Pilbara Gold is pushing ahead with a major 50,000m drilling campaign at its 2.1Moz Mt York Gold Project, targeting resource expansion at depth and along strike. Meanwhile, drilling has resumed at the Roe Hills Project after an eight-year break, aiming to define a maiden resource.
- 50,000m drilling campaign underway at Mt York targeting resource growth
- Initial assay results expected from late July 2026
- Pre-Feasibility Study on track for Q2 2027 completion
- Roe Hills drilling restarts after eight years to test Terra and Caliburn prospects
- Board appointments of mining engineer and metallurgist strengthen development team
Mt York Drilling Targets Deeper Extensions Along 4.2km BIF Trend
Pilbara Gold Limited (ASX:PGL) is intensifying its exploration efforts at the Mt York Gold Project in Western Australia, with a 50,000-metre drilling campaign underway. The program aims to expand the current 2.1 million ounce gold resource by testing extensions at depth along the continuous 4.2-kilometre Banded Iron Formation (BIF) host rock.
As of the end of June 2026, approximately 13,000 metres of drilling had been completed across key prospects including Main Hill, Main Hill Extension, Gossan Hill, and Gilt Dragon. Five rigs are currently operating on site, with a sixth expected to join by the end of July. The drilling has consistently intersected BIF units, which are known to host the gold mineralisation at Mt York, including a significant >50-metre sulphide alteration zone encountered 100 metres below previous mineralised intercepts at Main Hill. These geological observations suggest potential for substantial resource growth at depth, although assay results are pending with initial data expected from late July.
Pre-Feasibility Study Progressing with Metallurgical and Environmental Work
Supporting the drilling campaign, Pilbara Gold is advancing the Mt York Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS), targeting completion in the second quarter of calendar year 2027. Metallurgical test work commenced in September 2025, focusing on determining optimal processing routes through comprehensive sample composites and comminution testing. Environmental baseline studies, hydrological assessments, mine design, and infrastructure planning are also underway. The company has engaged Orway Mineral Consultants to review comminution results and conduct trade-off studies, reflecting a methodical approach to de-risking the project ahead of a potential mine build.
Additionally, a 400 square kilometre LiDAR topographic survey has been completed to aid PFS studies, and plans are in motion for a regional airborne electro-magnetic (AEM) survey over approximately 200 square kilometres. This survey aims to identify new sulphide-bearing gold systems in the Greater Mt York area, leveraging recent petro-physical studies that indicate the effectiveness of deep-penetrating AEM technology to detect mineralised bodies.
Roe Hills Drilling Resumes After Eight-Year Hiatus
After an extended pause, Pilbara Gold has recommenced drilling at its Roe Hills Project, located about 120 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie. The program targets the Terra and Caliburn prospects along a 1.8-kilometre mineralised corridor, with up to 12,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling planned. Historic intercepts at Terra include 35 metres at 1.00 g/t Au and 23 metres at 1.43 g/t Au, while Caliburn has recorded 22 metres at 1.55 g/t Au. The renewed activity aims to unlock value in this strategically positioned asset surrounded by established gold operations such as Vault Minerals’ Mt Monger centre and Ramelius Resources’ Roe Gold Project.
Drilling is expected to be completed within three months, with results to be reviewed for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate anticipated in late 2026 or early 2027.
Corporate Moves Strengthen Leadership and Align Incentives
Pilbara Gold has bolstered its leadership team with the appointment of mining engineer Martin Reed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director and metallurgist Jeff Bowen as Study Manager to oversee the Mt York PFS. Reed brings five decades of operational experience with major Australian and African gold and copper miners, including project delivery expertise on multi-hundred-million-dollar developments. Bowen’s nearly 30 years in metallurgical study management and process engineering adds technical depth to the feasibility work.
Meanwhile, Non-Executive Director Robert Klug has transitioned to a full-time Chief Legal and Financial Officer role, underscoring the company’s focus on corporate governance as it advances towards development. The Board has also approved an increase in Managing Director Dr Peter Turner’s fixed salary and proposed a long-term incentive grant aimed at aligning executive remuneration with shareholder value over the next three years.
On the administrative front, Pilbara Gold has relocated its registered office and principal place of business to West Perth, maintaining continuity in contact details.
Financial Position Supports Aggressive Exploration and Study Program
With a cash balance of $27.6 million at quarter-end, Pilbara Gold is well-funded to continue its extensive drilling and feasibility activities throughout 2026. Exploration expenditure for the quarter was $3.3 million, primarily directed towards drilling operations. The company’s financial position provides a solid platform to advance both Mt York and Roe Hills projects towards potential development milestones.
Bottom Line?
Pilbara Gold’s aggressive drilling and study progress at Mt York, combined with renewed activity at Roe Hills and strengthened leadership, set the stage for key resource updates and feasibility milestones through 2026 and early 2027.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results from the Mt York drilling confirm significant resource extensions at depth?
- How will the planned airborne electro-magnetic survey impact discovery potential in the Greater Mt York area?
- What impact will the new board appointments have on the pace and execution of Mt York’s development?