In a significant boost for Queensland's gold exploration sector, Zenith Minerals has unveiled a fresh barrage of exceptional drill results from its emerging Red Mountain project, headlined by a massive 122-metre intercept grading 1.28 grams per tonne gold.
A Thumping Gold Intercept
The company's latest reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign, a follow-up to a discovery made in September, has successfully extended the known mineralised zone. The standout result, from 209 metres down-hole, confirms the growing scale and strength of the intrusion-related gold (IRG) system. These IRG systems are prolific in central Queensland and are known for hosting multi-million-ounce operations, a pedigree Zenith believes it is now tapping into.
The new results are located a short distance north of earlier deep diamond drilling hits. Critically, the data indicates that gold grades are strengthening along a newly identified northwest-trending structural corridor. This corridor is clearly visible on induced polarisation (IP) geophysical surveys, providing a reliable roadmap for future drilling campaigns.
New Targets and Accelerated Plans
The geophysical work has also revealed a new, compelling anomaly just 500 metres to the south along the same trend. This feature mirrors the chargeability signature of the currently known mineralised zone and has already been slated for a first-pass drill program early next year.
While wet weather cut the recent seven-hole RC program short, management confirmed it achieved its primary objectives. The results have successfully pushed the boundaries of the upper mineralised zone and provided a much clearer geological picture. Four holes are still awaiting assay results, with multi-element analysis to follow and inform the next phase of targeting.
Zenith reports that the rhyolite host rock is becoming thicker and more consistent, with a noticeable grade improvement as drilling moves closer to the system's vertical feeder. The final hole of the campaign, stopped early 100m west of the peak result due to ground conditions, logged similar geology at shallow depths. The company is now racing to secure a diamond drill rig to deepen this hole before the end of the year.
Backing from Experts and a Clear Path Forward
"Armed with this refined geological model, we are well placed to advance the next phase of work, integrating RC and diamond drilling with geophysics and geochemistry to continue expanding what is an emerging, large-scale IRG system," said Zenith Minerals managing director Andrew Smith.
The early data is already helping to pinpoint the high-grade core of the system, with the potential look-alike target to the south ready for testing. Zenith is confident its project shares geological DNA with Queensland's major gold producers, such as the two-million-ounce Mt Wright mine and the three-million-ounce Mt Leyshon deposit.
Bolstered by a recent $7.5 million strategic placement from gold specialists Ida Metals, the company is fully funded for accelerated exploration. With more assays pending from Red Mountain, a pre-Christmas diamond drilling follow-up is possible, and a larger, integrated campaign is being lined up for the March quarter.
As the system widens, grades improve, and the feeder zone comes into sharper focus, Zenith heads into the new year with significant momentum, poised to unlock a much larger gold story at Red Mountain.
