EKJV Drilling Delivers Gold Grades up to 67 g/t — Resource Update Still Pending
Rand Mining reports completion of over 5,200 metres of diamond drilling at East Kundana Joint Venture, revealing promising assay results from Sadler and Golden Hind deposits without altering current resource estimates.
- 5,205 metres of diamond drilling completed in December 2025 quarter
- Assay results received for multiple drill holes at Sadler and Golden Hind
- Notable high-grade gold intercepts reported, including 67 g/t Au
- No material change to existing Mineral Resource estimates
- Future work includes resource model updates for FY27 planning
Exploration Progress at East Kundana
Rand Mining Ltd has provided its latest quarterly update on exploration activities within the East Kundana Joint Venture (EKJV), located near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. During the December 2025 quarter, the joint venture partners completed a substantial diamond drilling program totalling 5,205 metres, targeting extensions and resource definition at the Sadler and Golden Hind gold deposits.
The EKJV is a collaborative effort between Rand Mining (12.25%), Tribune Resources (36.75%), and Evolution Mining (51%), with the latter managing operations. The drilling focused on testing southern extensions at Sadler and northern and down-dip extensions at Golden Hind, aiming to identify additional mineralisation that could enhance the project's resource base.
Assay Results Highlight High-Grade Zones
Assay results for six drill holes at Sadler and seven at Golden Hind were received during the quarter, including some outstanding high-grade intercepts. Notably, one hole at Golden Hind returned a gold grade of 67.06 grams per tonne over a narrow width, alongside other significant intercepts exceeding 40 g/t Au. These results underscore the potential for rich mineralisation within the EKJV tenements.
However, despite these encouraging findings, the company confirmed that the new data has not yet been incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource estimate. Consequently, there has been no material change to the previously reported resource figures. This cautious approach reflects the need for comprehensive data integration and validation before revising resource models.
Rigorous Sampling and Compliance Standards
The report details the rigorous sampling and drilling methodologies employed, including diamond core drilling with oriented core recovery, half-core sampling, and stringent quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) protocols. Assays were conducted using fire assay and photon analyses, industry-standard techniques for orogenic gold deposits. The exploration results comply fully with the JORC Code 2012 Edition, with competent person certification provided by a qualified geoscientist from Evolution Mining.
Looking Ahead, Resource Model Updates and Planning
Looking forward, Rand Mining and its JV partners plan to update resource models for Sadler and Golden Hind to incorporate the latest drilling data. These updates will inform mine planning and exploration targeting for the 2027 financial year, potentially unlocking further value from the EKJV assets. Pending assay results from some drill holes remain awaited, which could influence future resource assessments.
Overall, the December quarter's exploration activities reinforce the EKJV's status as a significant gold project with ongoing potential for resource growth, albeit with measured progress as data integration continues.
Bottom Line?
While high-grade gold intercepts excite, the EKJV awaits updated resource models to translate drilling success into tangible asset growth.
Questions in the middle?
- When will the pending assay results be released, and how might they impact resource estimates?
- What timeline is anticipated for the updated Mineral Resource models and potential reserve upgrades?
- How will the JV partners coordinate future exploration and development strategies based on these results?
