Golden Dragon Mining begins major aircore drilling campaign on three-kilometre gold anomaly in WA

Junior explorer tests whether surface geochemistry points to a continuous ore body in the Murchison region

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources2 outlets

Golden Dragon Mining has commenced a 6,000-to-9,000-metre aircore drilling campaign at its Cue Gold project in Western Australia’s Murchison region. The program targets a gold-in-soil anomaly that extends more than three kilometres, which recent auger work suggests may connect several prospects into a single mineralised system.

The drilling, which focuses on the Coodardy and Behring Bore area, aims to test whether the surface gold anomalism is related to underlying bedrock mineralisation. Managing director Simon Buswell-Smith said the program marked an important step for understanding the Coodardy system and determining whether the known prospects form part of a broader mineralised corridor.

Previous drilling at the project delivered high-grade intercepts, including 12 metres at 6.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 44 metres and 8 metres at 10.82g/t gold from 25 metres. The company is also awaiting assay results from 2,833 metres of reverse circulation drilling completed at the same area.

The campaign follows a strategic vote of confidence from Shanghai-listed Chengtun Mining Group, which took a 19.89 per cent stake in Golden Dragon for $2.2 million at a premium to the company’s share price. Once all new tenement applications are granted, Golden Dragon will hold roughly 619 square kilometres in the region, including more than 50 kilometres of mineralised shear zones. The area hosts Westgold’s 2.3-million-ounce Big Bell mine.

The company is also advancing its Stella Range project near Laverton, where a 2.2-kilometre gold-in-soil anomaly has been identified but not yet drilled.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The drilling could confirm a significant new gold system in a historic producing region, potentially transforming a junior explorer's outlook.
If the aircore program demonstrates that surface anomalies reflect a continuous bedrock source, the project may host a substantial gold deposit.
The campaign comes amid sustained exploration activity in the Murchison province, where modern techniques are driving discoveries along well-known structures.

Background

The Murchison region of Western Australia has a long history of gold mining, including large operations such as the Big Bell mine. Golden Dragon Mining has been consolidating ground in the area and recently secured a strategic investment from a Chinese mining group. The company’s Cue project covers multiple prospects that previous work suggested were separate, but recent auger sampling has indicated they may be linked over several kilometres.

Key Perspectives

Golden Dragon Mining: The company is optimistic that the new drilling will reveal a coherent mineralised system, with managing director Simon Buswell-Smith highlighting the potential to better understand the relationship between the known prospects. Investors and analysts: The high-grade intercepts from earlier campaigns are encouraging, but exploration drilling carries significant risk; surface anomalies do not always translate into economically viable ore bodies. Industry observers: The Murchison region has seen a resurgence in exploration, with junior and mid-tier companies successfully using geochemistry and geophysics to uncover new deposits. The Chengtun investment underscores growing Chinese interest in Australian gold assets.

What to Watch

Assay results from the recently completed RC drilling at Coodardy and Behring Bore, expected in the coming weeks.
Progress of the aircore program, which will test the three-kilometre anomaly along its length.
Any further corporate activity, including additional capital raisings or joint ventures, that could accelerate the project.

Sources

Golden Dragon drills for gold beneath 3km WA anomaly · Brisbane Times - Latest News
Golden Dragon drills for gold beneath 3km WA anomaly · Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.

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SupportedGolden Dragon has begun a major aircore drilling campaign targeting a gold anomaly extending more than three kilometres.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “launching a major aircore drilling campaign to test two sizeable anomalies in a corridor stretching more than three kilometres.”
Partly supportedThe campaign tests whether surface geochemistry points to a continuous ore body.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The drilling will systematically test the regional-scale surface anomalies and determine whether they are associated with underlying bedrock mineralisation”
SupportedThe aircore program is 6,000 to 9,000 metres.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The 6000m to 9000m program will probe gold-in-soil targets”
SupportedRecent auger work suggests several prospects may connect into one mineralised system.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The results have effectively linked Golden Dragon’s Curtis Find, Behring Bore, Coodardy and Piston prospects, pointing to the potential for a single, big mineralised system rather than a series of isolated targets.”
SupportedThe drilling at Coodardy and Behring Bore aims to test whether surface gold anomalism is associated with underlying bedrock mineralisation.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The drilling will systematically test the regional-scale surface anomalies and determine whether they are associated with underlying bedrock mineralisation”
SupportedManaging director Simon Buswell-Smith said the program was an important step for understanding the Coodardy system and whether prospects form a broader corridor.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The commencement of this extensive AC drilling program marks an important step forward for the Coodardy gold system. We are particularly encouraged by the potential to better understand the relationship between these known prospects and determine whether they form part of a broader mineralised corridor.”
SupportedPrevious drilling returned 12 metres at 6.5 g/t gold from 44 metres.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “a headline hit of 12m assaying 6.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 44m”
SupportedPrevious drilling returned 8 metres at 10.82 g/t gold from 25 metres.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Other notable intercepts from earlier campaigns assayed 8m grading 10.82g/t gold from a shallow 25m”
SupportedGolden Dragon is awaiting assay results from 2,833 metres of recent reverse-circulation drilling at Coodardy and Behring Bore.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “the company is awaiting assay results from 2833m of RC drilling recently completed at its priority Coodardy and Behring Bore prospects.”
SupportedChengtun Mining Group invested $2.2 million for a 19.89 per cent stake at a premium to Golden Dragon’s share price.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The major player tipped in $2.2 million for a cornerstone 19.89 per cent stake in the junior explorer at a premium to its share price at the time.”
SupportedOnce its new tenement applications are granted, Golden Dragon will hold roughly 619 square kilometres in the region.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Once all of its new applications are granted, the company will control a dominant landholding of roughly 619 square kilometres”
SupportedThe expanded project area contains more than 50 kilometres of mineralised shear zones.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The expanded project area contains over 50km of mineralised shear zones.”