GBM Resources (ASX:GBM) has commenced an 8,000m drilling program targeting resource growth at its Yandan Gold Project in Queensland’s Drummond Basin.
Yandan hosts a mineral resource estimate of 12.8 million tonnes (Mt) @ 1.1 grams per tonne gold (Au) for 440,000 ounces.
The three-month Stage one program comprises 4,000m of reverse circulation drilling and 4,000m of diamond drilling across the East Hill, Yandan Pit, South Pit, and Magazine Ridge targets.
East Hill drilling will test extensions to the existing resource along strike and at depth. GBM has prioritised these holes to support an updated East Hill resource estimate in H1 2027, subject to drilling results.
The deposit contains a core of 1.1Mt @ 5.7g/t Au for 201,000 ounces. Historical drilling returned 191m @ 4g/t Au from 190m, including 43.7m @ 13.9g/t Au from 325m.
CEO Daniel Hastings says the program will test the company’s updated geological model for the project.
“Our objective is to grow the existing resource base and test what we believe are significant opportunities for mineralisation at depth and along strike,” Hastings says.
At Yandan Pit, drilling will test for feeder zones and extensions beneath the existing open pit.
South Pit hosts an inferred resource of 900,000 tonnes @ 0.6g/t Au for 16,000 ounces. The program will include the first east-west-oriented drilling at the prospect to test the company’s interpretation of mineralised structures.
Magazine Ridge drilling will target an induced polarisation chargeability anomaly coinciding with a silica-altered ridge. GBM interprets the feature as part of the southern margin of a broader breccia pipe.
The targets were refined using reprocessed historical geophysics and newly acquired induced polarisation and aeromagnetic data. GBM interprets Yandan as a breccia-pipe system underlain by an intrusive body associated with mineralisation at depth.
The former Yandan mine produced 365,000 ounces of gold more than six years before GBM acquired the project in 2021.
GBM expects initial assays from East Hill in September, followed by results from the remaining targets during the December quarter.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: GBM Resources
