Brightstar Drilling Confirms Bulk-Tonnage Gold Potential at Sandstone

High-Grade Continuity at Achilles and Indomitable East

Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) has reported a strong set of assay results from diamond and reverse circulation drilling across its 2.4 million ounce Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia. The latest data highlights high-grade continuity at key deposits including Achilles and Indomitable East, with multiple intercepts exceeding 4g/t Au over several metres, and standout hits such as 9m at 4.50g/t from 120m at Achilles, including 1m at 31.2g/t.

The drilling at Achilles is particularly noteworthy for its consistent mineralisation across both mafic and granitic lithologies, bolstering confidence in upgrading a substantial portion of the resource to the Indicated category. This upgrade is critical for de-risking the project’s development pathway.

Bulk-Tonnage Opportunity Unfolds at Bull Oak and Two Mile Hill

Beyond high-grade shoots, Brightstar’s drilling at Bull Oak and Two Mile Hill-Shillington is revealing extensive envelopes of lower-grade mineralisation enveloping the quartz veins, pointing to a significant bulk-tonnage mining opportunity previously underappreciated. Intercepts such as 239.7m at 0.47g/t from near surface at Bull Oak and 191.5m at 0.95g/t from 65m at Two Mile Hill underscore this potential.

These broad zones, combined with embedded high-grade intervals (e.g., 1m at 66.4g/t at Bull Oak and 0.85m at 82.9g/t at Two Mile Hill), suggest a dual strategy of bulk mining complemented by selective high-grade extraction. The deposits sit within 5km of the proposed processing plant, enhancing development economics.

Ongoing Drilling and Upcoming Catalysts

Brightstar currently operates four rigs (2 RC and 2 diamond) across the Sandstone Hub, focused on completing infill drilling to support imminent Mineral Resource updates and extensional drilling to grow the resource base. The company expects to release an updated Mineral Resource Estimate in the coming weeks, followed by a second update later this year. These milestones will feed into the Pre-Feasibility Study targeted for delivery in the second half of 2026.

Meanwhile, assays from the Goldfields Hub’s Lord Byron deposit remain pending as open pit mining is scheduled to commence later this year, marking a near-term production catalyst for Brightstar. This development complements the Sandstone Project’s longer-term growth ambitions.

Technical Insights and Regional Scale

The Sandstone Project’s geology is complex, with mineralisation hosted in a variety of rock types and structural settings, including granodiorite intrusions, tonalite stocks, and banded iron formations. The drilling programs have delivered not only assay data but also structural, geotechnical, and metallurgical information essential for advancing the Pre-Feasibility Study.

Brightstar’s Managing Director Alex Rovira emphasised the district’s emerging status as a material Western Australian gold camp with significant scale and upside. The company’s consolidated Mineral Resources across Sandstone, Laverton, and Menzies exceed 4 million ounces, positioning Brightstar as a potential mid-tier gold producer in the region.

With the Goldfields Project advancing on schedule and Sandstone poised for resource expansion, Brightstar is building a platform for sustained growth and value creation.