Heliostar Metals (TSX:HSTR) plans further step-out drilling at its Ana Paula Gold Project in Guerrero, Mexico, after returning 52.4m @ 5.84 grams per tonne gold (Au) from the High Grade Panel.
Hole AP-26-409 intersected the interval from 46.9m, including 12.6m @ 17.80g/t Au. Nearby hole AP-26-410 returned 24.8m @ 5.14g/t Au from 43m.
CEO Charles Funk says the company has completed its resource conversion drilling program ahead of the Ana Paula Feasibility Study.
“The results from this program continue to demonstrate a remarkably consistent body of gold mineralization in the High Grade Panel that will drive the economics of the Ana Paula mine,” Funk says.
“We remain confident that we can achieve our target for the Feasibility Study of an initial 10-year mine life averaging 100,000 ounces of annual production.”
Expansion zone remains open
Deeper drilling at the Expansion Zone returned 8m @ 6.88g/t Au from 469m in AP-26-411.
Hole AP-26-314A intersected 9.65m @ 4.33g/t Au from 598.6m, including 3.4m @ 10.64g/t Au. The higher-grade interval sits approximately 45m from the nearest intersection at that elevation.
A 75m step-out in AP-26-412 returned several mineralised intervals, including 18.85m @ 2.05g/t Au from 565.3m, including 6.4m @ 5.19g/t Au, and 6.7m @ 3.07g/t Au from 639m.
Heliostar interprets the results as showing that mineralisation remains open to the south, west, and at depth, with further drilling planned to test extensions.
The completed 2025–2026 infill program comprised 122 holes totalling 35,121m. Approximately 25,000m tested inferred mineralisation within the preliminary economic assessment mine plan, aiming to support conversion into higher-confidence categories and potential reserve estimates for the Feasibility Study.
A further 10,000m tested the Expansion Zone beyond the mine plan. Only part of the recent exploration drilling is expected to be incorporated into the Feasibility Study, with the remaining results offering potential to support a longer mine life.
The results follow Heliostar’s submission of environmental permit applications for an underground Ana Paula operation, as previously reported by Mining.com.au.
Heliostar Metals is a Canadian gold producer operating the La Colorada and San Agustin mines in Mexico and advancing a portfolio of development projects in Mexico and the US.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Main image: Heliostar Metals
