Wia Gold has extended several underground targets at Kokoseb after 18,476 metres of diamond drilling returned broad and high-grade gold intercepts. The results strengthen the geological case for growth beyond the project’s maiden 0.56 million ounce underground inferred resource, although the larger exploration target remains conceptual.
- 18,476 metres drilled across 33 diamond holes
- Central underground target extended 170 metres northeast and confirmed over 300 metres southwest
- Best result of 15.5 metres at 6.53 g/t gold, including 3 metres at 27.93 g/t
- Underground exploration target remains 10-15Mt at 2.0-2.5 g/t gold, but is conceptual
- Six rigs remain active as mining licence and ECC approvals progress
Kokoseb drilling adds scale beneath planned open pit
Wia Gold Limited (ASX:WIA) has put more geological weight behind the underground expansion story at its Kokoseb gold project in Namibia, reporting assays from 33 diamond holes covering 18,476 metres. The strongest headline interval was 15.5 metres at 6.53 g/t gold from 499.5 metres in hole KDD191, including 3 metres at 27.93 g/t.
The result sits within the Central Underground Resource Envelope, where 3,059 metres of new drilling was aimed at testing grade continuity. Other notable intercepts included 20 metres at 2.70 g/t from 544 metres in KDD181 and 18 metres at 1.51 g/t from 488 metres in KDD184. These are down-hole intervals, with the company saying true thickness is expected to be around half the reported lengths.
The results build on the maiden underground resource, which formed part of an August resource update taking Kokoseb to 3.78 million ounces. The underground component is currently an inferred resource of 7.9 million tonnes at 2.2 g/t for 0.56 million ounces of gold, reported at a 0.85 g/t cut-off.
Central target stretches across two directions
Wia said drilling has extended the Central Underground Exploration Target by 170 metres to the northeast, while holes KDD163, KDD165 and KDD188 confirmed the southwest-plunging limb over 300 metres. Intercepts included 20.7 metres at 1.75 g/t from 779 metres, 10 metres at 3.00 g/t from 689 metres and 10 metres at 2.01 g/t from 846 metres.
That continuity matters because the company is trying to move from a broad geological interpretation towards a more tightly defined resource. Wia plans drilling at 50-metre by 50-metre spacing, alongside further southwest step-out holes, while a lithological and structural study examines the relationship between contrasting rock types, folding and quartz-diopside veining.
Deep and southern targets continue to return gold
The latest campaign also tested less mature targets beneath and beyond the central zone. At the intermediate and deep high-grade targets, results included 29 metres at 1.91 g/t from 755 metres in KDD174 and 6 metres at 6.06 g/t from 623 metres in KDD183. Wia said KDD174 reinforced earlier drilling into the deep target, but that area is likely to be evaluated more efficiently from underground drill positions as the project advances.
Further south, KDD185 returned 18 metres at 2.78 g/t from 606 metres, including 3 metres at 4.64 g/t, while KDD176 delivered 9 metres at 2.45 g/t from 675.7 metres. KDD194 added 7 metres at 2.16 g/t from 478 metres. The company plans more infill work and drilling to test possible connectivity with a southern high-grade target zone.
Exploration upside remains separate from mine plan
Wia continues to cite an underground exploration target of approximately 10 million to 15 million tonnes grading about 2.0 g/t to 2.5 g/t gold, in addition to the existing 0.56 million ounce inferred resource. That figure is conceptual, however, and the company expressly cautions that there has not been enough drilling to estimate a mineral resource or establish that the target will convert into one.
The distinction is important as Kokoseb moves towards development. Wia has completed its Definitive Feasibility Study and is advancing mining licence and environmental clearance approval processes, while six diamond rigs continue to test the underground extensions. The company’s proposed development case therefore has a defined reserve and mine plan, but the potential contribution from deeper mineralisation still depends on tighter drilling, updated modelling and future technical studies.
Bottom Line?
The drilling strengthens Kokoseb’s underground geological case, but the next value test is whether 50-metre infill and step-out work can convert conceptual tonnes into a mineable resource without disrupting the current development pathway.
Questions in the middle?
- How much of the 10-15Mt underground exploration target can be converted into a compliant mineral resource?
- Will the central, deep and southern zones ultimately connect into a larger underground mining envelope?
- Can Wia progress the Mining Licence and ECC approvals while it continues to define underground growth?