Manuka Targets 500m Deep Gold Extensions and 3,165m Shallow Drilling in Cobar Basin
Manuka Resources is set to kick off a significant gold exploration drilling campaign in the Cobar Basin this December, targeting deep extensions at Mt Boppy and shallow deposits at Pipeline Ridge. The results, expected early next year, could reshape the company’s production outlook.
- Drilling program to start December 2025 targeting Mt Boppy deep gold extensions
- Pipeline Ridge shallow gold mineralisation targeted with extensive 3,165m drill program
- Historic Mt Boppy produced ~500,000oz gold at high grades (~15g/t Au)
- Exploration results to support 10-year Cobar Basin production plan
- Wonawinta Silver Mine restart remains a key focus within six months
Exploration Program Launches in Cobar Basin
Manuka Resources Limited has announced the commencement of a new gold exploration drilling program in the Cobar Basin, set to begin in early December 2025. This initiative marks a strategic push to expand and deepen the company’s gold resource base, focusing on two key assets – the historic Mt Boppy Gold Mine and the Pipeline Ridge gold prospects.
The Mt Boppy Gold Mine, renowned for its historic production of approximately 500,000 ounces of gold at an impressive grade of around 15 grams per tonne, remains a highly prospective site. The upcoming drilling will target deep extensions of the known mineralised structures, with initial holes planned to reach depths of around 500 meters. A particular focus will be on identifying repeats of the high-grade Mt Boppy structure, which previous drilling has shown to be open both along strike and at depth.
Pipeline Ridge – Shallow Targets with Potential
Approximately 28 kilometers south of Mt Boppy, the Pipeline Ridge prospects offer a different exploration opportunity. Here, gold mineralisation occurs closer to the surface, making it a candidate for potential open-pit extraction. Manuka plans an extensive shallow drilling program totaling 3,165 meters, targeting depths up to 60 meters. This phase aims to validate a previously identified exploration target estimated between 187,000 and 365,000 tonnes grading 1.1 to 1.5 grams per tonne of gold.
Pipeline Ridge’s geological setting as a volcanic massive sulphide style deposit, combined with historical drilling data, supports the potential for delineating a shallow, free-milling gold oxide resource. Follow-up drilling is anticipated to explore deeper mineralisation zones, potentially expanding the resource base further.
Strategic Outlook and Production Plans
Beyond exploration, Manuka remains focused on restarting its Wonawinta Silver Mine and processing plant within the next six months, a move that could provide operational momentum and cash flow support. The results from the upcoming drilling campaign will be pivotal, representing the first steps toward growing the company’s 10-year production plan for the Cobar Basin.
Executive Chairman Dennis Karp expressed optimism about the program, highlighting the historic significance of Mt Boppy’s gold mineralisation and the promising shallow deposits at Pipeline Ridge. Assay results are expected in the first quarter of 2026, which will be closely watched by investors eager to gauge the potential impact on Manuka’s resource profile and production trajectory.
Integrating historic geological data with modern geophysical techniques, the company aims to refine its drilling targets and unlock new zones of mineralisation. The complex structural geology of the region, including thrusting and transpressional features, adds both challenge and opportunity to the exploration effort.
Bottom Line?
Manuka’s December drilling campaign could redefine its gold resource base and set the stage for a new production era in the Cobar Basin.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the drilling confirm significant new high-grade extensions at Mt Boppy?
- How will the shallow gold resource at Pipeline Ridge impact Manuka’s near-term production plans?
- What timeline and scale of resource upgrades can investors realistically expect from assay results?
