Ordell Minerals Accelerates Barimaia Drilling with Maiden Resource Target for Q4 2026

Major Drilling Campaign Targets Maiden Resource

Ordell Minerals Limited (ASX:ORD) is ramping up activity at its Barimaia Gold Project near Mount Magnet, Western Australia, with a new 14,000-metre drilling program designed to fast-track a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) by the fourth quarter of 2026. This latest campaign follows approximately 6,000 metres drilled since May, pushing total drilling to about 20,000 metres over five months as the company accelerates resource definition and exploration efforts.

Extending Gold Mineralisation at McNabs East

The focus of the program is the McNabs East Main Zone and Northern Zone, where recent reverse circulation (RC) drilling has confirmed significant down-dip and down-plunge gold mineralisation. Notable intercepts include 9.7 metres at 1.94 g/t Au from 203.2 metres and 6.5 metres at 3.14 g/t Au from 213 metres, extending the known mineralised envelope. These results affirm that McNabs East remains open to the east and at depth, underpinning the value of the upcoming maiden resource estimate.

Complementing the in-fill RC drilling, approximately 4,000 metres of air-core drilling is underway to explore for new felsic intrusions along the broader Barimaia mineralised intrusive system, potentially expanding the discovery horizon beyond current zones.

Dual Strategy: Development and Discovery

Ordell is pursuing a two-pronged approach: firstly, to fast-track a near-term mine development opportunity supported by the maiden MRE and subsequent mining studies; secondly, to grow the overall scale of the Barimaia gold system through ongoing extensional and discovery drilling over the next 18 months. The company plans further extensional drilling at McNabs East in the December quarter, targeting deeper plunges and down-dip extensions of mineralisation.

Mining Studies and Environmental Approvals Progressing

Alongside drilling, Ordell is advancing technical studies and environmental approvals through 2026 and into early 2027. This includes metallurgical test work confirming excellent gold recoveries, geotechnical assessments for both open pit and underground mining, preliminary mine designs, water and waste rock assessments, and stakeholder consultations. The company has also applied for a Section 26D licence for groundwater monitoring, reflecting a comprehensive approach to project development readiness.

Strategic Location and Historical Context

Barimaia sits in a Tier-1 mining jurisdiction adjacent to Ramelius Resources’ Mt Magnet mill, with similar geology to the nearby Eridanus deposit, which hosts over 1.3 million ounces of gold. Ordell holds an 80.3% interest in Barimaia, acquired from Genesis Minerals Limited (ASX:GMD), which remains a significant shareholder. The project’s proximity to established infrastructure and processing facilities enhances its development potential.

Ordell’s Managing Director Michael Fowler highlighted the company’s confidence in the continuity of mineralisation and the scale of the opportunity, noting the balance between defining an initial resource and aggressively pursuing new discoveries. With substantial drilling underway and assays pending, the coming months will be pivotal for Barimaia’s advancement.