Golden Dragon Identifies 2.2km Gold Anomaly at Stella Range
New auger drilling reveals a significant gold-bearing target near existing Western Australian deposits.
1Discovery at Stella Range
Golden Dragon Mining has identified a 2.2-kilometre-long gold-in-soil anomaly at its Stella Range project near Laverton, Western Australia. This coherent, northwest-trending discovery was defined through recent auger drilling. The site remains largely underexplored, presenting a fresh opportunity for the company to expand its footprint within a historically productive gold-bearing region.
2Geological Context and Parallels
The anomaly sits 120 kilometres southeast of the Laverton goldfield and 12 kilometres from Brightstar Resources’ Lord Byron deposit. Lord Byron contains 5.39 million tonnes at 1.5 grams per tonne for 267,000 ounces of gold. Stella Range shares a similar magnetic low setting, suggesting a comparable gold-bearing system may exist beneath the surface.
3Pathfinder Elements Support Findings
The discovery is bolstered by the presence of key pathfinder elements, specifically copper and tellurium. These geochemical indicators align with the main gold anomaly, strengthening the geological case for the site. The company interprets the anomaly to lie on the same northwest-trending magnetic corridor as the nearby Lord Byron deposit, increasing exploration confidence.
4Historical Exploration Re-evaluated
The Stella Range ground was previously explored by BHP, which focused primarily on komatiite-style nickel sulphide deposits. Golden Dragon Mining has adopted a different approach by reviewing this historical data through a gold-focused lens. This strategic shift has successfully identified a substantial target that has never been tested by a drill bit.
5Managing Director's Strategic Outlook
Managing director Simon Buswell-Smith described the results as a significant development for the company. He emphasised that the 2.2-kilometre strike length, combined with associated pathfinder elements, creates a compelling target for future exploration. The company views this as a major opportunity to unlock value in an underexplored part of the Eastern Goldfields.
6Parallel Operations at Cue
While advancing Stella Range, Golden Dragon remains active at its flagship Cue gold project in the Murchison province. The company is currently awaiting results from a 2833-metre reverse circulation drilling program at the Behring Bore and Coodardy prospects. These efforts aim to extend previously identified high-grade mineralisation found in earlier, successful drilling campaigns.
7Previous Success at Cue
Previous exploration at the Cue project yielded impressive results, including four-metre intercepts grading 17.6g/t and 21.37g/t gold. These high-grade findings demonstrate the company's capability to identify and define profitable mineralisation. This track record provides a solid operational foundation as the team prepares to apply similar rigour to the new Stella Range discovery.
8Future Exploration Roadmap
Golden Dragon plans to conduct infill and extensional auger sampling to further refine drill targets for a maiden campaign at Stella Range. If upcoming drilling confirms the soil anomalies, it could mark a significant new chapter for the project. The company is now focused on translating these surface findings into a confirmed mineralised system.