Kalamazoo strengthens Ashburton ahead of resource update
Kalamazoo Resources has completed a major resource definition drilling campaign at its Ashburton gold project in Western Australia, with new high-grade assay results strengthening confidence in the Mt Olympus deposit ahead of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).
The latest results from 15 drill holes form part of a 72-hole, 13,726 m resource definition program designed to improve geological confidence and support the conversion of additional Inferred resources into the higher-confidence Indicated category.
Among the standout intersections were 20m at 3.1 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 62m, 9m at 6.0 g/t gold from 22m, 22m at 3.6 g/t gold from 61m, 17.6m at 5.0 g/t gold from 165.8m, 60m at 1.3 g/t gold from 51m, and 14m at 5.4 g/t gold from 150m.
The infill campaign has reduced drill spacing across key parts of the Mt Olympus deposit to around 20 m by 20 m, providing greater confidence in the geological model as Kalamazoo advances the project towards an updated MRE targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
The company said drilling also intersected mineralisation beyond the current resource envelope while remaining within the conceptual Scoping Study pit shell, highlighting opportunities to expand the future mining inventory.
Kalamazoo executive director Dr Ben Ackerman said completion of the drilling program represented another important milestone for the 1.44-million-ounce project.
“The latest results received from the resource definition drilling continue to demonstrate the excellent continuity of high-grade mineralisation across Mt Olympus, materially increasing our confidence ahead of the updated MRE,” Ackerman said.
“We are particularly encouraged by the strong grade development being identified at depth within the current PFS pit shell, reinforcing the opportunity to enhance the planned mining inventory.”
With the resource definition campaign complete, Kalamazoo has commenced underground resource growth drilling beneath Mt Olympus to test extensions below the current conceptual pit, while a second program is under way at the nearby 210,000-ounce Peake deposit targeting the down-plunge continuation of previously mined high-grade shoots.
Ackerman said the combined drilling programs were focused on extending mine life and strengthening Ashburton’s long-term production profile.
“The focus being to unlock additional ounces capable of extending mine life and enhancing the long-term production profile of Ashburton,” he said.
Chief executive officer Andrew McDougall said the project’s combination of scale, grade and growth potential continued to underpin its development.
“Over the next six months, our key priorities are delivering the updated MRE and progressing the PFS, whilst continuing to unlock further value through targeted resource growth drilling across the broader Ashburton gold project,” McDougall said.
Kalamazoo has also lodged additional tenement applications to expand the Ashburton landholding to 519 square kilometres, supporting its strategy to develop a district-scale gold operation in Western Australia.