Pilbara Gold (ASX: PGL) is ramping up activity at its Mt York gold project in Western Australia, confirming that its major drilling campaign is now 25% complete. The explorer has moved five rigs onto the site to focus on extending known mineralisation and upgrading existing resources. The company expects to further expand its fleet shortly, with a sixth rig scheduled to arrive by the end of July.

The current 50,000-metre program is primarily targeting the 4.2-kilometre-long Banded Iron Formation that hosts the site’s 2.1-million-ounce gold resource. By drilling deeper and along strike at key areas like Main Hill and Breccia Hill, the company aims to convert Inferred resources into the Indicated category. Geologists have noted encouraging signs, with recent drilling intercepting significant widths of altered rock and sulphide mineralisation consistent with the deposit’s known geology.

Managing Director Dr. Peter Turner emphasised the push for operational speed despite current industry-wide constraints on laboratory processing.

"We have adopted an accelerated drilling timetable by adding a sixth rig to the fleet at Mt York, with the program already 25% complete."

"We are experiencing exceptionally long turnaround times at the laboratory in Perth but aim to have the first 2026 sample results announced to the ASX from the end of July."

— Dr. Peter Turner, Managing Director

Beyond the immediate drilling, the project is moving toward a more formal development footing. The company has completed a 400-square-kilometre LiDAR survey to support upcoming engineering requirements and has already kicked off metallurgical test work, including comminution studies and flowsheet development. These efforts are designed to feed into a comprehensive Pre-Feasibility Study.

Management has outlined a clear timeline for the project’s next phases of news flow. Beyond the initial assays expected at the end of July, the company is preparing for a new Mineral Resource Estimate later in 2026. This data will serve as the foundation for the Pre-Feasibility Study, which is currently on track for completion in the second quarter of 2027. While drilling and lab logistics remain the immediate focus, these technical milestones are intended to confirm the long-term viability of the project and de-risk its progression toward a potential future mine plan. With a large-scale program underway, the upcoming results will be critical in shaping the resource model ahead of the project’s formal evaluation phase.

Read the full announcement: Pilbara Gold accelerates Mt York Extensional & PFS drilling