WA Gold has completed seven diamond drill holes at Abercromby, advancing its resource definition and feasibility study toward a potential gold mining operation with assay results due this month.
- Seven diamond drill holes completed totaling 3,277m
- Assay results for five holes submitted; remaining two expected this month
- Geotechnical core review supports ongoing feasibility study
- Next phase plans 6,000m of fully funded drilling this quarter
- Scoping study targets 114,000oz gold production with A$8m capital
Drilling Advances Resource Definition at Abercromby
WA Gold Limited (ASX:WAU) has made tangible progress in its 2026 drilling campaign at the Abercromby Gold Project, completing seven diamond drill holes for a total of 3,277 metres. These holes targeted extensions below and south of the existing 518,000-ounce Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), testing a 500-metre strike length and intersecting the key Capital Deposit structure. Assay results for five holes have already been submitted to the laboratory, with the remaining two expected by the end of this week and results anticipated within July.
Geotechnical Insights Feed Feasibility Study
In parallel with drilling, WA Gold engaged MineGeoTech to conduct a geotechnical review of the drill core prior to cutting and sampling. This evaluation is a critical input for mine planning as the company advances its feasibility study following a strong scoping study announced in April 2026. The scoping study outlined a low capital pathway to production with a modest A$8 million upfront investment and forecast pre-tax cashflows around A$270 million, focusing on a Stage 1 Mine targeting approximately 114,000 ounces of gold.
Fully Funded Drilling to Expand and Develop Resources
WA Gold plans to resume drilling this quarter with approximately 6,000 metres of fully funded diamond and reverse circulation drilling. This next phase will focus on both resource extensions beyond the current MRE and resource development to underpin robust reserves for the feasibility study. Additional geotechnical drilling is also planned to support underground mine design, reflecting the project's staged development approach from open pit to underground mining.
Strategic Location and Processing Options Strengthen Project
Abercromby benefits from a granted mining lease in the prolific Wiluna Greenstone Belt, one of Western Australia's richest gold regions with over 40 million ounces historically produced. The project’s proximity to Wiluna Mining’s Matilda CIL plant offers a potential toll treatment route, supported by a memorandum of understanding to assess processing arrangements. Metallurgical studies confirm the orebody hosts free milling gold with high recovery rates between 93% and 95%, enhancing the project's economic prospects.
Pathway to Production Aims for Late 2027 Readiness
WA Gold is targeting to be shovel-ready by late 2027 or early 2028, supported by a multidisciplinary team advancing environmental, geotechnical, metallurgical, and mining engineering studies. The company aims to reach a Financial Investment Decision in 2027, with ongoing drilling and development workstreams designed to convert inferred resources into indicated categories and refine mine planning. The Abercromby deposit remains open at depth, with higher-grade zones offering upside potential beyond the current resource base.
Bottom Line?
With assay results imminent and a fully funded drilling program underway, WA Gold is methodically advancing Abercromby toward a development decision, balancing resource expansion with detailed feasibility work.
Questions in the middle?
- How will July’s assay results impact the current resource and reserve estimates?
- What are the timelines and terms for the potential toll treatment agreement with Wiluna Mining?
- Could deeper, higher-grade zones materially extend Abercromby’s mine life or production profile?