GoldArc Resources has completed the first phase of a 34,000m grade control drilling program at Mt Stirling, delivering consistent broad mineralisation and higher-grade zones that underpin updated mine models ahead of regulatory approval.
- First phase of 34,000m drilling largely complete with 21,597m done
- Assay results confirm broad zones of 1.5-2.4 g/t Au with local highs above 11 g/t
- Data informs updated mining models and mine planning for Mt Stirling
- Ongoing drilling at adjacent Mt Stirling Well supports existing 15,000oz resource
- Program fully funded by BML Ventures under 50/50 net profit share
Grade Control Drilling Delivers Consistent Mineralisation at Mt Stirling
GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) has wrapped up the first phase of its extensive 34,000m grade control drilling program at the Mt Stirling gold deposit in Western Australia, with assay results now received for the majority of samples. The drilling, conducted via reverse circulation (RC) methods, continues to reveal broad mineralised zones averaging around 2 g/t gold, punctuated by localised higher-grade intervals that reinforce the geological model developed over previous rounds.
Highlights from the latest batch include intercepts such as 21m at 2.36 g/t Au from 7m, 16m at 2.13 g/t Au including 2m at 6.05 g/t from 1m, and a standout 7m at 3.25 g/t Au including 1m at 11.00 g/t. These results confirm continuity of mineralisation across the eastern sector of Mt Stirling, supporting the deposit’s potential for open-pit mining.
Data Feeding into Mine Planning Ahead of Regulatory Approval
The grade control data is now being integrated into updated mining models and mine planning activities as GoldArc and its partner BML Ventures prepare for the anticipated approval of the Mining and Development Closure Plan (MDCP). This regulatory clearance is a prerequisite before mining operations can commence at Mt Stirling.
While the timing of MDCP approval remains subject to regulatory processes and cannot be guaranteed, the company is progressing detailed mine scheduling and extraction scenarios informed by the closely spaced drilling grid (fences 8m apart, holes ~6m apart). This approach aims to optimise ore extraction, reduce dilution risk, and support production scheduling from each blast zone.
Ongoing Drilling at Mt Stirling Well Supports Resource Model
Simultaneously, drilling continues at the adjacent Mt Stirling Well deposit, located approximately 700m southwest of Mt Stirling. This deposit hosts an inferred JORC resource of 198,000 tonnes at 2.3 g/t Au (15,000 ounces). The second batch of assay results from this program confirms near-surface gold mineralisation consistent with the existing resource model, underpinning the potential for continued grade control coverage across this structurally distinct deposit.
GoldArc retains 100% ownership of both Mt Stirling and Mt Stirling Well, while the entire grade control program is fully funded by BML Ventures under a 50/50 net profit share arrangement. This partnership structure allows GoldArc to advance project development without upfront capital expenditure.
Geological Insights and Quality Assurance
The Mt Stirling deposit’s gold mineralisation is hosted within high-strain schistose-mylonitic deformation zones along the Hydra Fault, characterised by greenschist-style hydrothermal alteration and elevated arsenic levels. In contrast, Mt Stirling Well features narrow, flat-dipping quartz veins within granitoid host rock, representing a different structural setting.
Sampling and assay procedures follow industry standards, with Bureau Veritas in Kalgoorlie conducting sample preparation and 40g fire assay analyses. Quality assurance protocols include certified reference materials and blanks, ensuring data integrity for mining model updates.
Next Steps and Market Implications
GoldArc plans to continue the grade control program through to completion of the 34,000m target, progressively releasing assay results to refine mine planning. The company’s Managing Director, Paul Stephen, highlighted the importance of these results in supporting the geological model and advancing towards mining commencement, pending MDCP approval.
For investors, the completion of this drilling phase and the integration of its data into mine planning mark a tangible step forward in de-risking the Mt Stirling project. The regulatory milestone of MDCP approval remains the critical catalyst to watch, alongside ongoing assay batches and operational preparations at both Mt Stirling and Mt Stirling Well.
Bottom Line?
GoldArc’s solid grade control results and advancing mine planning put Mt Stirling on track, but MDCP approval timing will be pivotal.
Questions in the middle?
- When can investors expect the Mining and Development Closure Plan approval to be finalised?
- How will ongoing assay results from the remaining drilling batches influence mine scheduling and resource estimates?
- What impact will the 50/50 net profit share with BML Ventures have on project economics and GoldArc’s cash flow?