GEO Exploration Limited (AIM: GEO) has identified nine additional exploration targets at its Gorge Project in Western Australia following the completion of airborne geophysical interpretation work.
The findings increase the project’s target inventory to 12 areas and further strengthen the company’s three existing priority targets at Gorge Mine, the 401 Prospect and MAG001.
The interpretation confirmed that the project is centred on the Wyloo Dome, a regionally significant geological structure that GEO said shares characteristics with settings associated with major Australian gold deposits, including Telfer and Fosterville.
The completed programme incorporated high-resolution LiDAR, aerial photography, magnetic and radiometric surveys across the project licence area.
GEO said the work had substantially improved its understanding of the project’s geological structure, historic workings and potential controls on mineralisation.
Wyloo Dome Strengthens Regional Model
Regional geophysical interpretation identified a major northeast-to-southwest structural corridor passing through the Wyloo Dome, together with indications of possible intrusive rocks or dyke swarms at depth.
Deep-seated structures can provide pathways for mineralising fluids, while folding, faulting and structural intersections may create favourable locations for gold deposition.
The company said the combination of the dome structure, regional-scale faulting, possible intrusive bodies and known surface gold occurrences had materially improved the perceived prospectivity of the Gorge Project.
Detailed magnetic and radiometric data also revealed a network of faults, shear zones and previously unrecognised geological domains across the licence.
Several enclosed magnetic anomalies may represent intrusive bodies, while intersections between faults, folds and intrusive contacts have been prioritised as potential mineralisation targets.
Historic Workings More Extensive Than Expected
LiDAR interpretation identified 24 historic shafts and 12 trenches across the project area, indicating that historical prospecting and mining activity was considerably more extensive than previously recorded.
Several shafts appear to have been developed directly along visible quartz veins, suggesting that earlier miners were targeting bedrock structures rather than simply recovering transported or near-surface gold.
Extensive quartz veining was also mapped across the project, alongside geological outcrops, fold structures, faults and changes in surface cover.
These findings will be followed up through field mapping, rock-chip sampling and controlled sampling of material from historic workings.
Three Rank-One Targets Upgraded
Gorge Mine remains a top-priority target due to its historic shafts, previous production, elevated rock-chip and stream-sediment results and extensive quartz veining.
The latest interpretation identified additional shafts and confirmed that the prospect lies within a structurally complex zone where major fault directions intersect.
GEO believes the historic workings may form part of a wider, structurally controlled mineralised system rather than an isolated gold occurrence.
The 401 Prospect also remains a rank-one target, supported by historic workings, previous drilling and anomalous rock-chip, soil and stream-sediment geochemistry.
The prospect sits along a significant magnetic gradient and close to several magnetic closures and quartz-eye porphyry outcrops, which may indicate nearby intrusive rocks.
GEO said the combination of gold mineralisation, structural complexity and a possible intrusive association made the prospect attractive for both orogenic and intrusion-related gold mineralisation.
MAG001 Emerges as Major Priority
MAG001 is located in the northwest of the licence in an area with no previous exploration.
The target contains a positive magnetic anomaly of approximately 400 nanoteslas. Three-dimensional modelling suggests the top of the magnetic body may lie around 300 metres below surface, with substantial vertical extent.
MAG001 is also close to the RAD001 radiometric anomaly and is associated with quartz veining, iron-oxide staining, a LiDAR-defined topographic feature and several structural intersections.
The combined magnetic, radiometric, structural and surface characteristics are considered potentially consistent with an intrusion-related gold system or an iron oxide copper-gold mineral system.
GEO said the absence of historical exploration, alongside the strength of the geophysical signature, made MAG001 one of its highest-priority targets.
Broader Pipeline Reduces Exploration Risk
The nine newly identified targets contain varying combinations of geophysical anomalies, structural intersections, quartz veining, historic workings and existing geochemical responses.
They currently rank below Gorge Mine, 401 and MAG001, but materially expand the number of potential mineralised centres identified across the licence.
The enlarged target inventory should allow GEO to test multiple areas and reduce its reliance on the success of any single prospect.
Target rankings will be updated as additional field observations, laboratory assays and geochemical results are incorporated into the company’s geological model.
Field Programme to Refine Drill Targets
The next phase of work will include an extensive soil and rock-chip sampling programme, geological mapping and sampling of historic mullock heaps, shafts and trenches.
The results will be used to refine the target rankings and support planning for a proposed maiden drilling programme.
Any drilling remains subject to heritage approvals and government permitting.
Exploration manager Tom Harris said the interpretation had confirmed and generated new high-priority targets warranting further investigation and drill testing.
Technical consultant Dr Finbarr Murphy said the regional and local geological setting was consistent with several globally significant mineral systems and that the quality of the airborne surveys had enabled a high-confidence structural and geological interpretation.
Chief executive Omar Ahmad said the identification of the Wyloo Dome and nine additional targets had increased the company’s confidence in the potential of the Gorge Project.
Gorge Project Background
The Gorge Project covers 81 square kilometres within the Capricorn Orogen, approximately 110 kilometres west of Paraburdoo in Western Australia.
The licence is held through GEO’s wholly owned subsidiary, Gorge Gold Pty Ltd.
Historic exploration and prospecting have identified gold occurrences across approximately five kilometres of strike.
Previous results include rock-chip samples grading up to 134 grams per tonne of gold, soil results of up to 233 grams per tonne and historic drilling containing one metre at 35 grams per tonne.
Near-surface nuggets weighing from less than two grams to more than 100 grams have also been recovered within the project area.
GEO began a systematic modern exploration programme at Gorge during 2026. Recent fieldwork has included geological mapping, verification of historic workings, 35 rock-chip samples and 246 orientation soil samples.
The company has also reported visible gold in quartz-vein material, extensive veining and alteration, and copper-rich gossan at the Central Zone.
GEO believes the combination of historical results, recent prospecting finds and the expanded geophysical target inventory supports the potential for a primary bedrock gold source within the licence area.
