Nine Diamond Holes Drill Multiple Epithermal Veins at Sybil Project
Sunshine Metals has completed nine diamond drill holes at its Sybil project’s Francis Creek prospect, intersecting multiple epithermal gold veins with encouraging geological textures. First assay results are expected in early October 2025, potentially shaping the future of this underexplored Queensland gold system.
- Nine diamond holes completed at Francis Creek, Sybil project
- Multiple epithermal veins intersected with up to 9m thickness
- Classic boiling zone vein textures including marcasite observed
- First assay results anticipated in early October 2025
- Sybil project shows strong geological parallels to Pajingo gold deposit
Diamond Drilling Progress at Sybil
Sunshine Metals Limited (ASX – SHN) has reported significant progress in its ongoing diamond drilling program at the Sybil project, located approximately 135km west of Townsville in Queensland. The company has completed nine of the planned fourteen diamond drill holes at the Francis Creek prospect, totaling nearly 600 metres of core. This drilling campaign aims to better understand the low-sulphidation epithermal gold mineralisation hosted within multiple vein systems.
Encouraging Geological Observations
The drilling has intersected multiple veins, with individual vein widths reaching up to 9 metres. Notably, the core samples exhibit classic epithermal “boiling zone” textures such as colloform, crustiform, cockade, and moss textures. The presence of marcasite, an iron sulphide mineral associated with high-grade gold ore at the nearby Pajingo deposit, further underscores the prospectivity of the Sybil veins. These geological features are critical indicators of potentially high-grade gold mineralisation.
Strategic Importance of Sybil
Sybil is situated on a large extensional structure with volcanic and sedimentary host rocks, sharing many geological similarities with the Pajingo gold deposit, which has produced around 4 million ounces of gold. Despite its promising characteristics, Sybil has been relatively underexplored over the past two decades. Sunshine Metals’ rapid advancement, commencing diamond drilling within nine weeks of acquisition, reflects a strategic push to unlock the project's potential.
Next Steps and Market Implications
The first assay results from the initial four drill holes are expected in early October 2025. These results will be pivotal in confirming the extent and grade of mineralisation and will guide subsequent drilling and exploration targeting. Sunshine Metals is also planning to drill extensions of the A Vein, where surface rock chips have returned exceptionally high gold grades, including up to 17.85 grams per tonne.
With detailed geological logging and sampling underway, Sunshine Metals is positioning Sybil as a key asset within its broader Ravenswood Consolidated Project, which includes significant gold and base metal resources. The company’s methodical approach to exploration and its focus on geological analogues like Pajingo could attract investor interest as new data emerges.
Bottom Line?
As Sunshine Metals awaits critical assay results, Sybil’s promising vein textures could herald a new chapter in Queensland gold exploration.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming assay results confirm high-grade gold mineralisation consistent with the observed vein textures?
- How will Sunshine Metals integrate these drilling results into its broader resource model and exploration strategy?
- What are the implications for potential mining development timelines if Sybil’s mineralisation proves economically viable?
