Haranga Resources has commenced underground diamond drilling at its Lincoln Gold Project in California, aiming to convert a historical resource to JORC compliance and explore new high-grade gold zones.
- Swick Gen II diamond drill rig mobilised for underground drilling
- Drilling program targets JORC-compliant resource by late January 2026
- Approximately 2,600m planned over 25 holes from crosscut 3 to 8
- Dewatering and major electrical upgrades underway to support drilling
- Project leverages prior AUD 90 million investment for capital-efficient development
Drilling Mobilisation Marks Key Milestone
Haranga Resources Limited has mobilised a Swick Gen II underground diamond drill rig to its wholly-owned Lincoln Gold Project in California, with drilling set to commence on the night shift of 28 November 2025. This marks a significant operational milestone as the company embarks on a program designed to upgrade the existing historical mineral resource estimate to a JORC-compliant standard, a critical step for advancing the project towards development.
Converting Historical Resources to JORC Compliance
The primary objective of the approximately 2,600-metre drilling program, spread over 25 holes from crosscut 3 to crosscut 8 within the Stringbean Alley Decline, is to convert the current NI 43-101 resource estimate of around 286,000 ounces of gold into a JORC-compliant resource by late January 2026. This conversion is essential for Australian market standards and investor confidence, providing a more robust and transparent resource classification.
Exploring New High-Grade Zones at Depth
Beyond resource conversion, the drilling will test for repetitions and new structural zones at depth, areas that have never been explored in the project’s 40-plus year history despite significant prior investment of approximately AUD 90 million. The potential discovery of additional high-grade gold zones could materially enhance the project's value and underpin future production plans.
Infrastructure Upgrades Support Efficient Drilling
Supporting the drilling campaign, Haranga is progressing dewatering of the Stringbean Alley Decline to enable access to all planned drill sites. Concurrently, a major underground electrical system upgrade has been substantially completed to ensure reliable power supply at depth, mitigating voltage drop risks. These infrastructure improvements facilitate more accurate, capital-efficient drilling with larger sample sizes, enhancing the quality of the resource data.
Strategic Timing Amid High Gold Prices
Managing Director Peter Batten highlighted the significance of this phase, noting the team’s efforts to overcome operational challenges and the opportunity presented by record-high gold prices. Haranga is also considering applying a lower cut-off grade during resource conversion, which could further expand the economic resource base in the current favourable market environment.
Bottom Line?
As drilling progresses, investors will watch closely for assay results that could redefine Lincoln’s resource potential and shape Haranga’s development trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the drilling confirm extensions or repetitions of high-grade gold zones at depth?
- How might the potential application of a lower cut-off grade impact the final JORC resource estimate?
- What operational risks remain regarding dewatering and infrastructure access that could affect drilling timelines?