High-Stakes Drilling Begins at Barton Gold’s Tarcoola Amid Exceptional Assays
Barton Gold Holdings has kicked off a major drilling campaign at its Tarcoola Gold Project, following extraordinary assay results revealing silver grades as high as 17,600g/t and gold up to 83.6g/t. The program aims to map and expand these high-value zones.
- Commencement of ~2,500m drilling targeting high-grade gold and silver at Tolmer prospect
- Exceptional assay results: up to 17,600g/t silver and 83.6g/t gold
- Use of real-time Portable PPB detectORE technology to guide drilling
- Additional ~500m scout drilling near Central Gawler Mill at Challenger Gold Project
- Strong regional infrastructure including fully permitted Perseverance Mine and gold processing plant
A Bold Step Into High-Grade Territory
Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX: BGD) has announced the start of a significant drilling program at its Tarcoola Gold Project in South Australia, targeting newly discovered high-grade gold and silver zones. This move follows a series of exceptional assay results from the Tolmer prospect, where silver grades reached an eye-watering 17,600 grams per tonne (g/t) and gold up to 83.6 g/t.
The planned ~2,500 metres of reverse circulation drilling aims to delineate and extend two distinct mineralised zones at Tolmer: the 'western silver' and 'eastern gold' zones. These discoveries have emerged rapidly since August 2024, when Tolmer was first identified as a high-grade gold target. Subsequent drilling revealed the presence of a parallel high-grade silver zone, adding a new dimension to the project’s potential.
Technology Meets Exploration
In a bid to maximise efficiency and precision, Barton is deploying its Portable PPB detectORE technology, which enables real-time geochemical analysis during drilling. This adaptive approach allows the company to rapidly adjust drilling targets based on live data, potentially accelerating the identification of high-value extensions within the mineralised zones.
Managing Director Alexander Scanlon highlighted the excitement around Tolmer, noting the shallow nature of the high-grade intercepts and the opportunity to quickly map out these rich zones. The ability to expand the initial drilling program based on early results underscores the dynamic nature of this exploration phase.
Regional Synergies and Infrastructure
Alongside the Tolmer drilling, Barton is conducting approximately 500 metres of scout drilling at the Challenger Gold Project, located near its Central Gawler Mill. This early-stage work aims to identify potential sources of gold mineralisation that could feed into the mill’s processing pipeline, supporting future production growth.
Barton’s strategic advantage lies in its ownership of the region’s only gold processing plant, the fully permitted Perseverance Mine, and a portfolio of JORC-compliant mineral resources totaling 1.7 million ounces of gold and 3.1 million ounces of silver. This infrastructure positions the company well to transition from exploration to production, should the drilling results continue to impress.
Looking Ahead
While the current drilling campaign is in its early stages, the combination of exceptional assay grades and innovative technology deployment paints a promising picture for Barton Gold. Investors and analysts will be watching closely for assay updates and resource model revisions that could materially impact the company’s valuation and production outlook.
Bottom Line?
Barton’s bold drilling push at Tarcoola could redefine its resource profile—next assay results will be pivotal.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the ongoing drilling confirm extensions of the ultra-high-grade silver and gold zones?
- How might the new findings influence Barton's resource estimates and production timelines?
- Can the Portable PPB detectORE technology accelerate discovery and reduce exploration costs effectively?
