Lodestar Minerals (ASX:LSR) has wrapped up a 12,417m drilling program at the Ned’s Creek Gold Project in Western Australia, clearing the way for a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) in October.
The company says the final results from the 106-hole reverse circulation drilling program continue to support its published exploration target of 250,000–300,000 ounces of gold across three prospects.
New results from the Gidgee Flat prospect include 11m @ 1.76 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 111m, including 5m @ 3.53g/t Au from 113m; and 7m @ 4.69g/t Au from 214m, including 2m @ 15.29g/t Au from 219m.
Lodestar also validated previously reported ‘thick, high-grade’ intersections at the Central Park prospect through 1m resampling, including 26m @ 1.57g/t Au from 51m.
CEO Coraline Blaud says the completion of drilling and receipt of final assay results mark an important milestone for the project.
“The program has delivered the geological and assay data needed to finalise our maiden mineral resource estimate, while the more than 6,000 assays received have strengthened our understanding of the broader mineralised system at Ned’s Creek,” Blaud says.
Geological modelling confirms the overall shear control of mineralisation and highlights potential to extend all prospects at depth. Lodestar says mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth across all three deposits.
“With drilling and assays complete, our focus is now finalising and delivering the maiden MRE,” Blaud says.
Lodestar published an exploration target in December 2025 of 5–7 million tonnes @ 1.0–1.7g/t Au across the Gidgee Flat, Contessa, and Central Park prospects. According to the company, current results indicate the project is tracking within this range ahead of the MRE.
In parallel with the MRE, Lodestar has initiated environmental, heritage, and technical studies, including metallurgical test work, to support a mining lease application in early 2027.
Ned’s Creek sits 40km east of Catalyst Metals’ (ASX:CYL) Plutonic gold mine and within trucking distance of Westgold Resources’ (ASX:WGX) Bluebird processing plant near Meekatharra.
Lodestar Minerals is a copper and gold explorer with assets in Chile, the US, and Western Australia.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Lodestar Minerals
