Maritana Minerals (ASX:MRT) has started a resource conversion drilling campaign, covering 60,000m across four projects in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.
The company will conduct drilling across the Boorara, Coote, Gordons Dam, and Crake projects to convert and upgrade a portion of the inferred resource estimate into the indicated category.
Drilling is also intended to provide geological confidence for detailed mine planning for the Black Swan Processing Hub (BSPH) Project, with the intention of extending the current five-year life of mine.
The first reverse circulation drill rig has begun drilling at the Boorara Project, which will expand to four rigs across multiple resources by early August 2026.
Boorara is the first planned ore source for the restart of the BSPH in H1 FY2028, with 460,000 tonnes of stockpiled material containing 14,600 ounces already in place on the Boorara run-of-mine pad.
The campaign will also include Maritana’s first-ever drilling program at the Gordons Dam asset since obtaining ownership.
“The resource conversion drilling program is a disciplined, fully funded step that converts the strength of our existing resource base into mine-ready confidence,” Maritana CEO Grant Haywood says.
“By focusing first on resource conversion across Boorara, Coote, Gordons Dam, and Crake, we are de-risking mine planning to support the Black Swan Processing Hub Project.
“Further extensional drilling programs are also planned to grow mineral resources beyond the existing known orebodies. These programs are staged and will only progress where the drilling demonstrates a genuine, value-accretive opportunity, ensuring every dollar of drilling expenditure delivers a clear path to production and future cash flow.”
Separately, Maritana has organised an aircore rig to commence drilling at the Wilson’s Project next month. The Wilson’s Project sits adjacent to the Black Swan Processing Hub.
Maritana Minerals is an Australian gold explorer and producer with a portfolio of assets in Western Australia.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Maritana Minerals
