Dart Mining Reveals Exceptional Gold at Great Divide Mining Coonambula Project

Great Divide Mining's Coonambula project advances with strategic exploration and development plans for sustainable extraction.
By William Hadrian -
Summarise with AI:

Dart Mining Strikes Gold with Exceptional Drilling Results at Coonambula

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

Exceptional Gold Grades Reveal Hidden Potential

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.

Diamond Drilling Advantage Proves Superior to Historical Methods

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)

Understanding Antimony-Gold Systems

What is Antimony-Gold Mineralisation?

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.

Why This Matters for Investors

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.

Impressive Historical Results Build Strong Foundation

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.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure Advantages

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

Clear Path to Resource Definition

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:

  1. Complete 4,000m diamond drilling program – targeting Joint Venture milestone

  2. Submit composite drill cores for processing test-work – evaluate ore types and recoveries

  3. Develop 3D geological model – enhance structural understanding

  4. 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.

Why Investors Should Follow Dart Mining

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

Key Tracking Points for Investors

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.

Ready to Capitalise on the Next Major Mineral Discovery?

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.

William Hadrian
By William Hadrian
Partnerships Director
William supports Discovery Alert subscribers across Australia and overseas, helping them tailor alerts, troubleshoot technical issues, and optimise platform settings to suit their workflow.
Learn More
Companies Mentioned in Article

Breaking ASX Alerts Direct to Your Inbox

Join +30,000 subscribers receiving alerts.
Join thousands of investors who rely on Discovery Alert for timely, accurate mining and commodities market intelligence.