en.Wedoany.com Reported - GoldArc Resources (ASX:GA8) is nearing production at its Mt Stirling project in the Leonora North gold hub of Western Australia, with grade control drilling nearly complete and the latest results optimizing mine planning.

GoldArc has completed 25,292 meters of a planned 34,000-meter reverse circulation grade control drilling program at Mt Stirling and Mt Stirling Well. The latest results include the fourth batch from Mt Stirling Well and the ninth batch from Mt Stirling, which have been input into updated mining models pending expected mining development and closure proposal (MDCP) approval.

Mt Stirling Well delivered the strongest single result to date, with 1 meter at 31 g/t gold from 15 meters in hole 26BSWRC838. This equates to one troy ounce per ton, representing bonanza-grade mineralization.

The drilling program is fully funded by BML Ventures under a 50/50 net profit sharing arrangement, with GoldArc retaining 100% ownership of the Mt Stirling and Mt Stirling Well mining leases. Subject to MDCP approval, GoldArc and BML Ventures expect to commence mining at Mt Stirling, while results from Mt Stirling Well will inform broader Leonora North development planning.

The latest batch from Mt Stirling Well includes an additional 66 holes totaling approximately 1,345 meters. Best results include: 2 meters at 13.46 g/t gold from 7 meters in hole 26BSWRC833, including 1 meter at 21.4 g/t gold from 7 meters; 2 meters at 9.43 g/t gold from 14 meters in hole 26BSWRC854, including 1 meter at 16.5 g/t gold from 14 meters; and 2 meters at 6.31 g/t gold from 19 meters in hole 26BSWRC842, including 1 meter at 11 g/t gold from 20 meters. Other significant intercepts include 1 meter at 31 g/t gold from 15 meters in hole 26BSWRC838, and 1 meter at 14.7 g/t gold from 15 meters in hole 26BSWRC855.

GoldArc stated that four consecutive batches of drilling at Mt Stirling Well have confirmed systematic high-grade veins consistent with the deposit's resource grade of 2.3 g/t. Located approximately 700 meters southwest of Mt Stirling, Mt Stirling Well hosts a JORC Inferred Resource of 198,000 tonnes at 2.3 g/t gold, containing 15,000 ounces. Gold mineralization at the deposit occurs within narrow, shallow-dipping quartz veins hosted in granitoid host rocks, with a structural setting distinct from Mt Stirling, where gold is associated with the Hydra Fault and occurs in high-strain schist-mylonite deformation zones within strongly altered metabasalt. The current grade control drilling program is establishing systematic coverage at Mt Stirling Well to support its inclusion in the broader Leonora North mine development plan.

At Mt Stirling, the latest results include 17 holes totaling 293 meters from the central and eastern upper zones of the deposit. These results are narrower and lower grade than the high-grade intercepts at Mt Stirling Well, but GoldArc noted they correspond to the deposit's margins and shallow upper bench positions. Key intercepts include 2 meters at 1.41 g/t gold from 6 meters in hole BMLRC742, 3 meters at 1.19 g/t gold from 7 meters in hole BMLRC743, and 1 meter at 1.94 g/t gold from 1 meter in hole BMLRC748. Hole BMLRC753 returned 3 meters at 1.56 g/t gold from 8 meters. GoldArc stated these results will help define ore boundaries and support ore-waste discrimination in shallow bench areas.

With the first phase of grade control at Mt Stirling substantially complete, GoldArc and BML Ventures are updating mining models and optimizing development planning. The program utilizes close-spaced grade control drilling with fence spacings of 8 meters and drill hole spacings of approximately 6 meters along each fence. This density defines ore grade boundaries at the resolution required for production scheduling, optimizing extraction, reducing dilution risk, and informing blast zone planning.

GoldArc stated that grade control drilling at Mt Stirling Well will continue, with results to be released in batches as they are received and validated.

GoldArc is focused on gold projects in the Leonora and Kookynie regions of Western Australia. Its total JORC resource base stands at 200,014 ounces, distributed across the Mt Stirling and Mt Stirling Well deposits in Leonora North, and the Orion and Sapphire resources in Leonora South. In Leonora North, Mt Stirling hosts Indicated and Inferred Resources of 2.55 million tonnes at 1.7 g/t gold, containing 137,000 ounces; Mt Stirling Well adds 15,000 ounces at 2.3 g/t gold.

Aside from Vault Minerals' (ASX:VAU) King of the Hills mine (a recent acquisition target for GA8 neighbor Raleigh Finlayson's Genesis Minerals (ASX:GMD)), GoldArc holds the largest resource in the Leonora North region. The current focus is on completing grade control, advancing mine planning with BML Ventures, and moving toward mining at Mt Stirling upon approval.