Strata Minerals Launches Survey Across 9.5km Gold Corridor for New Targets
Strata Minerals has expanded its 100%-owned Zelica Gold Project in Western Australia through the acquisition and staking of two additional tenements. A high-resolution airborne aeromagnetic survey is set to commence across the expanded project area, covering 27.8km² at 50m line spacing, with the survey expected to be undertaken by end of July 2026. The survey will provide the first consistent, modern, high-resolution magnetic dataset across the majority of the 9.5km gold corridor, positioning the company for accelerated target generation across a district-scale land package.
Strategic tenement expansion strengthens district-scale footprint
The low-cost acquisition significantly expands Strata’s contiguous control over the broader Zelica Gold System through two separate transactions:
- E39/2491 – acquired via binding Heads of Agreement with Shane Baxter (an unrelated party) for $25,000 cash on completion, subject to standard conditions precedent.
- E39/2606 – Exploration Licence application lodged following staking of the tenement.
The acquisitions consolidate ground position ahead of the survey at minimal cost, extending the company’s strategic footprint across prospective gold-bearing structures.
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What the aeromagnetic survey means and why it matters
A high-resolution airborne aeromagnetic survey measures variations in the Earth’s magnetic field to detect geological structures beneath surface cover. Explorers use this technique to identify faults, shear zones, and intrusive bodies that can host gold mineralisation, particularly in areas where transported sediments obscure bedrock geology.
This survey represents the first consistent, modern, high-resolution magnetic dataset across the expanded Zelica area. The majority of the Project has not previously been covered by modern airborne geophysics, making this a foundational technical milestone. Contractor MAGSPEC Surveys Pty Ltd has been engaged to complete the work.
The survey has four primary objectives:
- Enhance geological interpretation and map lithological contacts, faults, shear zones and intrusive bodies.
- Improve understanding of structural controls on gold mineralisation.
- Refine existing drill targets.
- Identify new exploration opportunities across the corridor.
The magnetic data will be integrated with recent drilling, geological mapping and surface geochemical datasets to build a comprehensive geological and structural interpretation. This integration provides the technical foundation for the next phase of drilling and de-risks target selection across the broader 9.5km gold corridor.
Zelica project snapshot and dual-track strategy
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Yundamindra District, WA (between Leonora & Laverton) |
| Ownership | 100% Strata (M39/1101 subject to tribute mining agreement with BML Ventures) |
| Gold corridor | 9.5km, less than 15% systematically tested |
| Confirmed mineralisation | ~1km shallow oxide strike, open at depth and along strike |
| Infrastructure | Within ~50km of multiple +1Moz gold deposits and several processing mills |
The Project operates on a parallel-track model. Exploration growth runs alongside pre-development activities with funding, development and mining partner BML Ventures, described as a “capital-light pathway to near-term gold production.” This structure maintains the tribute mining arrangement on M39/1101 while Strata continues systematic exploration across the broader tenure.
Investors gain exposure to both near-term production optionality and blue-sky exploration upside across the largely untested 9.5km corridor.
Managing Director commentary
Peter Woods, Managing Director
“Our recent drilling has demonstrated that Zelica hosts a substantial shallow gold system, but we believe we’ve only just begun to test its full potential.”
Woods emphasised that the high-resolution magnetic survey will significantly improve understanding of geological and structural controls on gold mineralisation. When integrated with recent drilling, mapping and geochemical datasets, the results will be used to refine existing targets and identify new priority opportunities for follow-up exploration. With less than 15% of the 9.5km gold corridor systematically tested, considerable exploration upside remains, and Woods noted the survey will provide technical foundation for the next phase of growth as the company continues to unlock the potential of the expanded Zelica Gold Project.
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What’s next for Strata investors
The company has outlined a clear pipeline of near-term catalysts:
- Aeromagnetic survey completion – expected end of July 2026.
- Data integration with existing datasets to refine and prioritise drill targets.
- Continued pre-development activities with BML Ventures in parallel.
- Completion of E39/2491 acquisition (subject to conditions precedent).
The survey positions Strata to generate multiple drill-ready targets across the expanded project area. As the company unlocks the broader Zelica system, the combination of modern geophysical data and systematic exploration methodology provides a technical foundation for district-scale discovery potential alongside the near-term production pathway.
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