Westgold Resources (ASX: WGX) has unveiled a Mineral Resource Estimate update for the Bluebird - South Junction mining complex within Westgold’s Murchison business at Meekatharra, WA.
Highlights
Bluebird – South Junction Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) grows to 15Mt at 2.9g/t Au for 1.4Moz – a 37% increase.
■ 65% increase in Measured and Indicated Resources - Measured and Indicated component now 8.7Mt at 2.9g/t Au 814koz.
■ Mining study underway - with a view to updating the Bluebird – South Junction Ore Reserve during Q2, FY25.
Drilling program extended
■ Two surface rigs and two underground drill rigs committed into 2025 - all parts of the mineralised system remain open at depth and to the south along strike.
■ Drilling objectives are to extend and infill the system - providing data for optimisation of mine infrastructure positioning.
Polar Star access being accelerated
■ Study underway considering second portal access - to allow for rapid drill-out of the Polar Star Lode within the Bluebird-South Junction mining complex.
■ Second portal may convert to production decline - providing access to a third mining front, lifting mine outputs and deconstraining current Bluebird – South Junction mine plan from future mining at Polar Star.
“With 1.4Moz in resource and growing Bluebird-South Junction has now confirmed its status as the key growth driver in Westgold’s Murchison business,” Managing Director and CEO, Wayne Bramwell, said.
“In under 18 months, the team has moved a simple uphole bench mine producing at 40kt a month, towards a 110kt a month mine with a highly efficient transverse primary / secondary mining sequence. This transition is built upon continued investment in drilling delivering a 240% increase in the Mineral Resource base.
“The significant upgrade in both total Mineral Resource and the Measured and Indicated component of the Mineral Resource Estimate has enabled mining studies to advance, and we anticipate an increase in the associated Ore Reserve over and above the currently reported 277koz.
This increase is expected to be delivered during H2, FY25.
“In FY25 Westgold has unleashed the drills. In the Southern Goldfields preliminary works to support a seventh underground drill rig at Beta Hunt are underway, and the first resource development drilling program under Westgold ownership has commenced at the Lake Cowan project at Higginsville, with a view to providing a new source of feed to the Higginsville mill.”