Barton Gold Holdings Limited has started infrastructure sterilisation drilling at its Tunkillia Gold Project in South Australia, advancing technical planning alongside pending resource upgrades as a Pre-Feasibility Study moves toward publication.

The new drilling campaign is designed to test multiple potential locations for key project infrastructure, including waste dumps, tailings storage facilities, and the processing plant, ensuring these surface installations are not sited over valuable mineralisation.

The work follows a cumulative 57,653 metres of reverse circulation and diamond drilling completed across 520 holes during Phase 1 and Phase 2 campaigns at the project. Gold and silver JORC Mineral Resource Estimate upgrades are pending following this extensive drilling, with the data intended to support the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study, a subsequent Mining Lease application, and project financing.

Tunkillia's May 2025 Optimised Scoping Study outlined a large-scale development project targeting annual production of approximately 120,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver, comparing with estimated annual silver production of approximately 250,000 ounces in the initial scoping study parameters.

The Pre-Feasibility Study currently underway aims to convert modelled open pit mineralisation into high-confidence JORC Proven and Probable Ore Reserves, providing the technical foundation required to underwrite development financing. GR Engineering Services Limited has been appointed to lead the Pre-Feasibility Study, which is targeted for publication in the first quarter of 2027.

“In the meantime, we continue advancing our geotechnical, metallurgical and infrastructure planning programs in parallel, which includes sterilisation drilling at various proposed sites for key infrastructure.”

— Alex Scanlon, Managing Director

Following the publication of the Pre-Feasibility Study and the planned submission of a Mining Lease application, Barton Gold intends to advance project finance discussions as it works toward commercial development.

Read the full announcement: Infrastructure Sterilisation Drilling Begins at Tunkillia