Horizon Minerals Launches 30,000m Drill Campaign to Unlock Burbanks Gold Potential
Horizon Minerals has initiated a major two-phase drilling program at its Burbanks gold project to upgrade resource confidence and explore extensions, underpinning plans for a refurbished processing plant and first gold production by 2026.
- 30,000m two-phase drilling program underway at Burbanks
- Phase 1 focuses on 15,000m infill drilling to upgrade resource classification
- Phase 2 targets extensional drilling along strike and down dip of lodes
- Burbanks hosts 6.1Mt at 2.4g/t Au for 466koz JORC resource plus historic 324koz underground production
- Supports Pre-Feasibility Study for Black Swan plant refurbishment with gold production targeted by end 2026
Burbanks Drilling Program Commences
Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX – HRZ) has kicked off an ambitious 30,000-metre drilling campaign at its high-grade Burbanks gold project, located just 9 kilometres south of Coolgardie in Western Australia’s prolific Goldfields region. The program is split into two phases, with the initial 15,000 metres dedicated to infill drilling aimed at improving the geological confidence of the resource. Results from this phase are expected in the September 2025 quarter.
The second phase will focus on extensional drilling, targeting potential resource growth along strike and down dip of known high-grade lodes. This approach builds on encouraging results from late 2023 drilling, which intercepted significant mineralisation beneath historical workings, highlighting the project’s potential to expand beyond its current footprint.
Resource Base and Historical Context
Burbanks is a historically significant gold project, having produced 324,000 ounces at an exceptional grade of 22.7 grams per tonne from underground mining. The current JORC (2012) Mineral Resource stands at 6.1 million tonnes grading 2.4 grams per tonne gold, equating to 466,000 ounces. However, much of this resource remains in the lower-confidence Inferred category, with only a fraction classified as Indicated.
Horizon’s drilling aims to convert a larger portion of the resource into the Indicated category, a critical step towards defining Ore Reserves and advancing the project towards development readiness. The company’s geology team has identified multiple mineral domains within the Burbanks system, including Main Lode, Burbanks North, Burbanks South, and Birthday Gift, each offering distinct exploration opportunities.
Strategic Integration with Black Swan Processing Plant
The Burbanks project was acquired through Horizon’s merger with Greenstone Resources Limited in June 2024. It forms a cornerstone of Horizon’s strategy to become a standalone gold producer by refurbishing the Black Swan processing plant, which is planned to operate at a nominal throughput of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.
Horizon is currently undertaking a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for Black Swan, scheduled for completion in the December 2025 quarter. The study will develop a five-year life of mine plan, with Burbanks expected to supply a meaningful portion of high-grade ore feed. Concurrent refurbishment studies aim for first gold production by the end of 2026, marking a significant milestone for the company.
Looking Ahead
Beyond resource expansion, the drilling program will also provide critical metallurgical samples to address existing data gaps, particularly in comminution characteristics, which are essential for processing plant design. The combination of resource growth, improved confidence, and metallurgical insights will underpin the PFS and future development decisions.
Managing Director and CEO Grant Haywood emphasised the dual focus of the drilling campaign – "Our first phase will enhance resource confidence to enable Ore Reserve conversion, while the second phase targets resource growth potential. This aligns with our goal of establishing Burbanks as a key high-grade feed source for Black Swan, supporting our vision to become a standalone gold producer."
Bottom Line?
As drilling progresses, Horizon Minerals is poised to transform Burbanks from a promising resource into a development-ready asset, setting the stage for renewed gold production in Western Australia.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Phase 1 drilling results confirm the upgrade of significant resource tonnage to Indicated status?
- How extensive are the down-dip and along-strike extensions identified in Phase 2 drilling?
- What metallurgical challenges remain, and how might they impact processing at the refurbished Black Swan plant?
