Summary:Great Western kicks off 3000m air core drilling at Diorama copper-gold target in WA Yerrida Basin, testing DeGrussa-style VHMS mineralisation for future Australian copper concentrate export....
Great Western Exploration (ASX:GTE) has officially kicked off a landmark 3000m drilling campaign at Diorama copper-gold target, a high-potential undeveloped prospect enclosed within its Yerrida North Project in Western Australia’s Yerrida Basin. The whole-air core drilling programme marks the first-ever systematic subsurface exploration on Diorama, targeting large-scale copper geochemical anomalies and exposed gossanous quartz outcrops spotted via earlier field geological mapping. Located roughly 70km away from Sandfire’s world-famous DeGrussa copper-gold mine and 800km northeast of Perth, Diorama is geologically categorized as prospective DeGrussa-type VHMS (Volcanic-Hosted Massive Sulphide) deposit, a deposit type famous for high-grade export-grade copper and gold concentrate output. The drill results will directly decide Diorama’s follow-up resource upgrading and future bulk concentrate export planning amid tight global copper supply under energy transition demand.
Diorama Project Basic Parameters & Drilling Plan
Table 1: Core Data of Diorama 3,000m Copper-Gold Drilling Programme
| Item | Detailed Specifications |
|---|---|
| Total drill footage | 3,000m Air Core Drilling |
| Deposit type target | DeGrussa-style VHMS copper-gold mineralisation |
| Geographical position | Yerrida North Project, Yerrida Basin, WA Australia |
| Distance to DeGrussa Mine | ~70km |
| Primary exploration objective | Test subsurface copper anomalism & gossan-bearing sulphide zones |
| Local geological feature | Wide shallow overburden concealing potential mineralisation |
| Follow-up arrangement | RC drilling on six Juggernaut targets starting July 2026 |
| Corporate financial support | AUD$4.3M available cash reserve (Mar 2026 report) |
数据来源：Great Western official ASX release & global mining media release 2026
Diorama has never received any formal drill verification before this round of exploration. Field survey found gossanous quartz outcrops stretching over 100m in partial prospect zones; geologists confirm such gossan formation is typical surface marker of deeply buried sulphide copper-gold orebody. Most of Diorama’s surface is covered by thin sediment overburden, which effectively preserves intact subsurface mineralised zones and reduces early-stage surface exposure loss of high-grade ore, lifting the probability of discovering export-standard copper-gold resources.
2. Geological Prospecting Logic for Diorama Copper-Gold Target
The core exploration logic of Diorama comes from its adjacent geological setting with Bryah Basin, the core metallogenic belt hosting DeGrussa and Monty premium copper-gold deposits in Western Australia. The lag copper anomaly captured by surface geochemical sampling is the primary basis to launch this 3000m drilling: in regional VHMS mineralisation rules, large-area copper geochemical abnormal always matches continuous stratiform massive sulphide accumulation below cover layers.
Great Western’s geological team prioritizes air core drilling for this initial stage, a low-cost, high-efficiency shallow exploration technique ideal for rapid delineation of anomaly boundary at greenfield prospect. Once core samples confirm consistent copper-gold grades matching export concentrate standards, the firm will shift to higher-cost RC drilling to expand resource boundary, laying foundation for future mine construction and bulk mineral export scheduling.
3. Subsequent Regional Exploration Layout of Great Western
After wrapping up Diorama’s 3,000m drilling works, the miner will immediately shift exploration focus to six independent copper-gold targets at nearby Juggernaut Project in July 2026, followed by scheduled drilling on Baroo copper-gold prospect later in the year. Such phased exploration arrangement concentrates Great Western’s limited capital on Yerrida Basin’s multiple VHMS prospects, forming a complete exploration portfolio centred on Diorama flagship target.
Driven by robust global copper demand from new energy battery and power grid construction, high-grade Australian copper-gold concentrate keeps stable export premium; successful resource confirmation at Diorama will bring sustainable long-term export revenue for Great Western and global concentrate buyers.
Conclusion
The launch of 3000m drilling at Diorama copper-gold target is a milestone advancement for Great Western’s WA copper-gold exploration layout, which fills the blank of subsurface data on this prospective DeGrussa-style greenfield prospect. Supported by healthy cash flow and mature regional VHMS metallogenic theory, the drill programme is expected to unlock concealed shallow copper-gold resources hidden under surface cover. Positive assay outcomes will not only upgrade Diorama from geochemical anomaly to drill-verified mineral prospect, but also create new supply source of export-grade copper-gold concentrate for global downstream smelters amid current tight base metal market.
