Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX:OBM, OTC:ESGFF) has delivered a fresh set of high-grade drill results from the Sand King area of its Riverina underground operation, confirming significant extensions to mineralisation outside the current life-of-mine (LOM) plan and reinforcing the growth potential of the northern corridor.
The latest assays include multiple thick, high-grade intercepts from both surface and underground drilling between Sand King and the historically mined Palmerston shallow open pit. Highlights include surface intersections such as 16.6 metres at 8.3 g/t gold, 6.0 metres at 16.9 g/t and 12.0 metres at 6.4 g/t, alongside standout underground results of 6.7 metres at 39.3 g/t, 7.0 metres at 10.7 g/t and 10.5 metres at 6.2 g/t.
According to the company, all 43 surface drill holes completed to date in the northern corridor sit outside the existing LOM plan, underscoring the potential for a material increase in mining inventory as drilling continues.
Plan view showing new lodes and drill intercepts in the northern corridor.
Northern corridor delivering scale and grade
Drilling in the northern corridor has progressed from both surface and underground, targeting extensions north of the current Sand King mining areas. Assays have now been received from 16 of the 43 surface holes completed, with results confirming broad zones of mineralisation over meaningful widths.
In parallel, Ora Banda has drilled 57 underground resource extension holes into the northern corridor, with assays returned from 15 holes to date. These underground results have delivered some of the highest grades reported in the program so far, including narrow but exceptionally high-grade intercepts such as 1.4 metres at 50.8 g/t, including 0.5 metres at 146.0 g/t.
The company said the results continue to support its geological interpretation of a large, structurally controlled mineralised system extending beyond current mine designs.
Oblique View looking northeast showing exploration drill intercepts in relation to current LOM plan.
Additional drilling expands Sand King footprint
Beyond the northern corridor, seven surface drill holes in the southern corridor have also confirmed and extended mineralisation, with intercepts including 6.0 metres at 23.3 g/t, 4.0 metres at 6.5 g/t and 2.0 metres at 10.0 g/t. Ora Banda said these results point to the broader scale of the Sand King system beyond its current focus areas.
An underground drill rig has now been deployed into the nearby historical Palmerston pit to accelerate resource definition in this area. An initial seven-hole program is under way, with six holes completed and assays pending.
Further surface drilling is also targeting areas around previously reported high-grade intersections, including 18.7 metres at 8.9 g/t gold and multiple intervals above 8 g/t reported in September, to better define the orientation and extent of mineralisation.
Read more: Ora Banda expands Sand King inventory with high-grade step-out hits
Early results suggest continuity of the Sand King structural architecture, with dominant mineralised tension veins striking approximately 60 degrees, supported by subsidiary veins at around 90 degrees.
Growth focus supported by exploration spend
Managing director Luke Creagh said the latest results reinforce management’s belief that the company is “only in the early stages of unlocking what is potentially a large mineralised system” at Sand King.
“The widths and tenor of these near-mine step-out holes are exciting as they indicate that Sand King has the potential to deliver increased production and mine life, with these northern extensions accessible from existing underground infrastructure,” he said.
Ora Banda has allocated $73 million to exploration in FY26 and said drilling at Sand King will continue as part of its broader strategy to grow resources and extend mine life across the Riverina hub.
Overview showing location of Sand King Underground and the Davyhurst processing hub.