Critical Resources – Orogenic System Confirmed in Maiden Drilling at Amoco Gold–Antimony Project
- Noel Ong
- 19 hours ago
- 6 min read
Announcement
Amoco Gold-Antimony Project Update 5 December 2025 (click here to view the announcement)
Critical Resources Limited (ASX: CRR) has delivered its maiden drilling update from the Amoco Gold–Antimony Project, located in the highly prospective New England Fold Belt, approximately 19 km south-east of the Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project and 14 km east of Koonenberry Gold’s Enmore Project (Figure 1). The announcement confirms that Amoco hosts a substantial mineralised orogenic system, validating the Company's geological model and marking an important step in its broader strategy across the Halls Peak district.
Figure 1: Project Location map showing Halls Peak project area proximity to significant Antimony-Gold projects in the Armidale region, NSW. (source: CRR)
The Business of Critical Resources Limited: Gold and Antimony at the Armoco Project.
Critical Resources continues to advance a portfolio spanning lithium (Mavis Lake), base metals (Halls Peak), and orogenic gold–antimony systems (Amoco & New Zealand). The Amoco Project has now emerged as a technically validated opportunity, supported by strong pathfinder geochemistry, fault-controlled alteration, and proximity to a proven antimony–gold district.
Highlights – Maiden Drilling Confirms Orogenic Gold–Antimony System
(Figure 2)
1. Orogenic System Defined with Strong Pathfinder Chemistry
Drilling confirmed broad hydrothermal alteration, structurally-controlled quartz–sulphide veining, and multi-element anomalism consistent with Hillgrove-style orogenic systems. Key multi-element readings include:
Gold up to 0.38 g/t Au
Silver up to 22.7 g/t Ag
Antimony up to 133 ppm Sb
Arsenic up to 7,020 ppm As (0.7%)
Copper up to 0.27% Cu
Lead up to 0.46% Pb
Zinc up to 0.85% Zn
Figure 2: Amoco maiden RC drill program map illustrating rock chips, soil anomalies, and fault structures (source: CRR)
2. Drilling Intercepts Validate the Exploration Model
Notable intersections include:
1 m @ 0.38 g/t Au and 22.7 g/t Ag from 36 m (ARC-012)
3 m @ 0.22 g/t Au, 6.4 g/t Ag, 0.32% Pb, 103 ppm Sb from 21 m, including
1 m @ 0.32 g/t Au, 10.1 g/t Ag, 0.46% Pb, 133 ppm Sb (ARC-005)
22 m of hydrothermal alteration logged in ARC-005
These intervals reinforce the presence of a large mineralised system with the potential to vector into higher-grade zones.
3. Surface Rock Samples Continue to Strengthen Prospectivity
Previously reported surface rock chips returned up to 17.9 g/t Au and 0.7% Sb, aligning with geochemical anomalies that guided the maiden drill program.
4. Strategic Regional Positioning
Amoco sits within a fertile orogenic corridor that hosts long-lived antimony-gold production and modern exploration success. The immediate proximity to Hillgrove enhances the geological rationale.
Leadership Commentary
Critical Resources Managing Director, Tim Wither, commented:
‘The confirmation of a substantial orogenic system at Amoco validates our geological model and exploration approach. The presence of features consistent with Hillgrove-style mineralisation, together with strong pathfinder anomalism and extensive alteration, provides a solid foundation for continued work. We remain focused on systematically advancing our Halls Peak projects in the highly prospective New England Fold Belt, to unlock significant value for our shareholders through targeted exploration.’
About the Project
Amoco was initially defined through detailed geochemical surveys and mapping, covering a 3 x 2 km soil grid with peak assays of 21.0 ppb Au, 14.65 ppm Sb, and 351 ppm As. These anomalies align with major and minor fault structures that have now been validated for mineralisation through RC drilling.
The system comprises:
quartz–sulphide veining,
fault-brecciation,
intense alteration, and
multi-element pathfinder signatures typical of an orogenic antimony-gold system.
Near-term Milestones to Watch
CRR’s next steps are clearly defined:
1. Detailed Petrographic Studies
Fresh drill samples will undergo further petrographic analysis by Hillgrove-style specialists to refine the mineralisation model.
2. Target Refinement and Structural Mapping
Focused on identifying potential feeder zones where higher-grade gold-antimony mineralisation is most likely to accumulate.
3. Next Phase of Drilling
Permitting is progressing for the secondary gold-in-soil anomaly. Upcoming drilling will test deeper structures and expand known mineralised corridors.
Samso Concluding Comments
The Critical Resources gold and antimony project is a sign, for me, that there is a high-grade system lurking that is most likely refractory, but it will be a big system. If all things fall in place for Critical Resources, this may be another asset that could add value to an already full portfolio.
Orogenic systems are often elusive in their early stages, but once key structural controls are identified, the pathway to discovery becomes clearer, in theory. At Amoco, CRR has now established the groundwork that allows vectoring toward higher-grade zones—an essential step for any orogenic gold-antimony system.
The system’s proximity to Hillgrove, a long-lived antimony-gold district, carries significant geological relevance. Exploration analogues can carry weight, and if proven, it will be compelling because Hillgrove is one of Australia's few known antimony-gold producers. Discovering something like a Hillgrove will set the market chatter going, and that will be a good thing for shareholders of CRR.
From an investment perspective, this announcement gives the market something to ponder for a potential confirmation of a mineral system, strong alteration zones, and multi-element anomalism that fits a recognised mineral model. These are the types of early signals that precede value-accretive discovery outcomes and are geared toward getting the market excited.
Amoco now stands at the beginning of a potential re-rating pathway—one that will depend on how effectively the Company vectors into the core of this system. Chasing this kind of mineralisation style will be complex and is often not filled with red herrings. The fact that dfrilling is happening is always a good sign that some form of finality will happen soon.
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