Sentinel Exploration (NSX:SOX) has returned assays from the second drilling campaign at the Marda East Gold Project near Southern Cross in Western Australia, including a standout result of 30m @ 1.12 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 12m.
This shallow composite result was retrieved from drill hole 26MERC057, which includes two higher-grade 3m composite samples of 3m @ 5.35g/t Au from 15m and 3m @ 3.59g/t Au from 36m.
The total campaign comprised 33 holes for 2,915m of reverse circulation drilling and followed the company’s 2025 maiden exploration program, further testing select areas of gold mineralisation.
Last year, Sentinel conducted 29 holes of drilling at the project.
Managing Director Simon Adams says the recent results represent a “virgin gold discovery” in an area with a long history of regional exploration.
“The company’s two drilling campaigns have now intersected gold mineralisation across multiple holes, with ongoing technical work focused on defining the geometry, continuity, and geological controls of the mineralised system,” Adams says.
“The best composite interval identified from the second round of drilling, 30m @ 1.12g/t Au from 12m in 26MERC057, together with the other drill results to date, are very encouraging and confirm a gold system to be present at the Marda East Project.”
Adams explains the company is taking a “disciplined technical approach” at the Marda East Project.
“Our immediate focus is to complete the selected 1m split assays and three targeted diamond holes that will provide further higher-resolution data to determine the thickness, grade distribution, and continuity of mineralisation,” Adams adds.
Data from the 3m composite and 1m split assays will be incorporated with the maiden drilling results, soil geochemistry, and geological interpretation.
Sentinel will review petrographic results, lithological logging, and alteration data to strengthen interpretations of rock types and mineralised zones.
Petrographic work has identified two major rock types: AFG, an alkaline feldspar microgranite, and KFG, an orthoclase feldspar microgranite with minor pyrite accessory arsenopyrite and minor quartz veining being associated with the gold mineralisation.
Marda East is Sentinel’s flagship project, although the company owns projects in geographically diverse domains across Western Australia.
Sentinel Exploration is a resource company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing mining opportunities in Australia and across the globe.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Sentinel Exploration
