Unlocking Potential: Lunnon Metals (ASX:LM8) advances Defiance West exploration

Lunnon Metals (ASX:LM8) has taken a bold step into the unknown, completing the first of two deep diamond drill holes under the Western Australian Government’s co-funded Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) at its Defiance West prospect.

Drilling in one of the most prolific gold and nickel districts in Australia is always an ambitious venture, but what makes this program particularly compelling is its high-stakes nature—this is the first deep bedrock test in a vast, 4km² area bordering the Victory-Defiance Gold Mine.

Key Takeaways:

• First hole completed: Lunnon has successfully drilled EIS hole LBS25DD_001 to a depth of 938.8m.
• New geological insights: The hole intersected key lithologies, shear structures, and narrow felsic to intermediate intrusions.
• Game-changing data incoming: Assay results expected between late March and early May.
• Second hole recalibrated: Drilling strategy adjusted based on initial findings.

Defiance West is a high-ranking structural target, considered a strong analogue to the Beta/Hunt system to the north.

The prospect sits within Lunnon’s extensive landholding at the Kambalda Gold & Nickel Project (KGNP), an area that has long been a hunting ground for both nickel and gold miners.

“The Biggest Deposits Are Not Always Found First”

Managing Director Edmund Ainscough understands that patience and systematic science are key.

“Drilling the first hole in any new area is inherently exciting, and this is the deepest hole ever drilled on the property that was collared in the Lunnon Basalt,” he said.

“The objective of the program is to demonstrate that this area is permissive for gold, and to do that we will have to studiously log the core and then await the assay results.”

The company’s approach is thorough.

Structural measurements, rock properties, and geochemical analysis will refine the geological model before drillers return to the field.

Already, Lunnon Metals has identified the Foster Thrust—a 100m-wide shear zone that could prove to be a key structural feature influencing gold deposition.

High-Risk, High-Reward Territory

It’s easy to see why Lunnon has prioritised this target.

The Kambalda/St Ives region has delivered over 16Moz of gold, and history suggests that the biggest discoveries are often found later in the exploration cycle.

Gold Fields’ Invincible deposit, which has since become a cornerstone of the St Ives Gold Mine, was uncovered well after the district’s heyday.

The current drill hole has also confirmed the presence of a 180m-wide dolerite unit, a rock type that has proven to be a favourable host for gold in the area.

What’s Next?

The second EIS hole, now being adjusted for optimal positioning, will be a crucial test of Defiance West’s potential.

In the meantime, geophysical surveys—including Downhole Transient Electromagnetic (DHTEM) and Optical/Acoustic Televiewer imaging—will extract further insights from the first hole.

For investors, the message is clear: Lunnon is making a calculated push into untested ground, armed with government backing and the technical expertise to chase a major discovery.

The assays will be the moment of truth, but in the high-stakes world of exploration, sometimes the smartest bets are the ones made ahead of the crowd.

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