Saturn Metals Ltd (ASX:STN) has secured a key mining lease covering its Apollo Hill Gold Project in Western Australia, clearing another important development milestone as the company advances a definitive feasibility study due later this year.
The Western Australian Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration has granted Mining Lease M31/496, an approximately 11,700-hectare tenure surrounding Saturn’s existing Apollo Hill mining leases.
The grant follows the execution of the Apollo Hill Native Title Mining and Project Agreement in June 2026 and provides the land tenure needed to support the proposed mine and associated infrastructure.
Lease supports development and expansion
The new lease incorporates the expanded 2.83-million-ounce Apollo Hill Mineral Resource, comprising 174 million tonnes at 0.51 g/t gold.
It also encompasses the project’s maiden Ore Reserve of 104.6 million tonnes at 0.47 g/t gold for 1.59 million ounces and the pre-feasibility study production target of 1.77 million ounces.
Saturn said the tenure would accommodate planned infrastructure including heap leach pads, a crushing circuit, waste facilities, ponds, bore fields and road corridors.
The lease also covers prospective ground along strike from the deposit, providing flexibility for further resource growth and potential mine expansion.
“The grant of Mining Lease M31/496 represents another important milestone in the development of Apollo Hill and follows the execution of the landmark Native Title Agreement earlier this year,” managing director Ian Bamborough said.
“Importantly, this strategically positioned lease provides the land tenure required to support the continued advancement of the project, as well as providing flexibility for future resource growth and infrastructure expansion.”
Definitive feasibility study advancing
Saturn is progressing a definitive feasibility study for Apollo Hill, with completion targeted later in 2026.
The project’s pre-feasibility study outlined a potential large-scale open-pit operation, while the broader lease area preserves options for additional infrastructure and future exploration success.
About Apollo Hill
Apollo Hill is around 60 kilometres southeast of Leonora in Western Australia’s Goldfields region and is 100%-owned by Saturn Metals.
The company is evaluating the deposit as a large-tonnage, low-strip-ratio open-pit gold operation supported by relatively simple metallurgy and access to established regional infrastructure.