Ballard Mining has kicked off an extensive drilling campaign at its Mt Ida Gold Project, confirming high-grade gold resources at the Baldock deposit and advancing exploration across multiple high-priority targets.
- 130,000m drilling program underway at Mt Ida with four rigs active
- High-grade Baldock infill results confirm 930koz at 4.1g/t gold
- Exploration drilling targeting 18 high-priority prospects along 26km strike
- Rock chip samples reveal exceptional grades up to 62.2g/t gold
- Experienced geologist Todd Hibberd appointed to lead exploration
A Major Step Forward at Mt Ida
Ballard Mining (ASX – BM1) has officially commenced a substantial 130,000-metre drilling program at its Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia's prolific Goldfields region. This ambitious campaign includes both infill and exploration drilling, aimed at upgrading resource confidence and expanding the known gold inventory across the project’s 26-kilometre prospective strike.
Confirming High-Grade Resources at Baldock
Early results from the Baldock deposit’s infill drilling have reinforced the high-grade nature of the resource, which currently stands at 930,000 ounces at 4.1 grams per tonne gold. Notable intercepts include 3 metres at 17.7g/t and 4 metres at 12.0g/t, underscoring the deposit’s potential for future development. This infill work is critical for upgrading the resource classification from Inferred to Indicated, supporting feasibility studies and the establishment of a maiden ore reserve.
Expanding Exploration Horizons
Beyond Baldock, Ballard is aggressively targeting 18 high-priority exploration prospects identified through detailed geological mapping and recent high-resolution drone magnetic surveys. Rock chip sampling has already yielded impressive grades, with assays up to 62.2g/t gold at the Europa Prospect and 43.1g/t at Sandstone, extending mineralisation over a 700-metre strike at the Neptune Prospect along the Ballard Fault. These results highlight the underexplored potential of the region and set the stage for further discoveries.
Permitting and Project Readiness
The Mt Ida Project is well-positioned for advancement, with six granted mining leases and all necessary mining approvals in place for both open pit and underground operations at Baldock. A works approval application for a 1.5 million tonnes per annum processing facility is currently under assessment, signaling progress toward production readiness.
Strengthening the Team
Ballard has bolstered its technical expertise with the appointment of Todd Hibberd, an experienced geologist and mining executive with a strong background in exploration, resource estimation, and mine development. His arrival is expected to accelerate the company’s exploration and development efforts at Mt Ida.
Looking Ahead
With multiple rigs drilling and assay results flowing, Ballard Mining is poised for a dynamic period of news flow and resource growth. The dual focus on resource development and exploration expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to rapidly advance Mt Ida toward production while unlocking new value from its extensive tenure.
Bottom Line?
Ballard’s extensive drilling and strong early results at Mt Ida set the stage for a pivotal phase of resource growth and project development.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming assay results influence the resource upgrade and feasibility studies?
- What new targets might emerge from the ongoing interpretation of drone magnetic survey data?
- How quickly can Ballard secure the works approval and transition toward production?