Avira Resources has confirmed strong high-grade gold mineralisation continuing at depth at its Mt Cattlin Gold Project in Western Australia, with standout assay results from its maiden RC drilling program at Maori Queen. The company plans further drilling to test extensions and new prospects from September 2026.
- 7m at 6.11 g/t Au confirms down-dip mineralisation at Maori Queen
- High-grade shoots extend over 650m along New Zealand Trend corridor
- Phase 1 drilling paused for winter, to resume targeting Sirdar and Ellendale
- Plantagenet prospect shows shallow, continuous high-grade gold zones
- Mt Cattlin project adjacent to Rio Tinto’s lithium mine, with strong historical production
High-Grade Gold Confirmed at Depth at Maori Queen
Avira Resources (ASX:AVW) has delivered compelling evidence that high-grade gold mineralisation at its Mt Cattlin Gold Project remains robust at depth. The company’s maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program has returned standout intercepts at the Maori Queen prospect, including 7 metres at 6.11 g/t Au from 105 metres, featuring a 2-metre zone grading 15.1 g/t Au. This intercept lies 25 metres down-plunge from a historical high-grade intercept, effectively confirming the down-dip continuity of the system.
Additional results bolster this narrative, with 5 metres at 1.85 g/t Au (including 1 metre at 7.47 g/t) in an adjacent hole, and multiple mineralised zones within the same drill hole, underscoring the stacked shear-hosted quartz-sulphide lode architecture. The mineralised corridor, known as the New Zealand Trend, extends over 650 metres and includes other prospects such as Maori Chief and Maori Prince, highlighting the potential scale of this high-grade gold system.
Plantagenet Prospect Validates Shallow High-Grade Continuity
Complementing the deep mineralisation at Maori Queen, the Plantagenet prospect has confirmed continuity of shallow, high-grade gold zones over at least 150 metres of strike. Intercepts such as 8 metres at 2.77 g/t Au (including 2 metres at 9.68 g/t) and historic drill holes showing grades up to 19.98 g/t Au illustrate a system with significant shoot potential. The mineralisation is hosted in narrow quartz-veined shear zones within the intrusive complex, mirroring the geological style seen at Maori Queen.
Avira holds full mineral rights over the Mt Cattlin project area, which lies adjacent to Rio Tinto’s Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine, lending strategic district-scale significance to the gold-copper asset. The project benefits from a historical production record of 23,006 tonnes at 24.56 g/t Au, underscoring the high-grade nature of the deposits.
Next Phase of Drilling Targets New Prospects and Extensions
Having completed 19 of the planned 37 holes in the 4,500-metre Phase 1 RC program, Avira has temporarily paused drilling due to winter weather. The program is set to resume in September 2026, focusing on down-dip extensions at Maori Queen and initiating first-pass drilling at the high-grade Sirdar prospect and the previously untested Ellendale prospect. Sirdar is interpreted to host the largest mineralised footprint and highest grades within the project area, making it a key target for resource growth.
Chief Executive Officer Andrew van Bentum emphasised the momentum building at Maori Queen and the broader New Zealand Trend, describing it as a "genuinely exciting, high-grade mineralised corridor with real scope to grow." The company is advancing geological interpretation continuously to refine drill targets, with assay results from ongoing work expected to further illuminate the project’s potential.
With assay results now received for all holes drilled at Maori Queen and Plantagenet, Avira’s exploration progress at Mt Cattlin is gaining traction. The project’s proximity to world-class lithium and gold assets adds to its appeal, while the company’s systematic drilling approach aims to delineate a maiden resource estimate targeted for late 2026.
Bottom Line?
Avira’s latest drilling confirms high-grade gold continuity at Mt Cattlin, but the true scale and economic potential hinge on upcoming assays from new targets and deeper extensions.
Questions in the middle?
- Will drilling at Sirdar reveal a larger or higher-grade mineralised footprint than Maori Queen?
- How will seasonal weather affect the pace and timing of the Phase 1 drilling program's completion?
- What implications do these results have for Avira’s maiden resource estimate targeted for Q4 2026?