Geopacific Resources Limited has reported a series of high-grade, near-surface gold intercepts from infill drilling at the Wayai Creek deposit, further strengthening confidence in the Mineral Resource at its 1.67-million-ounce Woodlark Gold Project in Papua New Guinea.
The latest results, drawn from 24 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes, confirm the continuity of shallow, high-grade mineralisation within the main Wayai Creek lode, an area located south of the Woodlark King mining centre and close to planned infrastructure.
Standout intercepts include 17 metres at 5.29 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold from 36 metres and 9 metres at 1.62 g/t from 56 metres in drill hole WCRC25006. Additional significant results were recorded in WDRC25008, which returned 5 metres at 4.15 g/t from 122 metres, and WERC25002, with 5 metres at 3.94 g/t from 30 metres.
According to the company, the results further define a coherent zone of shallow, high-grade mineralisation and support improved confidence in the existing resource model. Most of the gold intercepts occur at depths of less than 100 metres below surface, enhancing the potential for near-term resource conversion.
Geopacific chief executive officer James Fox said the drilling continued to demonstrate the scale of opportunity at Woodlark.
“These results continue to improve our geological understanding of the prospective areas, and deliver high-grade intercepts that support the significant exploration and growth potential that remains at Woodlark," Fox said.
"We have a clear pipeline of near-mine and regional exploration work to progress, with much of the drilling focused close to existing resources and planned infrastructure. This includes testing for potential extensions to known mineralisation under shallow cover, where there has been little recent exploration focus. Importantly, this work is being progressed in parallel with finalisation of the Woodlark DFS," he added.
At Wayai Creek, drilling has outlined a northwest-trending corridor of mineralisation extending over about 550 metres of strike. The mineralisation comprises a series of sub-vertical shoots that remain open along strike and at depth. Resource infill and extension drilling is ongoing, with 10 RC holes and five diamond tails, totalling around 1,200 metres, scheduled for completion over the next four to five weeks. The data will be incorporated into a future Mineral Resource update.
The new results also align with historic high-grade intercepts from the same zone, including 5 metres at 16.69 g/t, 4 metres at 6.60 g/t and 8 metres at 2.63 g/t, reinforcing the consistency of mineralisation at Wayai Creek.
Elsewhere on the project, diamond drilling at the Little MacKenzie prospect has been completed. Assays have been received for four RC pre-collars, with results from a further 24 holes expected within the next six to eight weeks. The program tested a revised geological model designed to better understand the orientation and distribution of mineralised zones across the prospect.
Drilling has also commenced at Busai Deeps, below the Busai gold deposit, the second largest at Woodlark. The five-hole diamond program is targeting down-dip extensions of the high-grade western lode immediately beneath the current pit design, with the aim of supporting future resource growth and mine plan optimisation.
Geopacific said drilling at Wayai Creek and Busai is expected to continue for a further four to six weeks before rigs move back to the Kulumadau mining area to advance exploration at the Great Northern deposit and test regional targets including Kamwak, Ivanhoe East and Kulumadau South.
The ongoing drilling campaign forms part of a broader strategy to extend mine life and unlock additional value at Woodlark while the company progresses towards completion of the project’s definitive feasibility study.
