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GoldArc Uncovers High-Grade Gold at Leonora South, Drilling Plans Accelerate

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

GoldArc Resources has confirmed new high-grade gold mineralisation at its Leonora South project, with standout assay results from maiden drilling at Woodpecker, Whistler, and Niagara West. The company is gearing up for extensive follow-up drilling to expand these promising discoveries.

  • Maiden RC drilling identifies new mineralised zones at Woodpecker, Whistler, Niagara West
  • High-grade intercepts include 2m at 12.88 g/t Au and 1m at 25.21 g/t Au at Woodpecker
  • Whistler prospect returns 1m at 3.56 g/t Au in previously undrilled area
  • Follow-up drilling programs exceeding 39,000m scheduled from March 2026
  • Resource development drilling planned at Mt Stirling, Stirling Well, and multiple deposits

Exploration Breakthrough at Leonora South

GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) has announced compelling results from its maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Leonora South Gold Project in Western Australia. The program, which tested previously underexplored historical workings, has successfully identified new mineralised systems at the Woodpecker, Whistler, and Niagara West prospects. These findings validate the company's exploration model and highlight significant near-surface gold mineralisation potential.

Among the standout results, Woodpecker delivered an impressive 2 metres grading 12.88 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 37 metres, including a remarkable 1 metre at 25.21 g/t Au. Meanwhile, the Whistler prospect, an area never before drilled, returned 1 metre at 3.56 g/t Au from just 12 metres depth, underscoring the untapped potential of this zone.

Niagara West Extends Mineralised Strike

The Niagara West prospect, covering a 2-kilometre strike, also yielded encouraging results with multiple gold intercepts. Highlights include 12 metres at 0.51 g/t Au from 27 metres at Pirie, and a high-grade 1 metre intercept at 6.58 g/t Au from 15 metres at La Trobe East. These results suggest a robust mineralised system with quartz veining across varying orientations, warranting further detailed drilling.

Aggressive Drilling Campaigns Ahead

Building on this momentum, GoldArc has laid out an ambitious drilling schedule commencing in March 2026. This includes approximately 2,000 metres of maiden drilling at the historic Cosmopolitan workings; once one of Western Australia's most profitable gold mines; and around 1,200 metres of follow-up drilling at Woodpecker and Whistler. Additionally, a substantial 30,000-metre program is planned at Mt Stirling and Stirling Well to support resource development, alongside 6,000 metres targeting the Orion, Sapphire, Eclipse, and Euroa deposits.

Managing Director Paul Stephen expressed enthusiasm about the results, noting the strong validation of their exploration approach and the exciting prospects ahead. The company’s systematic strategy aims to grow its existing 200,000-ounce JORC resource base and unlock new large-scale discoveries in the prolific Eastern Goldfields region.

Strategic Implications and Outlook

These early-stage results, particularly the high-grade near-surface intercepts, position GoldArc well to enhance its resource inventory and potentially accelerate development timelines. The extensive follow-up drilling programs will be critical to delineate the size and continuity of these mineralised zones, which could materially impact the company’s valuation and future production profile.

As the Leonora South project advances, investors will be watching closely for updated resource estimates and further assay results from the upcoming drilling campaigns. The combination of historical mining heritage and modern exploration techniques could unlock significant value for GoldArc and its shareholders.

Bottom Line?

GoldArc’s Leonora South discoveries mark a promising start, but the true scale will emerge with the next wave of drilling.

Questions in the middle?

  • How will the upcoming 30,000m drilling at Mt Stirling influence GoldArc’s resource base?
  • Can follow-up drilling at Whistler confirm a new, economically viable gold system?
  • What impact will these discoveries have on GoldArc’s near-term development and financing plans?