Rumble Resources has delivered key dewatering equipment to Western Queen and submitted the notification needed to begin pumping, while its updated mine study moves into October. The project still depends on one major approval, financing terms and favourable feasibility results before a decision to mine.
- Pit dewatering pipework delivered and commencement notification submitted
- Mine Development and Closure Proposal remains the key outstanding approval
- Updated Scoping Study now targeted for release during October 2026
- Debt providers awaiting the study before submitting indicative term sheets
- Feasibility Study and Decision to Mine remain targeted for the December quarter
Dewatering equipment arrives as final approval remains outstanding
Rumble Resources Limited (ASX:RTR) has moved another practical step towards developing its Western Queen Gold and Tungsten Project in Western Australia, with pit-dewatering pipework now delivered to site. The company has also submitted the Notification of Commencement of Operations required before pumping can begin, although installation of the pumps and pipework must be completed first.
The Groundwater Extraction Licence is already in place, following the
Updated mine study slips into October
Rumble’s updated Scoping Study is now scheduled for release during October, after taking longer than anticipated. Mine design has been completed and scheduling is well advanced, according to the company, which is updating the November 2025 study to incorporate the June 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate and maximise the amount of Indicated Resource from Western Queen South Central in the mine plan.
The project’s June resource stands at 5.13 million tonnes grading 2.6 grams per tonne gold for 433,600 ounces of contained gold, including 227,700 ounces in the Indicated category. Rumble also has a toll-milling and blending agreement in place for processing at the Kirkalocka gold plant, a development milestone that followed the
Financing discussions wait on study economics
Potential project debt providers are waiting for the updated Scoping Study before submitting indicative term sheets. Rumble says it will then select a preferred debt provider and work towards finalising project financing while completing the Feasibility Study.
Discussions with underground mining contractors are continuing, while work on the operational readiness plan also remains underway. The Feasibility Study and Decision to Mine are still targeted for the December quarter of 2026, but the filing makes that timetable conditional on positive Scoping Study results, acceptable indicative financing terms and receipt of the outstanding approval.
Gold remains the immediate development focus. Rumble says a separate Scoping Study on Western Queen’s tungsten potential will be undertaken after the gold Feasibility Study; the project has a previously reported tungsten resource of 13.2 kilotonnes of WO3, with mineralisation described as open in all directions. The nearer-term test is whether October’s study can turn the advancing workstreams into financing terms and a credible basis for the December-quarter mine decision.
Bottom Line?
October’s updated Scoping Study is the next hinge point: it must support both debt proposals and the feasibility work needed for a mine decision.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the updated Scoping Study preserve the targeted December-quarter timetable after the October delay?
- What debt terms will emerge once lenders have reviewed the revised mine plan and economics?
- When will the Mine Development and Closure Proposal be approved, allowing underground pre-development to begin?