Native Mineral Resources (ASX:NMR) hit a new monthly gold production record of 1,080.5oz in August 2026 at its Blackjack operation, driven by a 50% rise in milling throughput and a 27% increase in head grade.
- Record 1,080.5oz gold outturn in August 2026
- 50% increase in dry tonnes milled to 28,104t
- Reconciled head grade climbs to 1.38g/t Au
- Mill utilisation jumps to 94.7%, downtime slashed
- September 1 smelt produces 403.8oz doré bars
Blackjack Hits First 1,000oz Month Since Production Start
Native Mineral Resources Holdings Limited (ASX:NMR) has cleared a major production milestone at its Blackjack Gold Operations near Charters Towers, Queensland, delivering an official gold outturn of 1,080.5 ounces in August 2026. This is the first time the company has surpassed 1,000 ounces in a single month since starting production in July 2025, marking a significant step in the operation's ramp-up phase.
The surge in output was not a flash in the pan but the result of broad-based operational improvements. August saw a 50.3% increase in dry tonnes milled, jumping from 18,699 tonnes in July to a record 28,104 tonnes. Alongside this, the reconciled head grade rose by 27% to 1.38 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, the highest since production began. These factors combined to nearly double the gold recovered month-on-month, from 629.2 ounces in July to 1,171.3 ounces in August.
Mill Performance and Downtime Improvements Drive Output
The Blackjack Processing Plant’s operational metrics tell the story behind the numbers. Mill utilisation soared from 65.4% in July to 94.7% in August, while availability nudged up slightly to 99.9%. Perhaps most strikingly, mill operational downtime plummeted from 249.9 hours to just 38.1 hours, reflecting a swift resolution of the generator-related issues that hampered July’s performance.
Average mill throughput also improved, inching up from 38.4 tonnes per hour to 39.9 tonnes per hour. These gains in plant efficiency, coupled with higher grade ore being delivered, underpin the record gold production and bode well for sustained output as the operation matures.
September Smelt Continues Momentum with 403.8oz Doré
Native Mineral Resources kicked off September with a smelt completed on the 1st, producing two doré bars weighing a combined 403.8 ounces. While official refinery assay and outturn results are pending, this early production provides a strong signal of continued momentum entering the new month.
Blackjack’s consistent mine-to-mill-to-smelt cycle is becoming increasingly visible, supported by four consecutive weekly smelts in August that yielded over 2,576 ounces of doré. This steady cadence reflects the operation’s growing maturity and the company’s focus on operational stability.
CEO Highlights Operational Milestone and Focus on Sustained Growth
Managing Director and CEO Blake Cannavo described August as a milestone month, emphasizing the significance of surpassing the 1,000-ounce mark so soon after production commenced. He highlighted the strong improvement in tonnes milled, head grade, and plant utilisation as key drivers behind the record outturn.
Cannavo also pointed to the September smelt as evidence of Blackjack’s production momentum, underlining the company’s commitment to maintaining and building on these operational gains.
Bottom Line?
NMR’s August breakthrough at Blackjack signals a maturing operation, but upcoming assay results and sustained monthly production will be key to confirming a reliable growth trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Blackjack maintain or improve on the 1,000oz monthly production milestone in coming months?
- How will pending refinery assay results for the September smelt influence official production figures?
- Can operational efficiencies and mill utilisation gains be sustained as production scales?