How High Are Avira’s Gold Grades at Mt Cattlin? Maiden Resource Looms
Avira Resources has validated significant high-grade gold intersections at its Mt Cattlin Gold Project, underpinning plans for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate by the end of 2026. The company is poised to commence drilling in Q2 to test extensions across multiple prospects.
- High-grade gold intersections confirmed at Mt Cattlin, including 131 g/t Au over 1m
- Mineralisation spans four prospects along the 650m New Zealand Trend
- RC drilling planned for Q2 2026 to test shallow extensions and new targets
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for Q4 2026
- Project adjacent to Rio Tinto’s Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine with secured mineral rights
Validation of High-Grade Gold Intersections
Avira Resources Limited (ASX:AVW) has confirmed the presence of significant high-grade gold mineralisation at its Mt Cattlin Gold Project in Western Australia. Following a comprehensive validation of historical drilling data, the company has substantiated exceptional grades, including standout intersections such as 1 metre at 131.24 grams per tonne (g/t) gold at the Sirdar prospect. These results reinforce the project's potential and provide a solid foundation for upcoming exploration activities.
Scale and Continuity Across Multiple Prospects
The mineralisation extends across four key prospects: Maori Queen, Sirdar, Plantagenet, and Ellendale. Notably, the "New Zealand Trend" links Maori Queen with adjacent prospects Maori Chief and Maori Prince, forming a continuous mineralised corridor over 650 metres of strike length that remains open at depth and along strike. This scale suggests a robust and extensive gold system, with historical production records at Maori Queen and Sirdar highlighting the high-grade nature of the deposits.
Upcoming Drilling and Resource Estimation
Avira is advancing regulatory approvals to commence a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program targeted for early Q2 2026. The initial phase will focus on testing shallow extensions at Maori Queen and Sirdar, while also exploring the less advanced Ellendale and Plantagenet prospects. The drilling aims to delineate mineralisation further and support the company's maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, which is targeted for release in Q4 2026. This estimate will be critical in defining the project's economic potential and guiding future development.
Strategic Location and Ownership
The Mt Cattlin Gold Project is strategically located adjacent to Rio Tinto’s Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine, within the highly prospective Ravensthorpe Greenstone Belt. Avira holds 100% of the gold and non-pegmatite mineral rights under Exploration Licence E74/401, with the tenement itself registered to Galaxy Lithium Australia Pty Ltd, a Rio Tinto subsidiary. This arrangement secures Avira’s control over the gold assets while coexisting with lithium operations, positioning the company well within a district-scale mineral province.
Geological Context and Exploration Potential
The project’s geology is characterised by sheared Archaean mafic and felsic metavolcanic rocks intruded by a multiphase porphyry complex, which controls the gold mineralisation. The system exhibits both narrow, high-grade shear-hosted quartz-sulphide lodes and broader disseminated stockwork mineralisation. The presence of high-grade shoots at Maori Queen and Sirdar, combined with early-stage targets at Ellendale and Plantagenet, underscores the exploration upside. Further geophysical surveys and drilling are planned to refine these targets.
Bottom Line?
Avira’s confirmation of high-grade gold at Mt Cattlin sets the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign and maiden resource estimate that could reshape its market narrative.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming RC drilling confirm extensions of the high-grade shoots at depth and along strike?
- How will the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate quantify the scale and grade continuity across the New Zealand Trend?
- What impact will securing mining leases and regulatory approvals have on Avira’s development timeline?
