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Water Ingress and Approvals Pose Challenges for WIN Metals’ Radio Restart

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

WIN Metals has reported promising shallow gold mineralisation at its Radio Gold Project in Western Australia, reinforcing plans for a potential production restart in 2026. Key drill results and surface sampling confirm multiple near-surface targets across the project.

  • Shallow gold mineralisation confirmed at Radio South and Green Harp
  • Near-surface ore-grade intercepts identified around historic Radio Mill
  • Surface sampling at Repeater shows high-grade lode mineralisation to surface
  • Development studies and approvals targeted for completion by mid-2026
  • Existing underground infrastructure supports rapid potential restart

Exploration Success at Radio Gold Project

WIN Metals Ltd (ASX – WIN) has delivered encouraging assay results from its maiden 2025 drilling campaign at the Radio Gold Project, located 38 kilometres north of Southern Cross in Western Australia. The company’s exploration efforts have confirmed shallow gold mineralisation at the historic Radio South and Green Harp mines, alongside near-surface ore-grade intercepts near the Radio Mill area. These findings bolster the project’s profile as a near-term production opportunity, with development plans aimed for 2026, pending further studies and regulatory approvals.

Key Drilling Highlights and Surface Sampling

The drilling program returned multiple significant intercepts, including 3 metres at 4.36 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 15 metres depth at Radio South, and a standout 1 metre at 8.03 g/t gold from 57 metres. Green Harp also yielded promising results, such as 1 metre at 3.22 g/t gold from 30 metres. Around the Radio Mill, near-surface intercepts starting from surface were recorded, indicating low-cost extractable mineralisation. Complementing these, surface sampling at the Repeater prospect confirmed outcropping main lode mineralisation with assays up to 29.6 g/t gold, extending known mineralisation to surface where drilling is limited by the existing open pit footprint.

Historical Context and Geological Setting

The Radio Gold Project has a rich mining history, with production dating back to 1918 and approximately 71,000 ounces of gold extracted at an exceptional average grade of 38 g/t. The project benefits from intact underground infrastructure and a dewatered mine site, positioning it well for a potential rapid restart. Geologically, the project sits at a key interface between sheared greenstones and the Ghooli granitoid dome, a setting known for hosting high-grade orogenic gold deposits. Mineralisation is structurally controlled within narrow quartz lodes, with recent drilling confirming continuity and extensions beyond historical workings.

Next Steps Towards Production

WIN Metals plans to advance the project through a series of technical and development milestones in 2026. These include defining additional mineral resources, completing a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Repeater prospect, and updating resource models to support mine design and scheduling. The company is evaluating extraction options for near-surface mineralisation and aims to complete all necessary approvals, secure funding, and make a positive development decision by the end of the second quarter. Additional resource drilling is scheduled to commence early in 2026 to expand and de-risk the resource base.

Strategic Implications for WIN Metals

This latest exploration update reinforces WIN Metals’ strategy to build a diversified portfolio of gold, nickel, and lithium assets in Western Australia. The Radio Gold Project’s combination of high-grade mineralisation, historical production, and existing infrastructure offers a compelling pathway to near-term production. Success here could materially enhance WIN’s growth profile and shareholder value, especially as the company progresses its broader resource development plans.

Bottom Line?

With shallow, high-grade gold confirmed and infrastructure in place, WIN Metals is poised to turn exploration success into production by 2026.

Questions in the middle?

  • How will upcoming resource estimates impact the project’s valuation and financing options?
  • What are the key risks related to water ingress and drilling challenges encountered at depth?
  • How will WIN Metals balance underground and open pit mining to optimise project economics?