims to validate structural and mafic contact controls
RC Drilling Targets Structural Gold System Beneath Cover
Marquee Resources Limited (ASX:MQR) has kicked off a tightly focused reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Yindi Gold Project in Western Australia, aiming to probe beneath transported cover for concealed gold mineralisation. The first phase comprises eight holes totalling 1,125 metres, designed to test a statistically refined central corridor where historical drilling and surface geochemistry highlight structural and mafic rock controls on gold distribution.
The campaign’s lead target zone includes a notable historic intercept of 2 metres at 12 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 82 metres depth, recorded beneath barren cover but never followed up with deeper drilling. Marquee’s geostatistical model integrates over 6,000 soil samples and 577 historical drill holes to prioritise anomalies, filtering out false positives using arsenic, antimony, and iron data to sharpen focus on the most prospective structural corridors.
Geological Model Emphasises Structural and Mafic Controls
The Yindi project sits on a major structural corridor approximately 45 kilometres south of the Carosue Dam gold operations, within the prolific Yilgarn Craton. Marquee’s technical team, led by Principal Geologist Selcuk Gokler, interprets the mineralisation as orogenic gold hosted in dilatant deformation zones and mafic intrusive contacts, with transported cover masking surface geochemical signatures.
Historical drilling has largely been shallow and wide-spaced, often failing to penetrate the transported regolith that obscures primary mineralisation. Marquee’s approach targets fresh rock beneath anomalous regolith zones, with drill holes designed to vector through cover and test structural junctions identified by magnetic and geochemical data. This includes a magnetic “hook” coinciding with a structural intersection, classic for hosting blind orogenic gold deposits.
Drilling Program Designed for Rapid Validation and Follow-up
The eight-hole program is structured to deliver a direct test of the central corridor and provide a clear decision point for immediate follow-up drilling. Six holes focus on the highest-ranked geostatistical clusters within the corridor, while two step-out holes test adjacent anomalies and structural extensions. The execution window is approximately two weeks on site, plus mobilisation and assay turnaround.
Marquee emphasises the early-stage nature of the project, with exploration targets remaining conceptual pending further drilling and validation. The statistical refinement process aims to reduce capital risk by prioritising drill targets with the strongest geological and geochemical support, avoiding costly chasing of shallow oxide anomalies.
Corporate and Technical Leadership Supporting Exploration
Marquee’s board and management bring a blend of capital markets and technical expertise to the project. Executive Chairman Charles Thomas has over two decades of experience in mining and resources corporate advisory, while Chief Technical Officer Jonathan Currell has a track record of leading exploration programs across Western Australia, including Marquee’s Redlings Rare Earths and Mt Clement Antimony projects.
The company’s cash position of approximately $1.5 million and a market capitalisation near $4.7 million provide a modest but focused platform to advance Yindi. Marquee recently refocused its strategy away from a tungsten acquisition to prioritise gold and base metal assets, with Yindi drilling scheduled to commence in September 2026 following shareholder approvals and contractor mobilisation.
Bottom Line?
The upcoming RC drilling at Yindi offers a critical test of a high-grade, structurally controlled gold system concealed beneath transported cover, with results likely to dictate the pace and scale of Marquee’s exploration push.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the drilling confirm the continuity and grade of the historic 12 g/t Au intercept at depth?
- How effectively does the geostatistical refinement translate to actual mineralisation in fresh rock?
- What follow-up exploration steps will Marquee prioritise if initial results validate the structural model?