RAS North Drilling Yields 13.8m at 8.5g/t Au, RINA Reveals 2km Gold Corridor

Strong Continuity at RAS North

Santana Minerals Limited has released encouraging assay results from its ongoing drilling program at the RAS North deposit, part of the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project in New Zealand. The latest data confirms strong grade continuity within the high-grade HG1 domain, with drill holes intersecting consistent and predictable mineralisation geometry. Notably, intercepts such as 13.8 metres at 8.5 grams per tonne gold and 7.9 metres at 6.2 grams per tonne reinforce the shallow, north-plunging shoot model of the HG1 structure.

This continuity is critical as it underpins the company’s strategy to upgrade existing inferred mineral resources to the more certain indicated category, which is a key step towards defining economically mineable ounces. The drilling also aims to extend the limits of the RAS system down-plunge, potentially adding underground resources.

RINA Program Highlights Regional Fertility

Beyond the flagship RAS deposit, Santana’s RINA (RAS-is-Not-Alone) sterilisation drilling program has delivered significant insights into the broader Rise and Shine Shear Zone (RSSZ). Covering a strike length exceeding 2 kilometres, the program has identified anomalous gold mineralisation across widely spaced drill sections, suggesting a fertile, camp-scale gold system that remains largely untested outside the known deposits.

Key intersections include 13.1 metres at 0.31 grams per tonne gold from 446.9 metres downhole, located 700 metres north of the Srex deposit. These results, combined with earlier drilling, indicate that the RSSZ hosts multiple mineralised zones with potential for new discoveries. The wide drill spacing, averaging around 500 metres, underscores the significant exploration upside in this corridor.

Geological Context and Exploration Outlook

The RSSZ is a low-angle shear zone characterized by gold mineralisation associated with quartz veining and sulphide minerals such as pyrite and arsenopyrite. The mineralisation style and structural controls are consistent with orogenic gold systems, known for their potential to host substantial deposits. Santana’s drilling techniques, including oriented diamond core and rigorous sampling protocols, provide confidence in the geological interpretations and assay results.

Looking ahead, the company is focusing its drilling rigs on step-out holes north of the recent high-grade intercepts to test for further extensions of the HG1 domain. Concurrently, regional exploration and sterilisation drilling continue to evaluate new targets within the project area, supported by ongoing geological mapping and geophysical surveys.

These developments come alongside metallurgical, environmental, and technical studies aimed at advancing the project towards pre-feasibility and eventual mining operations. The secure tenure of exploration permits and established access arrangements further support Santana’s pathway to development.