GoldArc Reports High-Grade Gold Intercepts in 34,000m Mt Stirling Drilling Program

Partner-Funded Drilling Accelerates Mt Stirling Development

GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) has taken a significant step toward mine development at its Mt Stirling gold deposit in Western Australia, reporting high-grade results from the first tranche of a 34,000-metre grade control Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program. The program, fully funded by BML Ventures Pty Ltd, removes the typical capital burden from GoldArc, allowing it to retain a 50% net profit share while focusing its own capital on exploration activities elsewhere.

The drilling campaign, comprising 135 holes over approximately 3,674 metres in the north-western section of Mt Stirling, has delivered compelling intercepts such as 10 metres at 8.04 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including a 2-metre hit grading 23.2g/t, and 9 metres at 6.32g/t gold, including 5 metres at 10.91g/t. These results confirm the continuity of high-grade mineralisation necessary for robust mine planning and support the transition from exploration to production.

Strategic Capital-Light Approach to Mine Development

GoldArc’s Managing Director Paul Stephen highlighted the significance of the partner-funded arrangement: "What makes this genuinely compelling for GoldArc shareholders is that BML Ventures is carrying every dollar of cost. Our exploration capital stays where it generates the most long-term value: drilling new discovery across our large footprint in one of Australia’s premier gold addresses." This model mitigates financing risk at a critical stage while advancing Mt Stirling toward open pit mining.

The grade control drilling employs a tight grid spacing to refine geological models and optimise ore extraction, reducing waste and maximising gold recovery. Unlike exploration drilling aimed at discovery, this program focuses on defining ore grade boundaries to support short-term mining decisions. The results will feed directly into mine planning and extraction strategies.

Expanding Leonora South and Historic Mine Drilling

Alongside Mt Stirling, GoldArc is progressing a ~6,500-metre RC drilling program at the Sapphire and Orion deposits in collaboration with MMS, reinforcing its dual-hub development strategy in the Leonora South region. Results from this campaign are eagerly awaited as they could further extend the company’s resource base.

Meanwhile, drilling at the historic Cosmopolitan underground mine, known for its ~360,000 ounces of past production at around 15g/t gold, has been completed with assays pending. This site offers valuable high-grade geological context for the broader Leonora South system and could provide additional upside.

GoldArc also recently completed an aircore program at the Whistler prospect targeting multiple gold intercepts, with results due shortly. These ongoing activities complement the company’s exploration momentum and resource growth ambitions.

These developments build on the company’s recent confirmation of high-grade gold continuity at Mt Stirling, which included diamond drilling to support metallurgical and geotechnical studies, further underpinning the pathway to mining.

Upcoming Milestones and Resource Optimisation

Looking ahead, GoldArc plans to continue reporting results from the extensive Mt Stirling grade control program and the Sapphire–Orion drilling campaign. The company is also advancing a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate and pit optimisation study at its Eclipse prospect, a key catalyst anticipated to materially re-rate the Leonora South project’s value.

With a total JORC resource exceeding 200,000 ounces across its portfolio, GoldArc’s systematic approach to exploration and development is gaining traction. The combination of partner-funded drilling and ongoing resource expansion efforts positions the company to potentially unlock significant shareholder value in a competitive gold district.