Kairos Minerals Ltd (ASX:KAI, OTCQB:KAIFF, FRA:YAJ) has secured a key approval for its Mt York Gold Project in Western Australia’s Pilbara, with the WA Department of Mines, Petroleum & Exploration granting mining lease M45/1306 on January 27, 2026 for an initial 21-year term.
The lease covers Kairos’ 1.4Moz Mt York Gold Project and follows the company’s recently signed Native Title Mining Agreement with the Nyamal People. Kairos said the granted mining lease “significantly de-risks” Mt York, as it turns attention to a resource update and Prefeasibility Studies in 2026.
The lease provides the right to mine, treat and process gold mineralisation and to build infrastructure, subject to securing further approvals related to mine planning and closure and environmental requirements as it progresses feasibility work.
“Grant of the mining lease is welcome news and marks another step in advancing our 1.4Moz Mt York Gold Project towards development, coming weeks after the signing of the Native Title Mining Agreement with the Nyamal People," Kairos managing director Dr Peter Turner said.
“Our scoping study in November 2024, based on a conservative gold price of A$3,500/ounce, demonstrated that this project can be a robust, standalone gold mine at a gold price that is approximately half the current gold spot price.
“Our aim is to grow Mt York through a resource increase over the entire 4,200m strike length and demonstrate that this project can easily grow into one of Western Australia’s largest, undeveloped free-milling gold projects. Our updated MRE is the next step in its development and will include all results from the 2025 drill program that is the largest to date over the deposit in the company’s history.”
Resource update and PFS work slated for 2026
Kairos flagged a series of next steps, including reviewing and releasing results from drilling at Main Hill Extension, compiling geological and assay data ahead of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate, and completing resource estimation across the 4,200 metre-long Mt York project area.
The company also plans to apply for a separate mining lease to cover the Main Hill Extension area, continue exploration across its broader Pilbara tenement holding, and appoint key personnel to advance workstreams required for the Mt York Prefeasibility Study.