Star Minerals lifts Tumblegum South resource confidence with up to 5m at 30.91g/t gold

• Star Minerals’ infill drilling has returned up to 5m at 30.91g/t gold from 21m
• Results increase geological continuity of mineralisation to a high degree of confidence
• Assays pending for drilling of conceptual structures and proposed waste rock landforms

Special Report: Infill drilling is proving the quality of Star Minerals’ Tumblegum South project near Meekatharra, WA, after returning assays of up to 5m grading 30.91g/t gold from 21m, including 2m at 75.45g/t.

The shallow, closed-spaced infill drilling program was carried out at a density sufficient to delineate geological continuity of the mineralisation to a high degree of confidence.

Star Minerals (ASX:SMS) said the results received to date from 22 of the 38 holes drilled under the program validated the geological model underpinning the previous mineral resource of 45,000oz gold that was completed in 2023.

The company is looking to start mining in Q1 2026 at Tumblegum South, which sits near underutilised mills owned by Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) and Catalyst Metals (ASX:CYL).

“We are pleased to see the quality of these first results from the Tumblegum South gold project drilling program,” SMS managing director Ashley Jones said.

“With the standout intercept so far being 5m at around an ounce of gold per tonne, Tumblegum South is proving to be an even stronger project, with a quality gold deposit.

“We are completing all the necessary steps to bring the project into production and look forward to receiving and reporting on the remainder of the drilling results.”

Drill program

The company completed the drilling of 38 reverse circulation holes totalling 2032m in early July.

Of these, 23 holes were drilled on the shallowest portion of the southern pit optimisation on a 12.5m by 12.5m grid.

The remaining 15 holes – assays for which are still pending – were drilled at the proposed waste rock landforms or to test conceptual structures.

SMS notes that mineralisation continues to surface in the eastern portion of the drill pattern, with outstanding results observed in several holes.

The best mineralisation appears to plunge down towards the southwest while several holes at the western end of the drill pattern returned no significant intercepts of 1g/t gold or better.

This is in line with predictions based on the existing geological model and confirms the model architecture prior to progressing the mine plan, which will begin with a resource update later this year.

Adding interest, the significant intercepts in the shallowest portions of the deposit in the eastern side of the drill pattern confirm there is no significant barren overburden portion of the deposit prior to reaching mineralisation in part of the conceptual pit floor.

The company is awaiting the remaining assays from the drill program, which will then underpin the updated resource estimate.

It will also complete the mining approvals submission and progress the mining memorandum of understanding with MEGA Resources for mining and mine development to a binding agreement.

This article was developed in collaboration with Star Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.