Ordell Minerals Unveils Major 10,000m Drilling Push at Barimaia with Strong Gold Hits
Ordell Minerals has launched a significant 10,000-metre drilling campaign at its Barimaia Gold Project in Western Australia, revealing promising new gold mineralisation at McNabs East and targeting extensive strike extensions.
- 10,000m multi-method drilling program underway targeting +7km granodiorite strike
- Recent diamond drilling at McNabs East returns wide gold intercepts including 32.6m @ 0.90g/t Au
- Programs include air-core, reverse circulation, and diamond drilling plus aeromagnetic survey
- Gold mineralisation extended down-plunge and remains open for further growth
- Project located near established gold processing infrastructure in Tier-1 jurisdiction
A Bold Expansion at Barimaia
Ordell Minerals Limited (ASX, ORD) has embarked on one of its largest exploration efforts to date at the Barimaia Gold Project, situated near Mount Magnet in Western Australia's prolific Murchison region. The company has initiated a comprehensive 10,000-metre drilling campaign aimed at expanding and infilling known gold mineralisation zones while probing for new discoveries along a substantial +7-kilometre corridor of prospective granodiorite intrusions.
Encouraging Diamond Drill Results at McNabs East
Recent assay results from a seven-hole diamond drilling program at the McNabs East Prospect have delivered compelling evidence of robust gold mineralisation extending both along strike and down-plunge. Notably, hole 25BADD019 intersected 32.6 metres grading 0.90 grams per tonne gold from 257 metres depth, including a higher-grade segment of 7.8 metres at 1.49 grams per tonne. Other significant intercepts include 8.9 metres at 2.10 grams per tonne from hole 25BADD016. These results reinforce the potential of McNabs East as an emerging open-pit target with mineralisation that remains open for further expansion.
Multi-Pronged Drilling Strategy
The current exploration program is multifaceted, combining approximately 5,000 metres of air-core drilling targeting a 3-kilometre strike of the Barimaia granodiorite intrusion east of McNabs East, alongside a 3,000-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign designed to infill and extend shallow mineralisation over 500 metres of strike. Additionally, wide-spaced RC drilling is planned west of McNabs, while diamond drilling will continue into December to test high-grade strike and plunge extensions. An aeromagnetic survey, delayed by weather, is also scheduled to enhance geological understanding.
Strategic Location and Historical Context
Barimaia benefits from its location in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction, adjacent to Ramelius Resources’ Mt Magnet mill, a well-established gold processing facility. The project area has a rich exploration history, with Ordell acquiring an 80.3% interest from Genesis Minerals Limited, which remains a significant shareholder. The geological setting features felsic intrusions hosting gold mineralisation styles akin to the nearby Eridanus deposit, which boasts a substantial resource base and production track record.
Looking Ahead
Ordell’s Managing Director, Michael Fowler, emphasised the excitement surrounding the campaign, highlighting the potential to delineate an open-pit resource at McNabs East while simultaneously exploring along strike and down-plunge extensions. The company awaits assay results from the remaining drill holes and anticipates that the aeromagnetic survey will provide critical data to refine targeting. Metallurgical testwork has confirmed the ore is free milling with excellent gold recoveries, supporting the project's development prospects.
Bottom Line?
As Ordell pushes deeper and wider at Barimaia, the market will watch closely for resource upgrades and the next steps toward development.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the pending assay results from the remaining drill holes impact the overall resource estimate?
- What insights will the upcoming aeromagnetic survey provide for targeting along the +7km strike corridor?
- Could further high-grade zones be delineated down-plunge or along strike to materially enhance project economics?
