Highlights
- Barton Gold expands drilling at Tolmer to focus on high-grade silver targets
- New data leads to reallocation of drilling plans in western mineralised zone
- Follow-up programs expected soon with rapid assay turnaround
Barton Gold (ASX:BGD) has intensified its exploration efforts at the Tolmer prospect, shifting greater focus towards a newly identified high-grade silver zone within its South Australian operations. This strategic adjustment comes after encouraging geological assessments and early drill indications, pointing to significant silver potential in the western zone of the project.
The Tolmer discovery, first unveiled as a high-grade gold opportunity in August 2024, revealed an associated silver-rich zone through a line of seven early drill holes. These findings were further supported in January through follow-up assays, which highlighted a robust presence of silver alongside gold mineralisation—mirroring the sulphide veining signature observed at the company’s Tunkillia project.
Recognising the potential for a substantial silver resource, Barton launched a 2,500-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program aimed at both infilling and expanding its western and eastern zones. However, recent surface reconnaissance and drilling observations have encouraged the company to prioritise the silver zone more heavily. As a result, Barton has redeployed resources—originally planned for the eastern gold zone—towards an expanded drilling campaign in the silver-dominant west.
The revised drilling plan includes increasing the number of RC lines from three to five, while total drilling is being extended by an additional 300 metres. This pivot underscores Barton’s agile exploration strategy and its commitment to leveraging early-stage results for maximum insight and efficiency.
While the eastern gold drilling is temporarily deferred, it remains a key target in upcoming programs anticipated to begin as early as July. The current silver drilling phase is expected to conclude this week, after which Barton will fast-track sample analyses to guide next-stage exploration. This could include additional RC work and diamond drilling to gain further structural understanding of the mineralised system.
For investors monitoring developments across the ASX200 landscape, Barton’s dynamic expansion at Tolmer presents a noteworthy case of resource potential being actively unlocked in real time. Furthermore, as interest grows in ASX dividend stocks within the broader mining and exploration sector, Barton’s evolving asset base may serve as an attractive focal point in the mid-term.
With consistent momentum and clear geological signals, Barton Gold continues to position itself strategically in Australia’s precious metals landscape, highlighting the ongoing relevance of proactive fieldwork in value discovery.