McLaren Minerals has wrapped up its largest-ever drilling campaign at the McLaren Titanium Project on schedule and within budget, setting the stage for a Mineral Resource update and maiden Ore Reserve estimate.
- 663 drill holes completed totaling 11,568 meters
- Infill drilling boosts confidence in mineral classification
- New mineralisation identified to south-east and south-west
- Eastern Shoreline drilling enhances geological understanding
- Next steps include assay compilation and resource upgrade
Completion of Largest Drilling Campaign to Date
McLaren Minerals Limited (ASX:MML) has successfully completed the first stage of its 2026 drilling program at the McLaren Titanium Project in Western Australia. The campaign, comprising 663 holes for a total of 11,568 meters, was finished on time and within budget, marking a significant milestone in the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) process. This drilling program represents the most extensive undertaken at McLaren to date and is pivotal for refining the project’s resource base.
Infill and Extension Drilling Strengthens Resource Confidence
The majority of drilling focused on infill work, with 528 holes completed at a 150m by 150m grid spacing aligned to the geological strike, aimed at upgrading Inferred and Indicated Mineral Resources. This effort is expected to support a Mineral Resource update and the company’s first-ever Ore Reserve estimate. Step-out drilling added 75 holes targeting extensions to the south-west and south-east, with mineralised sediments up to 24 meters thick encountered, confirming continuity beyond the main deposit. These findings align with earlier indications of promising extensions, including the south-eastern zone highlighted in recent assay results showing bonanza heavy mineral grades up to 34.6% HM bonanza heavy mineral grades.
Eastern Shoreline Target Drilling Provides Geological Insights
Complementing the core drilling, 20 holes were drilled on a broad 1,000m by 3,000m grid to investigate the potential Eastern Shoreline target. This regional-scale drilling has offered critical insights into basement structures and sediment preservation controls, confirming modelled expectations of marine sediment trends to the west towards the main McLaren zone. The program has enhanced understanding of the mineralising architecture, which could inform future exploration strategies. This work builds on the recent launch of the Eastern Shoreline drilling campaign earlier this year Eastern Shoreline Target.
Geological Understanding and Metallurgical Sampling
Re-alignment of drilling orientation during the program has yielded the clearest view yet of the mineralising sediments, markedly improving geological models of the McLaren deposit. Variography grids at the northern and southern limits of infill drilling have been completed to refine continuity assessments. Additionally, metallurgical bulk samples were collected to facilitate ongoing test work, which will be critical for processing and economic evaluations.
Next Steps in Project Advancement
With drilling now complete, McLaren Minerals will focus on compiling and verifying assay results as they become available. This will feed into a comprehensive geological review and preparation for the Mineral Resource update under JORC guidelines. Concurrent mineralogical and metallurgical testing is underway to further define the project’s value proposition. These activities are integral to advancing the BFS and positioning McLaren for potential development.
Bottom Line?
McLaren’s timely completion of its largest drilling campaign bolsters resource confidence but assay results will be crucial to validate the project’s next development milestones.
Questions in the middle?
- How will assay results impact the scale and grade of the updated Mineral Resource?
- What metallurgical characteristics will emerge from the bulk samples and how might they affect processing plans?
- Could the Eastern Shoreline target evolve into a significant new resource extension?