en.Wedoany.com Reported - Australian mineral exploration company Lightning Minerals Ltd (ASX:L1M) has initiated a 600-sample soil geochemical sampling program at the Western Zone target of its flagship Mt Turner Gold Project in North Queensland, in preparation for the second phase of drilling planned for July 2026.
The Western Zone target is the second major gold target identified within the Mt Turner project, located immediately west of the Mt Turner copper porphyry system. The program will test a structure approximately 5 kilometers long, where breccia and quartz veins are hosted within a fault sequence of schist, granite, and metasedimentary rocks, accompanied by rhyolite intrusions. Lightning Minerals stated that this work aims to define the known mineralization extent, identify additional mineralized bodies through mapping and geochemical sampling, and generate future drilling targets.
The company recently also confirmed widespread high-grade tungsten mineralization from initial reconnaissance rock chip sampling at its wholly-owned Warby project in North Queensland.
Prior to this activity, Lightning Minerals completed soil sampling at the Drummer Fault, which identified five separate anomalous zones with a total strike length of approximately 3.9 kilometers. The program confirmed the continuity of mineralization between historical oxide pits, identified extensions of known mineralization, and delineated multiple gold pathfinder element anomalies. The company stated that these results support its regional-scale exploration model at Mt Turner and demonstrate the effectiveness of geochemical methods in identifying mineralization in areas with shallow cover and limited outcrop. As the Drummer Fault target advances to further drill testing, the company has expanded its exploration focus to the Western Zone, describing it as one of the most significant untested targets within the project.
The Western Zone comprises a north-south trending fault corridor extending approximately 5 kilometers, clearly discernible on LiDAR digital terrain models, and has not been adequately tested by modern exploration methods. Current program objectives include defining the continuity of mineralization, identifying consistent gold and pathfinder element geochemical anomalies, refining geological and structural interpretations, and generating future drilling targets. The soil survey will cover up to 4 survey blocks, with samples collected at 20-meter intervals along 200-meter line spacings over a minimum strike length of 5 kilometers. Sampling is expected to continue until mid-July 2026, alongside detailed geological mapping to enhance understanding of lithological, structural, and alteration patterns, with samples to be submitted to ALS Laboratories for gold and multi-element analysis.
Company CEO Troy Brice stated that the Western Zone program is a strategic next step in testing the broader regional-scale potential of Mt Turner. He noted that the recent success of the Drummer Fault soil program demonstrates that systematic geochemical exploration is highly effective in identifying mineralization extensions and generating high-quality drill targets, and the company is now applying the same rigorous approach to the second major structural trend within the project. Brice said this work complements the company's upcoming second-phase drilling campaign and enhances understanding of the entire mineralized system while drilling preparations are underway.
Lightning Minerals' exploration model has identified multiple mineralized targets associated with the Mt Turner intrusive complex, including the Drummer Fault, Western Zone, and Red Hills breccia. Mt Turner is the company's flagship asset, part of its broader portfolio of gold and copper projects in Australia, with current work aimed at advancing it toward future resource definition. The company's next steps include completing the Western Zone soil sampling program, submitting samples for laboratory analysis, and integrating geochemical and geological datasets to refine future drilling targets. The fully funded second-phase drilling campaign remains scheduled to begin in mid-July 2026, potentially earlier if a drill rig becomes available, with drilling focused on extending mineralization between Pits 2 and 3 in the central area of the Drummer Fault and advancing Mt Turner toward future resource definition.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
