Lodestar Confirms High-Grade Gold at Ned’s Creek, Maiden Resource on Track
Lodestar Minerals’ latest drilling at Ned’s Creek delivers strong high-grade gold intersections, underpinning its 250,000-300,000 oz Exploration Target and setting the stage for a maiden resource estimate in 2026.
- High-grade gold assays reinforce Exploration Target
- Significant intersections include 16m @ 3.23g/t and 20m @ 1.34g/t Au
- Mineralisation remains open to the south, expanding project potential
- Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate planned for calendar year 2026
- Proximity to established gold operations enhances strategic value
High-Grade Gold Intersections Validate Exploration Target
Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) has reported compelling assay results from its recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at the Gidgee Flat prospect, part of the Ned’s Creek Gold Project in Western Australia. The standout intercepts include a 16-metre section grading 3.23 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 32 metres depth, featuring an 8-metre interval at 6.06g/t Au, and a 20-metre zone at 1.34g/t Au in hole LNRC159. These results not only confirm the presence of high-grade oxide mineralisation but also support the Company’s December 2025 Exploration Target of 250,000-300,000 ounces within 5-7 million tonnes at 1.0–1.7g/t Au.
Extension of Mineralisation Expands Project Footprint
Importantly, the drilling has confirmed that mineralisation at Gidgee Flat remains open to the south, with broad zones intersected in the southernmost sections, suggesting potential to increase the scale of the deposit. The oxide mineralisation identified at the margins of the current exploration model is attributed to supergene enrichment above a mineralised shear zone, indicating both oxide and fresh rock mineralisation are present. This dual mineralisation style enhances the project’s attractiveness for future resource development.
Strategic Location Near Established Gold Plants
The Ned’s Creek Project is strategically located near Catalyst Metals’ Plutonic Gold Mine and plant, as well as within trucking distance of Westgold’s Blue Bird plant near Meekatharra. This proximity to established processing infrastructure could provide operational advantages if the project advances to development. Lodestar’s CEO Coraline Blaud highlighted the strong growth potential of Ned’s Creek, noting the identification of new mineralised lodes sub-parallel to previously recognised zones and the extension of mineralisation from supergene oxide zones into fresh rock.
Maiden Mineral Resource Estimate Targeted in 2026
The current drilling campaign was designed to support the delivery of a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Ned’s Creek within calendar year 2026. While partial assay results are still pending for numerous holes, resampling efforts are underway to refine the data. Geological modelling has commenced to integrate these results, aiming to convert the Exploration Target into a JORC-compliant resource. The company emphasises that while results to date align with the Exploration Target range, more data is required to pinpoint the definitive resource size and grade.
Next Steps and Market Implications
With assay results still awaited for a significant portion of the drilling, investors should watch for the completion of the assay campaign and the subsequent maiden MRE publication. The confirmation of high-grade gold mineralisation and the open-ended nature of the deposit at Gidgee Flat reinforce the project’s prospectivity within a prolific gold region. This update builds on Lodestar’s recent drilling momentum and supports its strategy to advance Ned’s Creek towards resource definition and potential development.
Bottom Line?
Lodestar’s latest drilling strengthens Ned’s Creek’s resource potential, but full assay results and the maiden resource estimate will be critical to define the project’s commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- Will pending assays confirm further high-grade zones or expand mineralisation beyond current models?
- How will the maiden Mineral Resource Estimate position Ned’s Creek relative to regional peers?
- What infrastructure or processing partnerships might Lodestar pursue given the project’s proximity to established plants?
