Meeka Metals has kicked off ore development at Judy North within its Andy Well underground mine, targeting a 96,000-ounce high-grade gold resource. Development is expanding across multiple levels, with grades aligning with resource estimates and potential for improvement at depth.
- Ore development started at Judy North with 96koz @ 5.4g/t Au resource
- Two levels under development, three more planned in June quarter
- Grades consistent with resource, expected to improve at depth
- Three drills active across Andy Well including Wilber and Judy lodes
- Suzie mining area development to begin in September quarter
Ore Development Begins at Untapped Judy North
Meeka Metals (ASX:MEK) has initiated ore development at Judy North, a previously unmined high-grade gold resource within its Andy Well underground operation. The 96,000-ounce resource grading 5.4 grams per tonne gold is now being accessed via the existing decline, with development ramping up since May 2026. This milestone marks a significant expansion beyond the Wilber lode, which has been the primary focus since mining commenced in July 2025.
Development Progress and Grade Outlook
Currently, ore development is underway on two levels at Judy North, with plans to add three more levels in the June 2026 quarter. Early face sampling shows grades performing in line with the resource estimate, and management anticipates higher grades at deeper levels based on recent drilling results. Visible gold specimens recovered during development underscore the high-grade nature of the ore, with some face samples returning spectacular assays such as 4.0 metres at 25.3 g/t Au including a 0.6 metre interval at 145.6 g/t Au.
Expanding Underground Operations and Owner-Operator Model
Three development drills are currently active across Andy Well, working on the Wilber and Judy lodes, with ore driving progressing steadily. The company also plans to commence ore development at a third mining area, Suzie, in the September 2026 quarter. Meeka’s owner-operator mining model is delivering cost advantages by enabling rapid, low-cost mine establishment through shallow ore levels accessed within approximately 200 metres of the surface from the existing decline.
Managing Director Tim Davidson highlighted the continuity of high-grade gold across the new Judy North area, noting that drilling has extended the resource 500 metres below current development horizons. This bodes well for the potential to increase grade and resource size at depth, a critical factor for sustaining underground mining economics.
Strategic Development within Murchison Gold Project
Judy North’s development complements Meeka’s broader underground mining strategy at Andy Well, which is part of the Murchison Gold Project. The company has been steadily expanding its footprint and production capability, as seen in recent advances at other targets such as Rosapenna, where step-out drilling continues to reveal promising mineralisation along a 670-metre strike corridor. These exploration successes add context to the Judy North development, suggesting multiple growth avenues within the project’s Archean greenstone setting.
Meanwhile, Meeka is also progressing infrastructure upgrades to support increased throughput, including a $6 million ore sorting facility aimed at boosting processing capacity by 200,000 tonnes per annum. This upgrade, scheduled for commissioning in the September quarter, is expected to enhance feed grade and reduce costs, reinforcing the operational momentum from underground mine expansions.
Bottom Line?
Judy North’s ore development signals a critical phase for Meeka Metals, but the real test lies in confirming deeper grade improvements and integrating new mining areas smoothly into production.
Questions in the middle?
- Will grade improvements at depth at Judy North materialise as expected?
- How will the addition of Suzie mining area impact overall underground production?
- Can Meeka’s owner-operator model sustain cost advantages as mining scales?