en.Wedoany.com Reported - Minerals 260 has advanced its Bullabulling gold project in Western Australia to the next phase of exploration and production preparation, targeting first gold production by the end of 2028.
The next phase will focus on expanding the project's 6.2-million-ounce mineral resource estimate (MRE), advancing regional exploration within the expanded tenure, and preparing for project development. Resource growth drilling will target near-surface mineralization, the strike extension between the Kraken deposit and the Endeavour prospect, and areas north of the Dicksons deposit.
Auger exploration has defined gold anomalies approximately 1 kilometer southeast of Kraken and 1.1 kilometers along strike from Endeavour, with the Endeavour interest held under a joint venture between Minerals 260 and Geko Explore. The company plans first-pass wide-spaced reverse circulation (RC) drilling between Kraken and Endeavour, along with infill drilling at Endeavour, with further drilling to support a potential maiden MRE for the prospect.
Historical drilling at Endeavour has demonstrated multiple stacked mineralized lodes and gold-bearing laterites similar to Bullabulling, with intersections including 16 meters at 1.3 grams per tonne gold and 7 meters at 2.7 grams per tonne gold, both from 47 meters depth. Wide-spaced RC drilling will also test a coherent 1-kilometer-long gold anomaly north of Dicksons, an area with limited historical exploration. Minerals 260 will also complete further auger exploration across previously acquired tenure to the north and northeast.
The company has identified higher-grade trends within the existing MRE, defined by integrating drilling results, structural interpretation, historical mining information, and visible gold observations, which could increase resources or support production during the early stages of Bullabulling operations. Broader regional exploration has commenced across the company's 1,160-square-kilometer tenure, utilizing geochemical, geological, and geophysical data to generate and prioritize drilling targets.
Minerals 260 Managing Director Luke McFadyen said the drilling programs completed over the past 15 months have significantly advanced the understanding of the Bullabulling ore system, and the company will apply its improved understanding to the next phase of exploration and operational preparation. He said Bullabulling has proven its scale, and the company's focus is not only on identifying north-south trending near-surface mineralization to expand the MRE, but also on exploring the region and preparing for production targeted to commence at the end of 2028.
The company has completed a 26,000-meter grade control drilling program covering two areas of the Phoenix deposit planned to contribute to early production. Bullabulling, located 25 kilometers west of Coolgardie, hosts a resource of 190 million tonnes at 1 gram per tonne gold. A recently completed pre-feasibility study outlined a potential 19-year operating life, with the definitive feasibility study and final investment decision targeted for the first quarter of 2027.
