Argent Minerals has kicked off its first-ever drilling campaign at the Trunkey Creek Gold Project in New South Wales, targeting a priority zone within a 4.7km gold-mineralised corridor beneath historic workings.
- Maiden drilling begun at 100%-owned Trunkey Creek Gold Project
- Phase 1 targets northern Wilson’s Reef within 4.7km mineralised corridor
- Historic gold workings untested below surface due to groundwater
- Significant historic rock chip assays highlight high-grade gold potential
- Kempfield Project silver resource reaffirmed at 142.8 million ounces silver equivalent
Maiden Drilling Commences at Trunkey Creek
Argent Minerals Limited (ASX:ARD) has initiated its maiden drilling program at the Trunkey Creek Gold Project, marking a significant milestone in the company’s exploration efforts. The campaign, which started on 5 September 2026, aims to test a priority target within the northern section of a 4.7-kilometre gold-mineralised structural corridor known historically as Wilson’s Reef. Located approximately 9 kilometres by road southeast of Argent’s flagship Kempfield Project in New South Wales, Trunkey represents a fresh opportunity for the company to expand its gold footprint.
The initial phase involves 10 drill holes totalling around 1,000 metres, designed to intersect steeply dipping structures beneath historic workings. These surface workings, which span much of the corridor, were abandoned due to high groundwater inflows rather than depletion of gold-bearing veins. This leaves the subsurface largely untested by modern exploration techniques, offering potential for new discoveries.
Historic High-Grade Gold Highlights Exploration Upside
Previous rock chip sampling programs at Trunkey have returned remarkable gold assays, including standout values such as 1,930 grams per tonne (g/t) and multiple samples exceeding 40 g/t Au. These results underpin the rationale for the current drilling campaign and suggest the potential for high-grade gold mineralisation within the structural corridor. The company plans to prioritise assay processing on the most prospective core as drilling progresses, with geological logging commencing immediately.
Trunkey’s proximity to Kempfield, which hosts a substantial silver-polymetallic resource, adds strategic value to Argent’s portfolio. The company’s broader regional strategy encompasses multiple projects including Mt Dudley and Pine Ridge, aiming to build a scalable, multi-deposit mining operation in the Lachlan Fold Belt, a region renowned for hosting major Australian gold and copper mines.
Kempfield Silver Resource Remains a Cornerstone Asset
Alongside the Trunkey drilling news, Argent reaffirmed the robust mineral resource estimate at its flagship Kempfield Project. As of July 2024, Kempfield boasts an inferred and indicated resource totalling 63.7 million tonnes grading 69.75 grams per tonne silver equivalent, equating to 142.8 million ounces silver equivalent. This polymetallic deposit contains significant quantities of silver, gold, lead, and zinc, underpinning multiple development pathways including near-surface starter production scenarios.
The resource is distributed across oxide, transitional, and fresh weathering zones, with metallurgical recoveries factored into the silver equivalent calculations. The scale and grade of Kempfield continue to position Argent as a notable player in Australia’s silver exploration landscape.
Exploration Risks and Next Steps
While the commencement of drilling at Trunkey represents a key step forward, the company cautions that assay results remain pending and exploration outcomes are inherently uncertain. Factors such as commodity price fluctuations, regulatory approvals, and financing availability continue to influence project development prospects. Argent plans to provide ongoing updates as drilling advances and assay data becomes available.
Investors will be watching closely for initial assay results from Trunkey’s maiden campaign, which will be critical in assessing the project’s potential to complement the substantial Kempfield resource. The integration of new gold discoveries with Argent’s existing polymetallic assets could shape the company’s growth trajectory in the highly competitive Australian mining sector.
Bottom Line?
Trunkey drilling marks a pivotal exploration phase for Argent, with assay results set to define near-term value creation potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Trunkey drilling confirm high-grade gold mineralisation beneath historic workings?
- How might Trunkey’s results influence Argent’s development strategy alongside Kempfield?
- What financing or partnerships could Argent pursue to accelerate project advancement post-drilling?