Rox Resources (ASX:RXL) has reported ‘high-grade’ underground drilling results from its Youanmi Gold Mine in Western Australia as it targets first gold production by mid-2027.
Rox has completed 12 underground diamond holes totalling 1,716m at United North, with first assays returning 4.60m @ 9.60 grams per tonne gold (Au) from 131.58m, including 3m @ 13.62g/t Au from 132m.
Multiple sulphide-rich shear zones have been observed in every hole completed, although assays have only been received for the first three holes.
Resource definition drilling at the Interceptor lode also returned 2m @ 12.48g/t Au from 103m and 5m @ 6.59g/t Au from 131m, including 1m @ 25g/t Au from 133m.
Managing Director Phill Wilding says the results strengthen the company’s confidence in the mine plan as it works to reduce execution risk.
“At Rox, our mandate is clear: bring the Youanmi Gold Mine into production and pour first gold by mid-2027, which we remain on track for,” Wilding says.
“Simultaneously, we are also focused on de-risking the mine plan and unlocking further growth, including opportunities to use the latent capacity in the processing plant design.”
The company notes the United North drilling is intended to maintain at least 12 months of infill-drilled inventory ahead of mining.
Ore-drive development is continuing on the 2341 metres relative level (mRL) and 2356mRL. Rox says face-sampling results from the 2341mRL align with grades used in the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), while assays from the 2356mRL remain pending.
At Commonwealth, 4km northwest of Youanmi Main, drilling returned 7m @ 9.68g/t Au from 94m, including 2m @ 26.50g/t Au from 94m, which the company notes establishes the prospect’s potential to provide an additional ore source near planned processing infrastructure.
Youanmi Deeps resource conversion and exploration drilling is scheduled to begin during the September quarter, initially targeting inferred mineral resources at United North before testing down-plunge extensions.
Rox also identified a structural target 20km south of Youanmi through interpretation of aeromagnetic data. The company says the area has structural characteristics similar to the Youanmi mine setting.
The Youanmi Gold Project hosts a mineral resource of 12.1 million tonnes @ 5.6g/t Au for 2.2 million ounces.
Rox plans to update the Interceptor and Commonwealth mineral resources during the second half of 2026, with follow-up diamond drilling planned from underground.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Rox Resources
