Aguia Resources Lifts Gold Grades to 12 g/t at Santa Barbara

Significant Grade Upswing at Santa Barbara

Aguia Resources Limited (ASX:AGR) has reported a marked improvement in gold grades at its Santa Barbara project in Colombia, with the latest batch of ore feeding the processing plant hitting an estimated head grade of 12 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. This is a substantial increase from the previous nine months' average of 3 to 4 g/t Au, reflecting the successful implementation of an optimized narrow vein mining method designed to reduce dilution and enhance grade control.

Last month's production saw 80 tons of ore extracted, primarily from upper stopes near the surface, although some oxidized and weathered sections were abandoned. The final processed batch achieved a recovery of 10.31 g/t Au, underscoring the improvements in both mining and processing efficiency. These results build on earlier metallurgical gains that pushed recovery rates above 85%, as highlighted in Aguia's March production update, marking a clear trajectory of operational progress at Santa Barbara record gold output.

Mine Development Accelerates with New Shafts and Horizontal Advances

April's focus was on expanding underground development, with two shafts sunk beneath Vein #1 to access lower sublevels where recent drilling indicated thicker, more continuous mineralisation. These shafts, spaced 30 meters apart, will facilitate production from high-grade zones six meters below the main haulage tunnel, with lateral development planned to prepare stopes for breasting mining. Meanwhile, horizontal development on Vein #2 is advancing at both ends, with raises placed to enable efficient extraction from upper stopes.

These underground works follow a strategic shift from Phase 1, which completed essential plant repairs and upgrades, to Phase 2, concentrating on mining and handling optimisation. The latter includes mechanising crushing operations and further tightening grade control to sustain head grades above 10 g/t Au. The crusher installation, a critical component of this phase, is expected to be completed within budget this month, promising to reduce handling losses and improve throughput.

Operational Stability Supports Production Ramp-Up

With the processing plant now stable and routine maintenance concluded, Aguia is advancing its mining protocols to enhance fragmentation and reduce dilution. These improvements have translated into better ore quality reaching the plant, as evidenced by the near doubling of head grades in the latest batch. The company anticipates that May's production will reflect these higher grades for a full month, supporting a stronger gold output profile moving forward.

Santa Barbara's mining operations are also benefiting from robust grade control and rigorous sampling programs, supervised under international standards and overseen by qualified geologists. These efforts align with Aguia's broader exploration strategy to delineate the extent of the mineralised system, which remains only partially explored, leaving room for further discoveries and resource expansion.

This operational momentum at Santa Barbara complements Aguia's advancing projects in Brazil, where the company is nearing final regulatory approvals for its Tres Estradas phosphate mine, with key plant infrastructure nearing completion and operational testing underway operating licence approval. The dual focus on gold and phosphate assets underscores Aguia's diversified growth approach in South America.