17m at 1.1g/t Au Confirms Viking’s Northern Duplex Gold Discovery

Discovery at Northern Duplex Target

Viking Mines Limited (ASX: VKA) has announced a breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Northern Duplex Target within its First Hit Project in Western Australia. Recent drilling results have confirmed the presence of a steeply dipping gold zone, a significant step forward in what remains a largely greenfields area with no prior bedrock drilling over a 23km strike length of the prolific Zuleika Shear.

The highlight drill hole, VKRC0068, returned a broad intercept of 17 metres at 1.1 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 28 metres downhole, including multiple higher-grade intervals such as 2 metres at 3.1g/t Au. This confirms and builds upon earlier results from hole VKRC0083, which intersected 27 metres at 0.4g/t Au. The mineralised zone remains open along strike, with assays pending from three additional drill traverses spaced up to 2.8 kilometres apart.

Strategic Exploration Approach

Managing Director Julian Woodcock expressed enthusiasm about the discovery, highlighting the scale of the target area and its potential to host multiple deposits comparable in size to nearby operations. The Riverina gold mine, located just 10 kilometres southwest, has a surface strike extent of approximately 900 metres, underscoring the opportunity for Viking to delineate a substantial new gold deposit.

To better define the target, Viking is initiating a close-spaced infill auger sampling program on a 20m by 100m grid, a significant refinement from the previous 100m by 400m grid. This will help focus subsequent drilling on the highest tenor anomalies. Additionally, the company is considering a high-resolution magnetic geophysical survey to improve structural interpretation and targeting.

Next Phases and Broader Project Context

Looking ahead, Viking plans to commence its Phase 2 drilling program in early March, initially targeting the Central Duplex Target, a 6-kilometre-long geochemical anomaly with strong pathfinder elements such as arsenic and antimony. Follow-up drilling at Northern Duplex will be incorporated once all Phase 1 assay results are received and interpreted.

The First Hit Project itself is strategically located within a well-endowed gold province, sharing the same stratigraphic horizon as the >1.2 million ounce Davyhurst Camp, 40 kilometres to the south. Viking’s tenure covers 479.9 square kilometres, including historic high-grade gold mines and significant infrastructure, positioning the company well for advancing exploration and potential resource development.

Cautious Optimism Amidst Pending Data

While the initial results are encouraging, a large portion of the Phase 1 drilling assays remain outstanding, with 61% of samples yet to be reported. The true extent and grade continuity of the gold mineralisation are still to be fully understood. Viking’s methodical approach, combining drilling, geochemistry, and geophysics, reflects a disciplined strategy to unlock value in this underexplored region.