Ballard Mining (BM1) has intercepted the highest gold values in the history of its Mt Ida project. Drilling at the West Knell prospect, located within the 13-kilometre-long Ballard Fault Zone, returned a highlight intersection of 9 metres at 27.1 grams per tonne of gold from a depth of 191 metres. This result, which represents 244 gram-metres, was identified outside the project's current mineral resource envelope, effectively extending known mineralization to the north and at depth.

The latest exploration campaign, which spanned 45 holes totaling 5,528 metres, targeted several prospects along the Ballard Fault Zone to test strike continuity. Additional intercepts at West Knell included 4 metres at 7.2 grams per tonne of gold and 2 metres at 5.6 grams per tonne. The mineralized system at West Knell is characterized by moderately east-dipping shear zones containing quartz and sulphides, hosted within anorthosite. These results are currently being incorporated into technical models for an upcoming resource update.

The company is preparing to release an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the project later in the September Quarter of 2026. This data is expected to refine the understanding of satellite ore sources that could potentially feed a proposed standalone gold operation at the site. Management views the recent drilling success as evidence that the broader geological corridor warrants further systematic exploration to prove its regional potential.

"This result strengthens confidence that the underexplored 13km Ballard Fault Zone is emerging as a potential camp-scale opportunity."

"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."

— Paul Brennan, Managing Director

Beyond the exploration results, the company is moving to secure the necessary land tenure to support future development. Ballard Mining anticipates the grant of a mining lease over the West Knell deposit during the same September Quarter. Securing this lease is a key administrative milestone as the developer continues to evaluate the prospect’s contribution to future mine schedules and regional production capacity. With the mineralized trend extending for approximately 3.7 kilometres between West Knell and Neptune, the company maintains that the Ballard Fault Zone remains a primary focus for its resource growth objectives, with active drilling programs continuing across the wider project area to further define the potential of this developing gold system.

Read the full announcement: Ballards best ever drill intercept - 9m @ 27g/t