- 0132m @ 7.98 g/t from 34m
- 028m @ 12.96 g/t from 37m
- 03Maiden resource 2026; mineralisation open at depth/strike
- 04Satellite feed for Wonawinta; Mt Boppy potential
Manuka Resources (ASX: MKR) has reported shallow high-grade gold intersections from its initial reverse circulation drilling program at the Pipeline Ridge project in New South Wales.
The completed 56-hole program covered 3,133 metres, with a headline intersection of 32m at 7.98 grams per tonne gold from 34m and another returning 8m at 12.96g/t from 37m.
The drilling validated northern and southern gold zones and indicates mineralisation remains open at depth, across section and along strike in both directions.
Manuka plans to use the results to prepare a maiden mineral resource estimate for Pipeline Ridge in 2026, with further drilling scheduled for October and the prospect being evaluated as potential satellite feed for the Wonawinta processing facility 120 kilometres away.
Shallow Zones Taking Shape
Pipeline Ridge has been explored since the 1970s, with historical drilling comprising 195 holes for 13,237m before Manuka’s latest campaign.
The prospect has volcanic massive sulphide affinities, although the latest work targeted a later phase of gold mineralisation that appears largely controlled by brecciation within volcanic tuff host rocks.
The first drilling phase focused on validation and infill of historical results and on delineating mineralisation across a 350m strike zone to about 60m depth, with two gold zones measuring about 295m and 180m in strike length identified within a broader approximately 1,000m mineralised trend.
Historical and current drilling has intersected mineralisation to more than 150m depth, supporting the interpretation that the system remains open beyond the shallow oxide zones targeted by the latest campaign.
Results included several shallow higher-grade intersections beyond the headline hole, while all reported intersections are downhole lengths and true widths are not yet known.
Future Gold Feed Strategy
Pipeline Ridge is being evaluated as a future satellite source of gold feed as processing at Wonawinta has recommenced using Mt Boppy ore, with first revenues from processing the gold-bearing stockpiles expected this quarter.
A second drilling phase is planned to test near-surface extensions to about 100m depth as well as deeper, cross-section and strike extensions, while bottle-roll and diagnostic leach test work and six diamond core holes are scheduled to support metallurgical assessment.
“These are exceptionally encouraging results from shallow RC drilling at our Pipeline Ridge project and confirm the potential to generate future gold resources for treatment either at Wonawinta or Mt Boppy,” executive chair Dennis Karp said.
Our confidence remains that Mt Boppy sits within a larger mineralised system consistent with Manuka’s broader Cobar Basin project.”
“Pipeline Ridge, which is located just 28km south of Mt Boppy, appears to be confirming this conviction.”
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