North Stawell Minerals Extends High-Grade Gold Zone at Darlington

Drill Results Reinforce Darlington’s High-Grade Potential

North Stawell Minerals (ASX:NSM) has extended its high-grade gold system at the Darlington Prospect with diamond drill hole NSD062 intersecting 0.4 metres at 17.1 grams per tonne gold from 98.6 metres. This intercept lies more than 70 metres north of a previously reported high-grade hit in NSD057, which included 0.8 metres at a striking 82 g/t Au. The continuity suggested by these results strengthens the case for a coherent Mariners-style gold system analogous to the famous multi-million ounce Stawell Gold Mine, located just 6 kilometres to the south.

Executive Director Bill Reid highlighted the significance of this extension, noting the geological and structural similarities between Darlington and the historic Mariners Lodes at Stawell. The Mariners produced between 740,000 and 950,000 ounces at an average grade of 28-30 g/t Au, setting a high bar for exploration in the region. NSD062’s high-grade tenor stands out within the Stawell Corridor, where published resources typically feature grades below 5 g/t Au.

Open Mineralised Trend and Parallel Targets

The mineralised trend at Darlington remains open along strike and at depth, with approximately 850 metres open to the south and at least 200 metres to the north. NSD062’s intercept lies within a highly carbonaceous, faulted, sulphide-bearing quartz-veined zone that closely resembles the structurally complex mineralisation documented at Mariners. Follow-up diamond drill hole NSD063 has already been completed beneath NSD062, with assays awaited.

Beyond the immediate strike extension, North Stawell has identified three additional parallel mineralised trends around the historic Darlington Mine, which produced 2,347 ounces at 18 g/t Au historically. Encouraging gold intercepts have also been reported 200 metres west at Darlington West, where gold mineralisation occurs on the margins of a previously untested basalt, a key host rock for Stawell-type mineralisation. Geophysical surveys, including recent IP work, have highlighted new targets within this 445 square kilometre tenement package that sits immediately north of the Stawell Gold Mine.

Exploration Strategy and Regional Context

North Stawell Minerals’ exploration approach leverages the Stawell Gold Mine’s geological models, focusing on basalt margins where orogenic gold mineralisation is known to concentrate. The company’s portfolio contains multiple basalt domes, with at least twelve showing associated gold mineralisation and five designated as priorities, including the 87,300-ounce Wildwood resource. Darlington remains a key focus due to its repeated high-grade gold occurrences and strong geological affinity with the Mariners Lodes.

Exploration through cover sediments, which mask over 80% of NSM’s tenements, relies on advanced geophysical techniques and geochemical surveys to identify prospective basalt domes and structural traps. Recent air core drilling and geophysical surveys have refined targeting, revealing additional gold anomalies open in all directions. These efforts aim to delineate a shallow, high-grade gold system that could mirror the success of Stawell’s multi-million-ounce deposits.

Awaiting Next Steps and Assay Results

The pending assay results from NSD063 will be pivotal in confirming the continuity and scale of the mineralised system beneath NSD062. Meanwhile, the company’s systematic exploration across its extensive tenements continues to uncover multiple high-potential targets, with drilling and geophysical programs planned to build on the momentum. The Darlington Prospect’s evolving story underscores the potential for a significant new high-grade gold resource in Western Victoria, though it remains early-stage with no defined Mineral Resource yet.