Reach Resources (ASX:RR1) will use grade control drilling results to finalise mine scheduling at its NW Pit, with shallow ‘high-grade’ gold peaking at 24.6 grams per tonne.
The pit sits within the Murchison South Gold Project near Paynes Find in Western Australia. The 4,236m grade control program comprises 163 reverse circulation (RC) holes drilled on a 10m by 10m grid across the first five proposed mining benches.
Reach has received assay results for 123 of these holes, representing about 75% of the total work. Results for the remaining 40 holes are due in November.
The grade control program is designed to precisely define the boundary between ore and waste within the established pit design.
Best intercepts include 7m @ 7.5g/t gold (Au) from 20m in hole 26MSGC0091, including 2m @ 24.6g/t Au; and 15m @ 2.2g/t Au from 2m in hole 26MSGC0084, including 2m @ 13.2g/t Au. A total of nine holes returned intervals above 5g/t Au.
The company says the results confirm the geometry and continuity of the mineralised envelope defined by earlier resource drilling at roughly 20m by 20m spacing.
The tighter grid also identified ‘higher-grade’ zones and greater widths than modelled, including in an area previously classified as low grade.
CEO Jeremy Bower says the deepest holes were only 32m, and more than 20% of the holes came in under 20m.
“Stepping our drill spacing in from the ~20m by 20m grid used to define the resource to a 10m by 10m grade control grid has shown us zones of higher grade and greater width than our existing model predicted,” Bower states.
Andel Resources General Manager of Geology and Resource Strategy David Evans says the tighter spacing confirms the continuity of mineralisation between the wider-spaced resource holes, providing confidence in the mine plan.
“The tighter spacing also allows us to accurately delineate ore-waste contacts on each bench, enabling us to mine selectively, maximising ore recovery and minimising dilution,” Evans notes.
Andel subsidiary SMS Mining is completing the work under the binding right to mine agreement announced on 18 August 2026.
The next step is grade control interpretation and estimation, which feeds directly into the mine plan and short-term scheduling ahead of mining expected to start in 2027.
Reach has yet to drill mining leases M59/790, 786, and 799, which contain strike extensions of the Primrose shear and old workings.
Reach Resources is an Australian explorer advancing a diversified portfolio of gold, lithium, and rare earth assets across Western Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Reach Resources
