Dreadnought Resources (ASX:DRE) has reported the discovery of Metzke’s North gold extension at its Illaara Gold Project in Western Australia.
The company has received assays for the remaining 34 holes of a 57-hole reverse circulation (RC) program at Metzke’s Find, part of the 100%-owned Illaara Gold Project.
The program focused on extending the current resource of 14,900 ounces @ 6.80 grams per tonne gold and confirming an offset extension north previously considered to terminate the Metzke’s Find deposit.
Initial drilling has discovered the Metzke’s North offset extension currently covering approximately 150m strike, which remains open to the north and at depth.
Significant intercepts include 4m @ 6.60g/t gold from 87m, including 1m @ 23.10g/t gold from 88m in hole MZRC143, and 1m @ 17.40g/t gold from 53m in MZRC151.
“This program has confirmed the Metzke’s North discovery, extending over 150m strike and remaining open to the north and at depth … which will be further tested in July 2026,” Managing Director Dean Tuck says.
Tuck also notes that the company is now updating the resource and planning an initial study.
“Advancing Metzke’s Find towards development is a key component of our expanded ‘Finding More Gold, Faster’ strategy and feeds directly into becoming a self-funded explorer by adding near–term production ounces,” he adds.
Advancing Metzke’s Find towards production
All results are outside the existing ‘high-grade’ resource and will feed into a resource update scheduled for July 2026, followed by an updated study for open pit and underground operations.
Metzke’s Find comprises historic workings over 700m of strike, with a shallow, ‘high-grade’ resource declared in 2023.
Metallurgical testwork confirmed strong gravity recovery averaging 78.5% and combined gravity-CIL recoveries averaging 98.9%, with photon assay used for recent drilling.
An RC and diamond rig will mobilise in July 2026 to extend Metzke’s North, test depth extensions at Metzke’s Find, and produce material for metallurgical and geotechnical studies.
Dreadnought plans to submit a Mining Proposal and Closure Plan, followed by a Scoping Study, as part of its strategy to becoming a self-funded explorer.
Illaara covers approximately 800km2 and 70km strike within the Yilgarn Craton, located approximately 190km from Kalgoorlie and nearby to mills at Davyhurst and Bottle Creek.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Dreadnought Resources
