Strickland Metals strikes more Serbian high-grade gold-zinc
- Doug Bright
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
Strickland Metals (ASX: STK) has drilled high-grade gold-zinc at its Serbian Gradina deposit, including convincing intercepts in two separate holes of 39.9 metres at 4.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 167m at 1.3% zinc from 97.1m, with mineralisation remaining open up-dip.
The results relate to drilling in the southern end of the Gradina deposit, where multiple intercepts of high-grade, skarn-hosted gold mineralisation include a standout 39.9m at 4.2g/t gold from 539.6m in one hole, including 12m at 8.2g/t and a peak inclusion of 2m at 30.1g/t gold from 568m.
A second hole intersected 22.3m at 4.4g/t gold from 335.4m, including 8m running 7.6g/t gold.
A third hole reported a broad 167m intercept averaging 0.5g/t gold, 1.3% zinc, 0.1% copper, 0.2% lead and 7.6 grams per tonne silver from 97.1m, including 16m at 1% copper, 3% zinc and 8.3 grams per tonne silver.
These latest results from the southern end of Gradina build on the strong intercepts reported on 30 September. They include some wide, high-grade gold intercepts with individual zones assaying up to 30.1g/t Au, highlighting the significant tenor of the higher-grade mineralisation in this deposit. The drilling has also recorded much wider, lower grade gold zones which also include significant zones of base metal mineralisation, as well as one of the shallowest intercepts to date, in hole ZRSD25210. This is encouraging as it confirms the potential to expand the deposit up-dip towards surface.
Strickland Metals Managing Director Paul L’Herpiniere
The Gradina deposit, about 2 kilometres southeast of the company’s flagship Shanac resource, is emerging as a high-grade zinc-gold skarn.
The intercepts, among the shallowest defined to date at Gradina, point to significant near-surface potential, with mineralisation open in all directions.
The 167m intercept in the third hole began at 97.1m depth, just below the level of historic workings, suggesting potential for up-dip extensions into shallower ground.
Results reveal high-grade zones tie in with quartz diorite margins, where metallic sulphides of iron, zinc, lead, copper and arsenic, comprise the minerals pyrite, sphalerite, galena and lesser chalcopyrite or arsenopyrite respectively dominate the mineralisation.
Drilling is ongoing at the southern end of the deposit, with the three rigs focussed on testing for up-dip extensions to the mineralisation and on in-fill drilling of more strongly mineralised zones to support a planned maiden mineral resource estimate for Gradina before the end of the year. Pending assays from recent drilling could further elevate Gradina’s profile.
Three of the company’s seven diamond rigs at Rogozna are focused on Gradina’s southern end, targeting up-dip extensions and infill drilling for a maiden mineral resource estimate by late-2025.
The Gradina deposit constitutes a significant discovery within Strickland’s Rogozna gold and base metals project, which encloses 184 square kilometres in Serbia’s prolifically mineralised Tethyan Belt and hosts a combined 7.4 million ounce gold equivalent (AuEq) JORC-compliant inferred resource.
The company’s Shanac deposit, 2km north of Gradina, contains an estimated 5.3 million ounces of gold equivalent metal, while satellite deposits such as Copper Canyon, 4km south of Shanac, host 810,000 ounces of gold equivalent and Medenovac about 4.75km northwest of Shanac, adds a further 1.2 million ounces of gold equivalent by way of its copper-gold-zinc potential.
The current combined 7.4 million ounce gold equivalent resource at the Rogozna project continues to grow as seven rigs advance exploration across the project area as part of the company’s ongoing 50,000m 2025 diamond drilling blitz at the project, while Rogozna’s burgeoning scale and high-grade hits position it as a potential project cornerstone for Strickland.
One rig remains at the flagship Shanac deposit, while the other three rigs chase new discoveries across the company’s extensive tenure.
Strickland is also working towards a scoping study for Shanac, due by years-end, which could pave the way for development, while Gradina’s resource estimate due around the same time will likely reinforce its role in Rogozna’s growth.
Acquired for $37 million in 2024, Rogozna benefits from Serbia’s 15% tax rate and mining-friendly policies. With $52.4 million in cash and liquid assets as of June 2025, Strickland’s 50,000m drilling campaign is fully funded.
Gradina’s latest results complement recent Copper Canyon intercepts, such as 191.2m at 0.9g/t gold and 2.3% copper, reinforcing Rogozna’s multi-deposit potential.
A Shanac scoping study, due soon, could accelerate development, while Gradina’s high-grade zones position it as a key growth driver for Strickland’s Serbian powerhouse.
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