Gateway Mining Maps 7km Gold Corridor at Ward Alongside Growing Cowza Discovery
Key Takeaways
- Aircore drilling at Ward has defined a +7km gold anomaly, with high-grade intercepts including 4m @ 4.0g/t Au from 88m, 4m @ 3.7g/t Au from 96m, and 4m @ 3.2g/t Au from 60m.
- Ward sits just 6km along strike from the Cowza gold system, creating a combined mineralised corridor exceeding 13km from Celia South through Cowza to Ward.
- The primary mafic-intermediate volcanic contact — the same structure hosting high-grade gold at Cowza — remains largely undrilled at Ward, meaning the most prospective target is essentially untested.
- RC drilling at Cowza is ongoing with results expected imminently, providing a near-term catalyst for Gateway investors.
- Gateway is fully funded with $15.7m in cash and liquid securities at the end of the June 2026 quarter to execute the planned 2026 exploration program.
Drilling defines 7km gold system at Ward, opening a second major target near Cowza
Aircore drilling at the historic Ward Prospect has delineated a +7km gold anomaly within Gateway Mining’s Yandal Gold Project (ASX: GML). Ward sits just 6km along strike from the growing Cowza gold system, with the combined mineralised corridor now stretching over 13km from Celia South through Cowza to Ward. High-grade hits include 4m @ 4.0g/t Au from 88m (WAAC0205), 4m @ 3.7g/t Au from 96m (WAAC0066), and 4m @ 3.2g/t Au from 60m (WAAC0074). RC drilling continues at Cowza with results expected imminently, and Gateway is well capitalised with $15.7m cash and liquid securities at the end of the June 2026 quarter.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
High-grade hits along a 7km trend
The reconnaissance aircore program returned multiple strong gold intercepts despite wide spacing across the 7km trend, signalling significant upside as drilling density increases. The best new Gateway intercepts are:
| Hole ID | Intercept | Grade | From | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAAC0205 | 4m | 4.0g/t Au | 88m | New AC |
| WAAC0066 | 4m | 3.7g/t Au | 96m | New AC |
| WAAC0074 | 4m | 3.2g/t Au | 60m | New AC |
These results build on and validate historic drilling at Ward, which had identified significant gold mineralisation in footwall splay structures. Notable historic intercepts include:
- 34m @ 1.7g/t Au from 41m, including 10m @ 3.8g/t Au (RCMR005)
- 13m @ 1.0g/t Au from 65m, including 3m @ 2.3g/t Au (RCMR001)
Mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth. Limited deeper drilling has been completed to date, leaving the main mafic-intermediate volcanic contact largely untested.
A district-scale corridor emerging in the Yandal belt
Ward shows the same prospective mafic-intermediate volcanic contact and structural complexity that hosts high-grade gold at Cowza. The combined 13km+ strike from Celia South through Cowza to Ward underscores district-scale potential within Gateway’s project area. Multiple significant gold centres within one project area de-risk the exploration story and multiply discovery chances. The Yandal Greenstone Belt has a long history of producing large gold systems, and Gateway now controls a substantial corridor with multiple active targets.
Richard Pugh, Chief Executive Officer
“Following the success of our recent drilling campaigns at Cowza and Celia South, the aircore rig continued further to the south at the historic (and previously poorly understood) Ward prospect. The program was designed to better map the key structural corridor, as previous drilling had been (unintentionally) primarily focused on secondary splay structures and footwall mineralisation. The new results at Ward highlight the significant exploration upside that remains across Gateway’s broader project portfolio, and have significantly enhanced our understand of the gold mineralisation across that part of the Project. Ward is developing into a compelling new gold target within our Yandal Gold Project, with aircore drilling now defining a 7-kilometre-long mineralised corridor supported by multiple new high-grade gold intersections and strong historic drill results. Importantly, Ward is located just six kilometres along strike from the rapidly expanding Cowza gold system, further highlighting the fertility of this portion of the Yandal Greenstone Belt and the potential for multiple significant gold centres within the broader project area. RC drilling continues to focus on mapping out the scale and continuity of the Cowza gold system, with initial results from the current program expected imminently.”
Why the structural re-interpretation matters
Historic drilling at Ward targeted footwall splay structures, which are secondary structures that branch off the main geological contact. The mafic-intermediate volcanic contact is the boundary between two different volcanic rock types, and Gateway now interprets this contact as the primary control on gold mineralisation at Ward. At Cowza, high-grade gold sits directly at this same contact. Ward’s equivalent contact remains largely undrilled, meaning the best target at Ward is essentially still untested.
The logic behind the re-interpretation is:
- Historic drilling hit gold in secondary splay structures.
- Cowza proved the main mafic-intermediate contact hosts high grade.
- Ward’s equivalent contact remains largely undrilled.
- Splay mineralisation may be “leakage” from a larger system at the contact.
What this means for you is that the historic intercepts could be peripheral hits off a much larger gold system sitting at the untested primary contact. The widespread gold footprint outlined by the recent aircore program demonstrates that gold mineralisation is developed across a broad structural corridor, not just in isolated pockets.
What’s next: RC drilling and the road ahead
Future RC drilling will target the most prospective portions of the 7km trend, with emphasis on the untested mafic-intermediate volcanic contact. The objective is to define geometry, continuity and scale potential of the mineralised system. RC drilling continues at Cowza now, with initial results from the current program expected imminently, providing a near-term catalyst. Gateway is well capitalised with $15.7m cash and liquid securities at the end of the June 2026 quarter, funding the planned 2026 exploration program.
Key catalysts ahead:
- Cowza RC results — imminent
- Follow-up RC drilling at Ward’s mafic-intermediate contact — planned 2026
- Fully funded 2026 exploration program
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
The investment case
Gateway now controls two large-scale mineralised trends (Cowza and Ward) within one greenstone corridor. A refined geological model is unlocking previously misunderstood ground. Multiple near-term catalysts and a strong balance sheet position the company to pursue them. The 13km+ combined strike length, multiple high-grade intercepts, and largely untested primary contact at Ward represent a material opportunity for discovery in a highly endowed region. Ward’s proximity to Cowza enhances the strategic value of both targets, and the reconnaissance nature of the aircore program suggests significant upside as drilling density increases.
Could Ward Become Gateway’s Next Major Gold Discovery?
Gateway Mining’s reconnaissance aircore program has outlined a 7km gold corridor at Ward—a historically misunderstood prospect now being re-interpreted with the same geological model that’s driving success at Cowza. The untested mafic-intermediate contact, which hosts high-grade mineralisation at Cowza, remains largely undrilled at Ward, suggesting the best targets may still be beneath the surface.
RC drilling at Cowza is ongoing, with results expected imminently, and Gateway holds $15.7m cash to fund the 2026 exploration program. To explore the full investment case and track upcoming catalysts, visit Gateway Mining’s investor centre.