Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) is conducting a Prefeasibility Study (PFS), setting out a development pathway for a potential new, long-life production centre at the Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia.
This news comes after a preliminary assessment suggested an optimal processing plant capacity of between 2.5 and 3.5 million tonnes per year. The PFS is expected to be delivered in the first half of 2026, while systematic exploration work continues this year to unlock the project’s full potential.
Brightstar says some of the key PFS workstreams include completing an 80,000m drilling program, metallurgical and geotechnical assessments, as well as open pit mine optimisations.
Permitting and approvals activities are also advancing to support the re-development of the project.
Brightstar is aiming to upgrade the project’s resource estimate in the second half of this year, incorporating results from the drilling program to support the declaration of maiden ore reserves in the PFS.
Sandstone currently contains a resource of 33 million tonnes @ 1.5 grams per tonne for 1.5 million ounces of gold.
Managing Director Alex Rovira says Sandstone is materially underexplored despite 90% of the current resource being located within 150m of surface — largely due to a focus on shallow oxide material during a low gold price environment of $500 per ounce between 1995-2010.
“Today, with gold at $5,200 per ounce, or well over 10 times the gold price during the last operational phase, our fully-funded 80,000m drilling program is systematically addressing this value gap,” Rovira says.
“The high-grade results at deposits like Vanguard North and Whistler, combined with new exploration targets within the highly prospective and well-endowed broader Sandstone greenstone belt, positions Sandstone for material resource growth.”
According to ABC Bullion, gold’s spot price is currently at $5,201.56 per ounce, as of 8.45am AEST.
Based on the timeline of the PFS, the company expects gold production from Sandstone to coincide with peak operations at the Laverton and Menzies operations in Western Australia.
Brightstar aims to become a more than 200,000-ounce-per-annum gold producer within five years.
The company will be attending the RIU Sydney Resources Round-up being held from 6-8 May. Mining.com.au is an official media partner at this year’s event.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Brightstar Resources
