Horizon Gold Ltd (ASX:HRN, OTC:HZGLF) has returned a series of strong gold intercepts from reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its 100%-owned Gum Creek Gold Project in Western Australia, extending mineralisation at Howards, Heron South and Melbourne Bitter and strengthening the potential for resource growth ahead of updated estimates.
At Howards, drilling confirmed an 800-metre southern extension to known gold mineralisation, with gold intersected in every hole drilled on 100-metre-spaced lines across the extension.
Standout results included 6 metres at 5.57 g/t gold from 70 metres, including 3 metres at 9.91 g/t, and 4 metres at 4.65 g/t from 70 metres, including 1 metre at 17.30 g/t.
Heron South produced the highest-grade result of the program, returning 6 metres at 12.67 g/t gold from 114 metres, including 1 metre at 58.70 g/t, alongside broader intersections including 25 metres at 1.79 g/t from 84 metres and 12 metres at 2.35 g/t from 180 metres.
Meanwhile, shallow drilling at Melbourne Bitter returned 21 metres at 2.14 g/t gold from 24 metres, including 8 metres at 3.64 g/t, as well as 7 metres at 2.31 g/t from 49 metres, including 1 metre at 13.10 g/t.
Gum Creek Gold Project existing Mineral Resources, Potential Mineral Resources and Exploration Targets over simplified geology.
Resource growth potential
The Howards resource currently stands at 6.85 million tonnes at 1.11 g/t gold for 245,300 ounces, defined over a 1.3-kilometre strike. Horizon said the latest drilling demonstrated potential for a significant expansion to that resource to the south.
At Heron South, where the existing resource is 1.48 million tonnes at 1.66 g/t for 78,900 ounces, drilling was designed to fill gaps in historical drilling and test extensions down dip and along strike. The results confirmed mineralisation continuity and, in several cases, returned higher grades at depth.
Melbourne Bitter currently hosts 0.48 million tonnes at 1.39 g/t for 21,300 ounces.
Horizon said the new results confirmed existing grades and widths while extending mineralisation south of the current resource model, with hole MBRC054 highlighting potential for increasing width and grade further south and west.
Managing director Scott Williamson said the results were part of a broader RC campaign continuing to highlight opportunities for resource expansion across Gum Creek, with further drilling planned before updated resource estimates are completed.
Next steps
Horizon is planning follow-up RC and diamond drilling across all three prospects.
At Howards, infill resource drilling is scheduled over the coming months ahead of a Mineral Resource Estimate update later in 2026.
At Heron South, two diamond holes are being drilled to improve the company's understanding of structural controls on high-grade shoots, with an updated resource estimate to follow once results are received.
Further shallow RC drilling is also planned across the previously undrilled southern portion of Melbourne Bitter before its next resource update later in 2026. Diamond drilling is continuing elsewhere at the Swan, Kingfisher and Wilsons deposits, while RC drilling remains underway across the wider Gum Creek area.
Horizon Gold had confirmed a financially robust development pathway for Gum Creek with a definitive feasibility study targeting first production in the second half of 2028.
About Horizon Gold
Horizon Gold is focused on the 100%-owned Gum Creek Gold Project in Western Australia, which hosts a total Mineral Resource of 37.97 million tonnes at 1.89 g/t gold for 2.30 million ounces.
A definitive feasibility study released in July outlined a 2.4-million-tonne-per-annum mining and processing operation supported by a maiden Ore Reserve of 18.2 million tonnes at 1.24 g/t for 728,000 ounces of gold.
The study forecasts average production of around 88,000 ounces annually over an initial 10-year mine life, with production peaking at 114,000 ounces in year two and total recovered gold of about 880,000 ounces.
Gum Creek Gold Project and surrounding gold resources and operating gold processing facilities.