Ballard Mining Ltd (ASX:BM1) has reported its strongest gold intersection to date at the Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia, with drilling at the West Knell prospect returning 9 metres at 27.1 g/t gold from 191 metres.
The high-grade result, equivalent to 244 gram-metres, was recorded in drill hole WKEX101 and sits outside the current West Knell mineral resource envelope, highlighting potential for further resource growth along the underexplored Ballard Fault Zone.
Additional drilling results included:
- 4 metres at 7.2 g/t gold from 192 metres;
- 2 metres at 5.6 g/t gold from 69 metres;
- 2 metres at 4.4 g/t gold from 35 metres;
- 6 metres at 1.3 g/t gold from 80 metres; and
- 1 metre at 4.2 g/t gold from 109 metres.
The latest drilling has extended mineralisation north and at depth beneath previous work at the northern end of West Knell.
West Knell resource growth opportunity
West Knell is emerging as a significant shallow gold deposit within the 13-kilometre-long Ballard Fault corridor.
Drilling has now demonstrated mineralisation over about 1.4 kilometres of strike at West Knell, while the broader mineralised trend extending south to Neptune covers approximately 3.7 kilometres and includes the Europa, Ayla and Pulsar prospects.
Mineralisation at West Knell occurs within a series of north-south-trending, moderately east-dipping shear zones containing quartz and sulphides.
The results support Ballard's view that mineralisation along the fault may not be confined to isolated deposits, increasing the potential for a camp-scale gold system containing multiple deposits.
Managing director Paul Brennan said the result strengthened confidence in the scale potential of the Ballard Fault Zone.
“This result strengthens confidence that the underexplored 13km Ballard Fault Zone is emerging as a potential camp-scale opportunity,” Brennan said.
“We are confident the Ballard Fault Zone is expected to make a significant contribution to the scale of Mt Ida, which demonstrates the potential to evolve into a multi-million-ounce gold district.”
Satellite deposit could support standalone development
West Knell currently hosts a mineral resource of about 420,000 tonnes at 2.9 g/t gold for 40,000 ounces, comprising both open-pit and underground resources.
The prospect is being assessed as a potential satellite ore source for Ballard’s proposed standalone operation at Mt Ida.
Its shallow mineralisation, geometry and proximity to planned infrastructure could allow it to contribute to future production schedules and extend the project’s operating profile.
Ballard expects the West Knell mining lease to be granted during the September quarter of 2026.
The company is also continuing drilling across regional deposits on both sides of the Copperfield Granite, with assays pending from West Knell, Neptune, Golden Vale, Pluto, Constellation, Jupiter, Lunar and Astro-Quasar.
Results from the broader program will feed into updated mineral resource estimates for several deposits, expected later in the September quarter.
Mt Ida development strategy
The Mt Ida Gold Project is about 540 kilometres northeast of Perth in Western Australia’s Goldfields region and covers 26 kilometres of prospective greenstone belt surrounding the Copperfield Granite.
Mt Ida hosts a total mineral resource of 12.2 million tonnes at 3.0 g/t gold for about 1.2 million ounces.
The cornerstone Baldock deposit contains just over 1 million ounces at 3.5 g/t gold and accounts for about 90% of the project’s current resource inventory.
Ballard is advancing a dual-track strategy focused on expanding the resource base while progressing project development.
Mt Ida has six granted mining leases and approvals in place for open-pit and underground mining at Baldock. The project also has approval for a processing plant of up to 2 million tonnes per annum, a tailings storage facility and water abstraction licences totalling 3.7 gigalitres per year.
About Ballard Mining
Ballard Mining is an exploration and development company focused on advancing the Mt Ida Gold Project towards production.
The company is carrying out an extensive exploration campaign targeting growth at Baldock and across regional satellite deposits, while progressing the technical and regulatory work required to support a standalone mining operation.