Ballard Mining Expands Mt Ida Land by 15km, Seeks 3.7 GL Water Licence
Ballard Mining advances its Mt Ida Gold Project with strategic land acquisitions, new mining lease applications, and a pending water licence increase, underpinning plans for a decade-long mine life.
- Acquisition of key tenements expands land access and exploration along Ballard Fault
- New mining lease applications submitted for recently discovered Bombay and West Knell deposits
- Application pending for increased water abstraction licence to support processing needs
- Project fully permitted with approvals for mining, processing plant, and environmental compliance
- Aggressive drilling program underway targeting resource growth and mine life extension
Strategic Land Acquisitions Strengthen Project Footprint
Ballard Mining (ASX, BM1) has taken significant steps to secure and expand its Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia's prolific Goldfields region. The company recently purchased three key tenements, including E29/1032, E29/1006, and E29/1033, which provide control over a new bore field site and add approximately 15 kilometres of prospective strike along the Ballard Fault zone. This strategic tenure acquisition not only secures vital land access but also links gold deposits across the Copperfield Granite, enhancing exploration potential.
New Mining Lease Applications Target Emerging Deposits
In parallel, Ballard has submitted mining lease applications for the newly discovered Bombay and West Knell gold deposits. These deposits are integral to the company's vision of establishing a mine life exceeding ten years. Exploration drilling continues along strike, with promising prospects such as Neptune and Astro-Quasar highlighting the region's potential to deliver further resource growth.
Water Licence Increase to Support Processing Expansion
Recognising the critical role of water in mining operations, Ballard has applied for an additional 2.5 gigalitres per year water abstraction licence from the Lake Raeside Paleochannel bore field. If approved, this will raise the company's total water entitlement to 3.7 GL/yr, sufficient to support current processing plans or potential future expansions. The company has completed comprehensive pump testing of three production bores, providing data to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) to facilitate timely approval, expected within the December quarter.
Fully Permitted Project Poised for Development
The Mt Ida Gold Project boasts a JORC-compliant resource of 10.3 million tonnes at 3.3 grams per tonne gold, equating to approximately 1.1 million ounces. The Baldock deposit remains the cornerstone, with 930,000 ounces at 4.1 g/t gold and full approvals for both open pit and underground mining. Ballard has secured all necessary environmental and operational permits, including a Mining Proposal, Mine Closure Plan, Native Vegetation Clearing Permit, and a Works Approval for a 2 million tonnes per annum processing plant and tailings storage facility.
Looking Ahead, Drilling and Development in Tandem
Managing Director Paul Brennan emphasised the company's dual-track approach, advancing development activities alongside an aggressive 130,000-metre drilling program. This strategy aims to increase confidence in the existing resource estimate while expanding the global resource inventory. With infrastructure and regulatory foundations firmly in place, Ballard is positioning Mt Ida for a robust transition from exploration to production.
Bottom Line?
Ballard’s tenure and water licence advances lay critical groundwork for scaling Mt Ida’s gold production potential.
Questions in the middle?
- When will the additional water abstraction licence be formally approved and how might delays impact timelines?
- What are the expected timelines and capital requirements for developing the newly applied-for mining leases at Bombay and West Knell?
- How might ongoing drilling results influence the scale and design of the processing plant and overall mine plan?