Macro Metals (ASX:M4M) has completed its $1 million acquisition of the Yandi South Iron Ore Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Macro completed the deal with Western Iron Ore on 14 October 2026. Historical data has been handed over at settlement, identifying nine new prospects across the tenure.
At completion, the vendor provided results from 370 rock-chip samples and handed over physical rock samples. The samples were collected across the project’s three tenements over eight years of ownership.
As a private company, Western Iron Ore had not previously disclosed the results.
Macro’s technical team has completed a preliminary review. It identified 22 samples grading above 60% iron (Fe), peaking at 66.2% Fe, and a further 75 between 55% and 60% Fe.
The results sit outside the small footprint that has previously been drilled. From the data, Macro has identified nine prospects across the tenure, each carrying rock chips above 55% Fe.
All nine are a priority for in-field evaluation, to establish whether immediate drilling is warranted.
The company cautions that rock chips are selective surface samples and may not reflect average grades across the prospects. Drilling is required to confirm whether mineralisation extends at depth.
The Yandi South Project spans a 102km2 land package about 100km northwest of Newman. The package comprises three granted exploration licences covering 56km2 and three applications covering 46km2.
The ground shares boundaries with two adjacent mines, Rio Tinto’s (ASX:RIO) Yandicoogina and BHP Group’s (ASX:BHP) Yandi. The northernmost mineralisation lies just 4.5km from an operational processing plant.
Mineralisation occurs in channel iron deposits (CID), similar to those found at neighbouring operations. Previous exploration across the tenure has included rock-chip sampling, reverse circulation drilling, and diamond core drilling.
Drilling plans
Planning for Macro’s maiden drilling program is well advanced. The diamond core program will target infill drilling of the previously drilled area, extensions to the known resource, and metallurgical holes to define the physical properties of the mineralisation.
The next steps include additional mapping and sampling across the nine prospects, which will feed exploration models ahead of final drill planning and permitting.
Managing Director Simon Rushton says the data has strengthened the company’s view of the project.
“The additional geological information provided to us at completion of the transaction and reviewed by our technical team yesterday has added further excitement,” Rushton states.
“It is evidence of high-grade mineralisation at surface across the project and well outside of the relatively small footprint that has previously been drilled.
“The provision of this technical information will significantly accelerate the technical evaluation and planning activities for further exploration and drill testing of Yandi South with the firm intent of growing the resource.”
Macro Metals is an Australian mining services and exploration company advancing a portfolio of iron ore assets in the Pilbara.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Macro Metals
