Rox Resources has delivered strong drilling results at its Youanmi Gold Mine, confirming promising underground grades and new exploration targets that could extend mine life beyond current plans.
- High-grade underground diamond drilling confirms mineralisation continuity at United North
- Reverse circulation drilling at Interceptor lode yields significant gold intercepts
- Exploration at Commonwealth identifies additional ore near processing plant
- New structural target defined 20km south from aeromagnetic data
- Youanmi Deeps drilling set to start in Q3 2026
Strong Underground Drilling Validates Mine Expansion
Rox Resources (ASX:RXL) has released assay results from its ongoing underground diamond drilling at the United North lode within the Youanmi Gold Mine in Western Australia, revealing high-grade gold intercepts that reinforce confidence in the current mine plan and hint at expansion potential. Notably, hole UNN26_004 returned 4.60 metres at 9.60 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 131.58 metres, including a 3-metre segment grading 13.62 g/t. These results align closely with Rox’s mineral resource model, underscoring the reliability of the geological framework underpinning the project.
All drill holes at United North have intersected sulphide-rich shear zones, the primary host for mineralisation, which supports the continuity of gold-bearing structures. Face sampling from underground ore drives on the 2341m and 2356m levels also matches the grades predicted by the definitive feasibility study (DFS), suggesting the mine’s upper levels could extend beyond the current plan.
Interceptor Lode Drilling Confirms High-Grade Zones
Complementing the underground work, Rox’s reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the nearby Interceptor lode has delivered multiple high-grade intercepts that confirm the lode’s potential to contribute to mine life extension. Significant results include 2 metres at 12.48 g/t gold from 103 metres (including 1 metre at 21.30 g/t) and 2 metres at 13.57 g/t from 109 metres (including 1 metre at 25.40 g/t). These grades support resource updates planned for the second half of 2026 and indicate scope for further underground follow-up drilling.
Commonwealth Exploration Highlights Additional Ore Potential
Rox has also completed resource definition drilling at Commonwealth, located about 4 kilometres northwest of Youanmi’s processing infrastructure. Assays from this program reveal substantial gold mineralisation close to the plant, with intercepts such as 7 metres at 9.68 g/t gold including 2 metres at 26.50 g/t, and 3 metres at 5.34 g/t including 1 metre at 13.40 g/t. These results suggest Commonwealth could provide a valuable near-mine ore source, and the company plans to update the resource and conduct diamond drilling for structural analysis and metallurgical testing later this year.
New Structural Target Emerges from Aeromagnetic Survey
Adding to the exploration upside, Rox has interpreted detailed aeromagnetic data collected in 2025 to define a new Youanmi Analogue structural target area approximately 20 kilometres south of the existing mine. This target is based on identifying similar thrust fault and sinistral fault interactions that control gold mineralisation at Youanmi. The company intends to conduct reconnaissance and mapping in the second half of 2026 to refine drill targets in this previously under-explored region.
Youanmi Deeps Drilling to Commence in Q3 2026
Looking ahead, Rox plans to initiate exploration and resource conversion drilling at Youanmi Deeps in the third quarter of 2026. This program will initially target inferred mineral resources at United North Deeps before extending down-plunge to test deeper extensions of United North and Youanmi Main/North lodes. The company views this drilling as critical to assessing opportunities to extend mining operations beyond the current life-of-mine horizon, potentially unlocking further value from the project.
Managing Director Phill Wilding emphasised the dual focus on delivering first gold by mid-2027 while simultaneously de-risking and expanding the mine plan. He noted that the high-density drilling data enhances operational certainty and supports the potential to utilise latent capacity in the processing plant design. Rox’s strategy to develop Youanmi into a long-life production centre hinges on these ongoing exploration and resource growth efforts.
With underground development progressing and multiple high-grade intercepts confirming mineral continuity, Rox Resources is advancing steadily toward production while keeping an eye on growth opportunities within and beyond the current mine footprint. The upcoming Youanmi Deeps drilling and further exploration at Commonwealth and new structural targets will be key milestones to watch in the second half of 2026.
Bottom Line?
Rox Resources’ latest drilling results strengthen the Youanmi mine plan and open pathways for resource growth, but upcoming deeper drilling will be critical to validating the project’s long-term expansion potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the Youanmi Deeps drilling confirm extensions sufficient to materially increase mine life?
- How might the new structural target 20km south reshape Rox’s regional exploration strategy?
- What impact could near-mine ore from Commonwealth have on processing plant throughput and economics?