GDM Confirms 169,700 oz Gold Resource at Adelong
Dart Mining NL (ASX: DTM) has delivered impressive drilling results from its Great Divide Mining Coonambula project in Central Queensland, revealing broad, shallow gold zones that were previously overlooked by historical exploration. The latest assay results from drill holes CBADD011 through CBADD013 demonstrate the significant potential of this Farm-In Joint Venture with Great Divide Mining (ASX: GDM).
Furthermore, these results highlight the strategic importance of modern diamond core drilling techniques in uncovering value that traditional exploration methods failed to identify. The project's exceptional economics and dual-commodity exposure position it as a standout opportunity in Australia's mining sector.
Key Drilling Highlights:
• 4.9m @ 5.27 g/t Au from 21.0m (CBADD013) including 1.0m @ 14.6 g/t Au
• 1.8m @ 1.98 g/t Au from 44.90m (CBADD012)
• Broad gold zones confirmed both down dip and along strike
• 3,585.9m of diamond core drilling completed across the Banshee prospect
The standout performer from this drilling campaign is hole CBADD013, which intersected 4.9m @ 5.27 g/t Au from 21.0m depth. This impressive intersection includes a spectacular 1.0m @ 14.6 g/t Au from 22.2m and 1.2m @ 4.49 g/t Au from 24.7m.
These results demonstrate that the gold-bearing zones extend well beyond what historical reverse circulation drilling had identified. In addition, the shallow nature of these intersections suggests potential for cost-effective extraction methods.
| Drill Hole | From Depth (m) | Thickness (m) | Au (g/t) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CBADD013 | 21.00 | 4.9 | 5.27 | Broad shallow zone |
| CBADD013 | 22.20 | 1.0 | 14.6 | High-grade core |
| CBADD012 | 44.90 | 1.8 | 1.98 | Along-strike continuity |
| CBADD011 | 107.00 | 0.4 | 2.63 | Down-dip extension |
"The broad gold zones identified appear to have been previously overlooked, or less understood, are starting to become an important economic factor at the Banshee prospect," said James Chirnside, Chairman.
Dart Mining's strategic decision to use diamond core drilling instead of reverse circulation (RC) drilling has paid significant dividends. The superior geological understanding achieved through diamond core has revealed gold-bearing zones that historical RC drilling potentially missed.
The contrast is striking: while historical drilling had limited assaying and interpretation challenges, Dart's methodical diamond core approach has identified broad gold zones over 9m that were previously unrecognised. This technical advantage is delivering critical insights into the structural geology and continuity of gold mineralisation.
Moreover, the Great Divide Mining Coonambula project benefits from enhanced core recovery rates exceeding 95% in fresh rock, providing superior sample quality for accurate grade determination.
Technical Advantages of Diamond Core:
• Better structural understanding and interpretation
• Improved selective sampling capabilities
• Enhanced geological logging accuracy
• Superior core recovery rates (>95% in fresh rock)
Antimony-gold deposits represent a specialised style of mineral formation where gold occurs alongside antimony (chemical symbol: Sb), typically in the form of the mineral stibnite. These deposits are relatively rare but can be extremely high-grade, with the antimony providing additional economic value beyond the gold content.
However, the complexity of processing these dual-commodity deposits requires specialised metallurgical understanding. The Great Divide Mining Coonambula project shows geological similarities to the Hillgrove antimony-gold deposit in New South Wales, which historically produced significant quantities of both metals from underground operations.
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral due to its strategic importance in military applications, flame retardants, and emerging battery technologies. This dual-commodity exposure provides Dart Mining with potential revenue sources from both metals, enhancing economic margins compared to gold-only deposits.
Furthermore, global antimony supply constraints have driven increased strategic interest in domestic sources, particularly within stable jurisdictions like Australia.
Dart's current success builds upon an exceptional foundation of previous drilling results that have consistently delivered high-grade intersections. The consistency of these results across multiple drill holes and various depths demonstrates the robust nature of the gold-antimony system.
