Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZY) has announced a significant increase in the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its Minyari Dome project, located in Western Australia's Paterson Province. The contained gold resource has grown by 33%, now totaling 2.3 million ounces, an additional 570,000 ounces compared to the previous estimate.
This update also highlighted a substantial 53% rise in confidence for the MRE, with 68% of the mineral data now classified under the indicated resource category. Such an improvement is pivotal in advancing the project's development potential.
Resource Highlights and Composition
The new MRE for Minyari Dome indicates a resource of 47.6 million tonnes (Mt), grading at 1.51 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold, 0.18% copper, 0.43 g/t silver, and 0.03% cobalt. This translates into 2.3 million ounces (oz) of gold, 84,000 tonnes of copper, 661,000 ounces of silver, and 13,000 tonnes of cobalt. The enhanced resource estimate strengthens the project's standing as a key asset within Western Australia's resource-rich Paterson Province.
Notably, the update also included the maiden MRE for the GEO-01 deposit, which revealed 6.7 Mt at 0.70 g/t gold, contributing an additional 151,000 ounces of gold to the overall resource base.
Strategic Significance of the Update
The increased resource estimate at Minyari Dome enables Antipa Minerals to explore the project as a potential standalone development. This potential development model includes scalable open-pit and underground mining operations. The resource's proximity to the surface, combined with the fact that several deposits remain open in various directions, adds further exploration opportunities.
The updated scoping study for Minyari Dome, originally conducted in August 2022, is set to incorporate this expanded resource base. Antipa’s ongoing exploration efforts aim to define the full scope of the project, particularly as the company targets the GEO-01 and Minyari extensional zones, which have shown promising potential for further mineralisation.
Implications for the Broader Market
With gold prices continuing to perform strongly, the expanded resource estimate at Minyari Dome positions Antipa Minerals in a favorable market environment. The rise in contained gold reserves adds substantial value to the company’s asset portfolio, especially given current market conditions. The strength of gold prices, combined with the strategic importance of the Paterson Province as a resource-rich area, underscores the potential for future project growth.
Additionally, the presence of copper, silver, and cobalt within the resource adds diversity to the project's economic potential. Copper remains in high demand due to its critical role in the global transition to cleaner energy technologies, while cobalt plays a key role in battery storage and electric vehicle development. Silver’s industrial applications further enhance the resource’s appeal.
Future Exploration and Growth Prospects
Antipa’s ongoing exploration initiatives continue to focus on expanding the resource base at Minyari Dome and surrounding prospects. The company’s commitment to further drilling and exploration is likely to yield additional resource increases in the near term. The strategic location of Minyari within the Paterson Province, an area known for hosting several large-scale mining operations, provides significant upside for continued exploration success.
By targeting extensional deposits and nearby exploration targets, Antipa is well-positioned to capitalise on the upward trend in gold prices and growing demand for copper and cobalt. The company’s systematic exploration approach, combined with the scalable nature of the project, provides the foundation for long-term growth and value creation.
In summary, Antipa Minerals Ltd (ASX:AZY) has delivered a critical resource update for the Minyari Dome project, with a 33% increase in contained gold and an overall resource expansion across multiple minerals. The project’s strategic location, coupled with ongoing exploration activities, positions it as a key development opportunity in Western Australia’s resource-rich Paterson Province.