Zenith Minerals (ASX: ZNC) has confirmed high-grade gold mineralisation at its 100%-owned Auburn gold project in Queensland following recent grab sampling and a review of earlier surface exploration results.
Zenith reported assay results from seven grab rock-chip samples it collected in December 2025 across the Auburn project, including samples from the Blast and New Camp historic workings.
Results of 7.96 grams per tonne gold and 6.76g/t gold were returned, with two samples collected from the Blast working confirming high-grade mineralisation exposed at surface.
Additional sampling from the broader project area returned lower gold values but contributed to the overall geological understanding of the system and helped refine priority target areas.
Historical Exploration Context
The company previously completed its first modern exploration campaign at Auburn in 2022.
This program comprised geological mapping, reconnaissance rock chip sampling, and a regional soil geochemistry program.
It confirmed high-grade gold at surface, with nine of 49 rock chip samples returning grades above 1g/t gold and a peak result of 23.3g/t recorded at the New Camp working.
Soil sampling completed on a 200 metre by 50m grid defined multiple coherent gold anomalies with strike lengths of up to 600m, including zones extending from the Blast and New Camp workings along a north-west striking structural corridor.
Geological Interpretation
Gold mineralisation at Auburn is hosted within granitic intrusive rocks and is characterised by strong alteration with limited quartz veining in higher-grade samples.
The host lithologies, alteration styles and trace-element signatures are consistent with an intrusion-related gold system.
This style is commonly associated with laterally extensive and vertically continuous mineralised systems.
Several gold anomalies defined by soil sampling away from known historical workings highlight the potential for previously unrecognised mineralised zones within the broader project area.
Underexplored Gold District
The Auburn project is located along the eastern margin of the Auburn Arc within the New England Orogen, an underexplored gold district with documented historical production dating back to the late nineteenth century.
Zenith Minerals is advancing geological interpretation and drill targeting with the objective of completing infill soil sampling followed by first-pass reverse circulation drilling within approximately six months, subject to permitting and final drill planning.
Managing director Andrew Smith said the combined results point to a consistent gold footprint across the project.
“Recent high-grade grab sampling, together with earlier Zenith rock chip and soil results, reinforces the prospectivity of the system and supports our focus on advancing targeted follow-up work, including preparation for initial drill testing,” he said.
The company’s planned work will also include additional rock chip sampling and the digitisation and mapping of the historical workings to further refine geological and structural interpretations across the project.
