Argent Minerals Greenlights Maiden Drilling at Trunkey Creek Gold Project

Maiden Drill Program Set to Unlock Trunkey’s Hidden Gold Potential

Argent Minerals Limited (ASX:ARD) is poised to transition the Trunkey Creek Gold Project from surface exploration to its first systematic drilling campaign after securing regulatory approvals from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The Phase 1 program, scheduled to commence in early September 2026, will see approximately 1,000 metres drilled across 10 holes designed to test a 4.7-kilometre gold-mineralised structural corridor that Argent has progressively defined through mapping and sampling.

This corridor, located about 9 kilometres southeast of Argent’s flagship Kempfield silver-polymetallic project, has yielded exceptional surface gold assays, including rock chips grading up to 1,930 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and more recently 73.3 g/t. These standout results have transformed Trunkey from a historic goldfield into a compelling modern exploration target.

Historic Workings Leave Deeper Gold Untested

The historical mining activity at Trunkey, dating back to the 1850s, focused on shallow quartz reefs with shafts reaching depths of around 187 metres. Yet, mining was reportedly curtailed not due to depletion of gold but because of groundwater inflows, leaving the deeper mineralised structures largely untested. Argent’s CEO Mike McKevitt highlights this as a key opportunity: "Groundwater rather than an absence of gold was a significant constraint on deeper mining," he said, underscoring the untapped potential beneath the old workings.

The maiden drilling will target these interpreted westerly dipping structures, aiming to validate whether the high-grade surface mineralisation continues at depth. The program is structured to allow rapid expansion, potentially scaling up to 10,000 to 20,000 metres, if early results prove promising.

Strategic Fit with Kempfield and Broader Portfolio

Trunkey’s proximity to Kempfield; home to a significant silver resource estimated at 63.7 million tonnes grading 69.75 g/t silver equivalent, containing 142.8 million ounces silver equivalent; adds strategic value. A meaningful gold discovery at Trunkey could complement Argent’s polymetallic footprint in New South Wales, enhancing project optionality and potentially diversifying future production streams.

Argent has already demonstrated momentum at Kempfield with ongoing drilling campaigns extending mineralisation depth and breadth, as well as recent leadership changes aimed at accelerating development. The appointment of Mike McKevitt as CEO in July 2026 brings seasoned mining expertise to the helm, aligning with the company’s push to advance both Kempfield and Trunkey projects simultaneously. This dual focus could position Argent favourably in a competitive exploration landscape.

Drilling Contractor Secured and Assays Pending

Orange-based Chief Drilling has been appointed as the drilling contractor, with at least one rig secured for the initial campaign. Argent anticipates assay results approximately six weeks after drilling commences, which will be pivotal in determining the scope of further drilling.

While the surface gold grades at Trunkey are impressive, the company cautions that rock chip samples are selective and may not fully represent the deposit’s continuity or scale. The upcoming drilling will provide the first definitive test of the subsurface geology and mineralisation continuity, a critical step before any resource estimation or development planning.

Exploration Upside Beyond Trunkey

In addition to Trunkey and Kempfield, Argent’s portfolio includes the Copperhead Polymetallic Project in Western Australia and other NSW prospects such as Mt Dudley and Pine Ridge, which offer further exploration upside. The company’s approach reflects a growing trend among junior miners to build diversified, multi-commodity project pipelines in established mining districts.