Santana Minerals has reported new high-grade gold drill results from its Rise and Shine deposit, revealing significant extensions of the mineralised core beyond current mining plans. These findings could pave the way for resource upgrades and longer mine life.
- High-grade core extended approximately 270m beyond current underground mine designs
- Significant drill intercepts include 20m at 8.2 g/t gold and multiple other thick, high-grade zones
- Results support upgrading Inferred resources to Indicated category
- Drilling ongoing to test deeper and lateral extensions of the resource
- New intercepts lie outside current mining plans, indicating potential for mine expansion
Expanding the High-Grade Core
Santana Minerals Ltd has announced promising new drill results from its Rise and Shine (RAS) gold deposit, located within the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project. The latest step-out drilling has successfully extended the high-grade core zone (HG1) down plunge by approximately 270 metres beyond the limits of the current underground mine design outlined in the July 2025 Pre-feasibility Study (PFS) update.
The new intercepts include thick, tabular zones of gold mineralisation, highlighted by a standout 20-metre interval grading 8.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 396 metres depth. Other notable results include 8.6 metres at 4.6 g/t and 10.2 metres at 3.7 g/t, all true widths, indicating robust continuity of the mineralised system.
Implications for Resource Classification and Mine Planning
These results are significant because they lie outside the current mining envelope and have the potential to upgrade existing Inferred resources to the more certain Indicated category. This upgrade is critical for advancing mine planning and securing financing, as Indicated resources carry higher confidence for economic extraction.
CEO Damian Spring emphasised the shallow depth of the discovery, noting that the high-grade core is now tracked at just about 250 metres vertical depth from the portal; considered shallow by modern underground mining standards. He expressed optimism about the potential for further extensions as drilling continues with larger step-outs.
Complementary Drilling at RAS South
Alongside the down-plunge extensions at RAS North, infill drilling at RAS South has targeted near-surface and up-plunge zones previously underexplored due to access constraints. Results from four new holes confirm the presence of a sub-parallel mineralised zone beneath the Stage 1 pit, with high-grade intercepts that suggest potential for pit deepening and stacked lodes. These findings also fall outside current mining plans, hinting at further resource growth.
Technical Rigor and Ongoing Exploration
The announcement includes detailed technical data on drilling methods, assay techniques, and quality assurance protocols, underscoring the reliability of the results. Santana continues to conduct infill and extensional drilling, alongside metallurgical, environmental, and geotechnical studies to support the transition from exploration to mining.
With secure tenure and established access agreements in place, Santana Minerals is well positioned to capitalise on these discoveries. The company’s methodical approach and transparent reporting align with industry best practices, providing confidence to investors and stakeholders.
Bottom Line?
Santana’s ongoing drilling success at Rise and Shine signals a compelling opportunity to expand and upgrade its gold resource, setting the stage for future mine development decisions.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the new drill results impact the timing and scale of the mine development?
- What are the expected costs and challenges of extending mining operations beyond current plans?
- When can the market expect updated resource estimates incorporating these latest intercepts?