Krakatoa Resources Ltd (ASX:KTA) earlier this week reported high-grade gold and antimony results from its 2026 program at the Zopkhito Antimony-Gold Project, with CEO Mark Major saying the latest work had reinforced the mineralisation seen in the historical dataset.
Major said the recent sample batch had returned gold grades of around 17 grams per tonne, while previous work had produced grades of approximately 28 grams per tonne. He said antimony remained a principal focus and noted that current work had returned grades of around 15%, with previous drilling data including results above 20%.
Major described the results as “reaffirming pretty much what we already know is in the historical database”.
A potentially important development for the project was the identification of mineralisation outside the existing foreign resource estimate. Major said early-season access constraints had led Krakatoa Resources to investigate lower-level historical adits developed during the late 1960s and 1970s.
Sampling of those workings had provided further evidence of gold-bearing veins and had expanded the company’s understanding of the possible mineralised footprint, Major said.
The next stage of work could provide several potential catalysts. Major said further activity was underway inside the adits, while surface drilling had shifted to the western side of the project to test a series of veins that had not previously been drilled.
Krakatoa Resources also planned to collect bulk samples for metallurgical test work and continue geotechnical studies within the underground workings.
Looking further ahead, Major said the company was considering preparations for underground drilling during the next field season. That program could be aimed at expanding the resource and lifting its classification as Krakatoa Resources works toward converting the existing foreign resource into a JORC-compliant resource.
Major said the current priority was to complete the technical work required to support future economic studies and advance Zopkhito toward permitting.
The combination of ongoing drilling, adit sampling, metallurgical work, geotechnical studies and potential underground drilling therefore represents the key project milestones for investors to watch as Krakatoa Resources continues to assess the scale and development potential of Zopkhito.
Interview highlights
- Krakatoa Resources Ltd (ASX:KTA, LSE:, AIM:) reported high-grade gold and antimony results that CEO Mark Major said reaffirmed the historical dataset at Zopkhito.
- Major highlighted gold grades of around 17 g/t in the latest sample batch, compared with a previous high of around 28 g/t.
- Antimony results included grades of around 15%, while previous drilling data had returned grades above 20%.
- Sampling of historical lower-level adits has identified mineralisation beyond the existing foreign resource estimate, adding to the company’s understanding of the potential resource footprint.
- Krakatoa Resources is conducting further work within the adits and has moved surface drilling to the western side, where previously untested veins are being assessed.
- Planned work includes bulk sampling for metallurgical testing and further geotechnical studies.
- The company is considering preparations for underground drilling during the next field season as it seeks to expand the resource and improve its classification.
- Longer-term work is intended to support economic studies and advance the project toward permitting.
Proactive: Krakatoa Resources has delivered high-grade gold and antimony from the first batch of assays from its 2026 drilling program at Zopkhito. Joining me to discuss the results is CEO Mark Major. Mark, good to see you again.
Mark Major: Good to see you too, Jonathan.
Proactive: Let’s talk through these results. Give us the highlights and what they tell you about the project.
Mark Major: The results are reaffirming pretty much what the historical numbers have shown. We’re getting high-grade numbers. From the work we did last year, our highest gold grade was around 28 grams per tonne. This sample batch was around 17 grams per tonne.
On the antimony side, which is the main focus, we’ve got around 15% here, and we know there was more than 20% in last year’s drilling data as well. As I said, we’re reaffirming pretty much what we already know is in the historical database.
Proactive: You’ve also found mineralisation outside that foreign resource estimate. What does that mean for the potential size?
Mark Major: That’s an interesting part because our main task is really to convert the foreign resource into a JORC resource.
We got on site pretty early this season, and access to the upper parts of the mountain wasn’t as viable as the lower part, so we decided to go into some of the lower adits. Those adits were put in during the late 1960s and 1970s, so we looked to sample those.
Knowing that these veins carry some good-grade gold extends our knowledge of the mineralisation and, obviously, the potential footprint of what the resource could be.
Proactive: Staying on that resource, what work is still needed to convert the foreign resource into JORC?
Mark Major: There’s still a bit of work to be done. We’ve got the rest of this season to pull a lot of it together.
We’re doing a lot more work inside the adits, especially in the upper parts as the season progresses. With surface drilling, we’ve moved across to the western side now. There’s a whole series of new veins there that we haven’t tested before, so that’s what we’re undertaking right now. There’s obviously a lot more other work going on as well.
Proactive: Finally, what are those upcoming catalysts?
Mark Major: We’re going to be taking bulk samples for metallurgical work. We’re also doing a lot of geotechnical work inside the adits and preparing for next year’s season.
Our current thinking is to start preparing for underground drilling, again expanding the resource and raising its category next year.
Right now, it’s really about getting the job done and ticking off all the other boxes needed to work on the economic studies we want to undertake and to push the project forward toward permitting.
Proactive: Mark, good luck with all of that work. There’s a lot of work there, but thanks for your time this morning. We’ll talk again soon.
Mark Major: Thanks, Jonathan. It was great.
