Kairos Secures Mining Lease, Accelerates Mt York Gold Project Development
Kairos Minerals has been granted a 21-year mining lease for its 1.4 million ounce Mt York Gold Project in Western Australia, marking a pivotal step towards advancing the project into production.
- Mining Lease M45/1306 granted for 21 years covering Mt York Gold Project
- Lease de-risks project, enabling mining and infrastructure development
- Recent Native Title Mining Agreement signed with Nyamal People
- Plans underway for updated Mineral Resource Estimate and prefeasibility study
- Strong balance sheet supports resource growth and feasibility work in 2026
Mining Lease Grant, A Milestone for Mt York
Kairos Minerals Ltd (ASX, KAI) has achieved a significant milestone with the granting of Mining Lease M45/1306 by the Western Australian Department of Mines, Petroleum & Exploration. This lease, awarded on 27 January 2026 for an initial 21-year term, covers the company’s flagship Mt York Gold Project in the Pilbara region, home to an estimated 1.4 million ounces of gold.
The granted lease provides Kairos with the legal right to mine, process, and build necessary infrastructure on the site, subject to further environmental and planning approvals. This development marks a crucial step in transitioning Mt York from exploration to potential production, reducing project risk and enhancing investor confidence.
Community Engagement and Strategic Planning
Just weeks prior to the lease grant, Kairos signed a Native Title Mining Agreement with the Nyamal People, the traditional custodians of the land. This agreement underscores the company’s commitment to respectful and sustainable development, paving the way for smoother project progression.
Managing Director Dr Peter Turner highlighted the project’s robust economics, referencing a 2024 scoping study that demonstrated viability at a conservative gold price of A$3,500 per ounce, roughly half the current market price. This conservative approach suggests a strong margin of safety and potential upside as the project advances.
Next Steps, Resource Growth and Feasibility
Kairos is now focused on expanding the resource base along the 4,200-metre strike length of the Mt York deposit. The company plans to incorporate results from its largest-ever drilling program in 2025 into an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). This update will be critical in refining the project’s scale and economic potential.
Simultaneously, Kairos is preparing to advance its prefeasibility study (PFS), appointing key personnel to progress technical assessments including metallurgical processing, geotechnical engineering, and mine scheduling. The company’s strong balance sheet provides the financial flexibility to support these activities throughout 2026.
Broader Exploration Potential
Beyond Mt York, Kairos holds the Roe Hills Project in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields, which shows promising potential for gold, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements. This diversified portfolio could provide additional value drivers as the company advances its flagship project.
While the granted mining lease significantly de-risks Mt York, further approvals related to mine planning, environmental management, and closure remain pending. These will be critical to monitor as the project moves closer to development.
Bottom Line?
With the mining lease secured, Kairos is poised to unlock Mt York’s full potential, but upcoming resource updates and regulatory approvals will be key to watch.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate impact the project’s valuation and mine plan?
- What timelines are expected for the completion of the prefeasibility study and subsequent approvals?
- How will Kairos manage environmental and community expectations as development progresses?
