Avira Resources has completed 1,308 metres of reverse circulation drilling across the Maori Queen and Plantagenet prospects at Mt Cattlin, submitting initial samples for assay as it targets a maiden resource estimate by year-end.
- 1,308 metres drilled at Maori Queen and Plantagenet
- Samples submitted to SGS Laboratories for analysis
- Drilling targets high-grade gold extensions below historical mining
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for Q4 2026
- Further drilling planned at Sirdar and Ellendale prospects
Early Drilling Progress at Mt Cattlin Targets High-Grade Gold Extensions
Avira Resources (ASX:AVW) has made solid headway in its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Mt Cattlin Gold Project in Western Australia, completing 1,308 metres across the Maori Queen and Plantagenet prospects. The program, part of a broader 4,500-metre plan, aims to delineate extensions of known high-grade gold mineralisation and support a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate targeted for the final quarter of 2026.
So far, nine holes have been drilled at Maori Queen, focusing on the high-grade Main Lode beneath the historical mining floor, while five holes at Plantagenet are testing near-surface, high-grade structures. The initial samples from these holes have been sent to SGS Laboratories in Perth for assay, marking a key milestone in the program.
Maori Queen: Probing Below Historical Mining Depths
The Maori Queen prospect has seen 811 metres drilled to date, with the current holes designed to explore down-plunge and along-strike extensions of the Main Lode. This lode previously returned impressive intercepts such as 2 metres at 31.65 g/t gold from 67 metres and 2 metres at 19.46 g/t from 24 metres, underscoring the prospect’s high-grade potential. Historical mining depleted near-surface material to around 30 metres depth, leaving the bulk of mineralisation below this level untested until now.
Avira plans to complete an additional six holes (approximately 820 metres) at Maori Queen to conclude the first phase of drilling here, which will be critical in refining the geological model and resource parameters.
Plantagenet Drilling Targets Continuity of High-Grade Structures
Plantagenet, located about 600 metres west-south-west of the Sirdar prospect, was prioritised early in the program due to its challenging terrain and seasonal access risks. The five holes completed so far (497 metres) aim to test the down-dip and along-strike continuity of mineralised quartz-sulphide structures associated with diorite intrusions. Historical intercepts here include 4 metres at 18.52 g/t gold from 14 metres and 3 metres at 19.98 g/t from 62 metres, highlighting the prospect’s potential to host significant near-surface mineralisation.
These drill holes will help clarify the geometry and extent of the mineralised zones, with assay results expected to shed light on the scale and continuity of gold mineralisation at Plantagenet.
Next Phases and Resource Definition Timeline
With the initial 1,308 metres complete, Avira is gearing up to drill approximately 2,500 metres at the Sirdar and Ellendale prospects, which are next in line following the completion of Maori Queen drilling. The company is progressing on schedule to deliver a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate by Q4 2026, a critical milestone for advancing the Mt Cattlin project’s valuation and development potential.
Executive Director James Robinson emphasised the program’s steady progress and the significance of the first sample submissions: "Drilling at Mt Cattlin is progressing to plan, with 1,300 metres now completed across the Maori Queen and Plantagenet prospects. The submission of our first samples to SGS Laboratories marks an important milestone in the program, and we look forward to reporting assay results to the market as they are received and interpreted."
The Mt Cattlin Gold Project sits within the Ravensthorpe Greenstone Belt, a region known for its rich mineral endowment, including proximity to Rio Tinto’s Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine and Medallion Metals’ Kundip Gold Project. Avira holds 100% of the gold and non-pegmatite mineral rights over the relevant exploration licence, positioning it well to unlock value from this district-scale asset.
Bottom Line?
Assay results from the initial drilling will be pivotal in shaping Avira’s maiden resource estimate and determining the Mt Cattlin project’s next development steps.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm continuity and grade to justify resource upgrade?
- How will drilling at Sirdar and Ellendale influence overall project scale?
- What timeline can investors expect for resource estimate delivery and subsequent milestones?