Previous Standout Results:
• 5.0m @ 4.33% Sb + 1.69 g/t Au + 23.65 g/t Ag (CBADD001)
• 9.0m @ 2.67g/t Au + 16.8 g/t Ag + 5.8% Sb (CBADD010)
• 6.5m @ 5.1 g/t Au + 0.15% Sb (CBADD002)
In addition to drill results, rock chip sampling has returned exceptional grades including 65.3% antimony, 17.0 g/t gold, and 97.9 g/t silver. These surface expressions provide strong confidence in the continuity and grade potential of the mineralised system.
The Great Divide Mining Coonambula project benefits from its strategic location in Central Queensland, positioned 70km southeast of the multi-million-ounce Cracow gold mine and 25km southwest of the Eidsvold goldfield. This proximity to established mining infrastructure and processing facilities could provide significant development advantages.
The project's location within the New England Fold Belt places it in a well-established gold-bearing province with proven infrastructure and regulatory frameworks supporting mining development. Furthermore, access to skilled mining workforce and established supply chains enhances the project's development potential.
Project Scale and Scope:
• 282 sq.km of granted exploration permits
• 5km strike length of prospective antimony-gold mineralisation
• Multiple historical mines along the trend
• 4,000m drilling target to support maiden resource estimate
Dart Mining has established a clear pathway toward defining a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate with systematic exploration activities progressing on multiple fronts. The company's methodical approach ensures compliance with industry standards whilst maximising exploration efficiency.
Next Steps Timeline:
Complete 4,000m diamond drilling program – targeting Joint Venture milestone
Submit composite drill cores for processing test-work – evaluate ore types and recoveries
Develop 3D geological model – enhance structural understanding
Declare JORC resource – establish economic foundation
The company has already completed 3,585.9m of diamond core drilling with logging completed up to 3,072.9m, representing significant progress toward the 4,000m target. However, seasonal weather conditions have impacted drilling productivity, with management targeting accelerated progress as conditions improve.
"Now that the wet season is coming to an end, we're starting to see more productive drilling and metres. These results complete the 2025 drilling and sampling program and is an important step towards our milestone earn-in for the Coonambula Joint Venture project," said James Chirnside, Chairman.
Dart Mining has positioned itself as a compelling investment opportunity through its methodical approach to unlocking value at the Great Divide Mining Coonambula project. The company's technical expertise in diamond core drilling has already proven superior to historical exploration methods, revealing previously unknown gold-bearing zones with exceptional grades.
Moreover, the systematic exploration approach and clear milestone-driven strategy provide investors with transparent progress markers. The combination of proven high-grade mineralisation and strategic location creates a compelling investment thesis.
Investment Thesis Highlights:
• Proven high-grade gold-antimony mineralisation across multiple drill holes
• Strategic dual-commodity exposure to gold and critical mineral antimony
• Technical drilling advantage delivering superior geological understanding
• Clear resource development pathway with 4,000m drilling milestone
• Established infrastructure proximity near operating mines and processing facilities
Investors should monitor several critical milestones that will drive value creation at the Great Divide Mining Coonambula project. These tracking points provide clear indicators of project advancement and commercial potential.
Key Tracking Points for Investors:
• Progress toward 4,000m drilling milestone completion
• Processing test work results and recovery estimates
• 3D geological model development and resource estimation timeline
• Joint Venture milestone achievement and earn-in progression
Dart Mining's systematic diamond core drilling approach has revealed exceptional gold grades and broad gold-bearing zones at Coonambula that historical exploration missed. With clear milestones toward resource definition and dual-commodity exposure to gold and critical mineral antimony, the company represents a compelling exploration success story with significant development potential.
Discovery Alert instantly alerts investors to significant ASX mineral discoveries using its proprietary Discovery IQ model, turning complex mineral data into actionable insights just like these exceptional Dart Mining results. Begin your 14-day free trial today to position yourself ahead of the market and ensure you never miss the next breakthrough discovery in Australia's mining sector.