GoldArc Extends Gold Anomalism 400m South at Whistler Prospect

Second Aircore Program Uncovers Southern Extension

GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) has reported a successful follow-up aircore drilling campaign at its Whistler Prospect within the Leonora South Gold Project, Western Australia. The 95-hole, 3,831-metre program extended gold anomalism 400 metres south beyond the initial drill fences, revealing a more extensive mineralised footprint than previously known. This southern extension lies within a largely untested tenement area, highlighting the prospect’s potential for hosting significant gold mineralisation beneath cover.

Southern Fences Deliver Stronger and Broader Gold Zones

Across both drilling rounds, the southern drill fences consistently outperformed their northern counterparts, delivering higher and broader zones of gold anomalism accompanied by deeper weathering profiles. The standout intercept came from hole NWAC038, which returned 8 metres at 811 parts per billion (ppb) gold from 44 metres, including a richer 4-metre interval at 1,520 ppb. Other encouraging shallow intercepts include 20 metres at 200 ppb Au from 32 metres in NWAC075 and 4 metres at 440 ppb Au in NWAC102, indicating coherent mineralisation within a 100-metre-wide zone hosted in deeply weathered tonalite rock coincident with a magnetic low.

Geological Insights and Targeting Strategy

The drilling has helped define five distinctive lithological units, with the strongest gold anomalism associated with deeply weathered tonalite. This lithological vector provides a valuable targeting tool for upcoming drilling phases. The Whistler Prospect’s geological setting shows similarities to felsic intrusives linked to the nearby Gruyere deposit, suggesting a promising exploration model. Notably, a 1-kilometre gap between the first round’s southern fence and the second round’s northern fence remains untested and is earmarked as the primary target for the planned third drilling program in early 2027.

Broader Exploration and Development Plans

While advancing Whistler, GoldArc is progressing mine planning and updated mining models at its Mt Stirling project in Leonora North, supported by BML Ventures under a profit-share arrangement. A ~6,600-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program is set to commence imminently to test soil gold anomalies around Mt Stirling deposits. Additionally, follow-up RC drilling is planned at the Yttria prospect to explore newly defined gold corridors for higher-grade zones at depth and along strike. These initiatives reflect GoldArc’s systematic approach to expanding its resource base and unlocking value across its Leonora and Kookynie portfolios.

Technical Validation and Next Steps

GoldArc’s Managing Director, Paul Stephen, described the second aircore program as a “technical success,” confirming extensions to previously unrecognised ‘blind’ gold mineralisation. The company’s rigorous sampling and assay protocols, including multi-element analysis and quality controls, underpin confidence in the results. The upcoming third round of aircore drilling at Whistler will focus on infilling the key untested gap between existing drill fences, aiming to refine the mineralisation footprint ahead of potential resource definition. Meanwhile, the simultaneous RC drilling at Mt Stirling will test higher-grade targets, complementing ongoing mine planning efforts.