Santana Minerals Finds Deeper Gold System Beneath Rise and Shine Planned Pit
Key Takeaways
- Infill holes MDD529 and MDD530 at Rise and Shine South returned high-grade gold intercepts including 20.7m at 4.8 g/t Au and a 2.3m zone at 19.7 g/t Au, reinforcing the size and tenor of the HG1 high-grade core.
- MDD530 resolved previous uncertainty by confirming westward grade continuity of the HG1 domain to an earlier hole, MDD125, extending the high-grade footprint with confidence.
- A 11.3m intercept at 7.3 g/t Au at 234m depth in MDD530 suggests a stacked parallel gold system beneath the planned open pit limits — a zone not yet in the current resource model or mine plan.
- The infill programme is targeting 25m drill spacing, the threshold that supports resource classification upgrades from Inferred to Indicated, which is required for bankable feasibility studies and development financing.
- Three holes remain in the current programme, with concurrent metallurgical, environmental, geotechnical, and hydrological work advancing in parallel as Santana moves toward a development decision for the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project.
High-grade core strengthens as infill drilling delivers exceptional results at Rise and Shine
Santana Minerals has released results from two further holes in the ongoing infill drilling programme at Rise and Shine (RAS) South, with both returning exceptional gold intercepts that are expanding and increasing the tenor of the high-grade core known as the HG1 domain.
The programme objective is to reduce drill spacing to 25m on section across areas central to the early mining sequence. These latest results follow holes previously announced on 7 and 27 July 2026, with three holes still remaining in the programme.
The standout intercepts from the two new holes are:
MDD529:
- 20.7m @ 4.8 g/t Au from 168.8m (true width 17.5m)
- 2.3m @ 19.7 g/t Au from 198m (true width 1.9m)
MDD530:
- 25.8m @ 1.1 g/t Au from 152.5m (true width 22.9m)
- 11.0m @ 8.5 g/t Au from 182.0m (true width 9.7m)
- 11.3m @ 7.3 g/t Au from 234.0m (true width 10.0m)
These results are not just confirming what the company already knew. They are actively reinforcing the size and grade of a domain that is central to how Santana plans to sequence its early mining activity.
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What the results mean for the HG1 high-grade domain
Domain continuity now confidently extended westward
Prior to MDD530, the connection between the HG1 domain and an earlier hole, MDD125, remained ambiguous. MDD530 has resolved that uncertainty, now demonstrating clear grade continuity and supporting a confident westward extension of the HG1 domain.
A key geological feature observed across both holes is the presence of dilatational breccias (DBX). These are relatively narrow zones where rock has fractured and opened up, creating pathways for gold-bearing fluids to concentrate. They can host very high grades, and both MDD529 and MDD530 show extensive occurrences of millimetre-scale visible gold within these structures.
A deeper stacked zone emerges beneath the planned pit
The most strategically significant result from this programme is MDD530’s intercept of 11.3m @ 7.3 g/t Au at 234m depth. The company indicates this appears to represent a stacked repeating zone beneath the HG1 domain, sitting below the previously planned open pit limits.
The deeper stratigraphy in this area is relatively untested, and these intercepts are beginning to build a picture of what may be a parallel system running beneath the planned open pit. This is not yet incorporated into the current resource model or mine plan, but the emerging pattern is increasingly compelling as additional holes contribute to the picture.
Damian Spring, Executive Director & CEO
“The tighter we drill this HG1 domain, the better and more consistent it becomes. It allows us to enhance our early mining strategy for the areas of planned open pit mining as we advance towards a development decision. We are genuinely excited by the numerous deeper high-grade intercepts from what appears to be a parallel stacked zone beneath the previously planned pit limits. As these begin to hang together, they open a whole new dimension to the ore system at RAS.”
Understanding infill drilling and why it matters for investors
Infill drilling is the process of drilling additional holes between existing drill holes to reduce the spacing between data points. The tighter the spacing, the more confidence geologists have in the grade and geometry of a deposit.
That confidence directly affects how a resource is classified. Wider-spaced drilling produces Inferred resources, the lowest confidence category. Tighter spacing — such as the 25m on section target here — can upgrade those estimates to Indicated or Measured, which carry significantly more weight with banks, financiers, and decision-makers.
Here is how that pipeline works in practice:
- Infill drilling reduces spacing and improves data density across the ore body.
- Resource classification upgrades from Inferred to Indicated or Measured, reflecting higher geological confidence.
- Feasibility studies (including bankable feasibility studies) rely on Indicated and Measured resources to model economics with credibility.
- Development financing and final investment decisions are built on that feasibility foundation.
For the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project, the HG1 domain is central to the early mining sequence. The more confidently it can be defined, the stronger the foundation Santana has for advancing toward a development decision.
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What comes next for Santana Minerals
Three holes remain in the current infill programme, with results expected to continue refining the HG1 domain geometry and grade distribution. Each additional hole at this spacing adds another data point to a model that is becoming progressively more defined.
Running concurrently, the company is advancing metallurgical test work alongside environmental, geotechnical, and hydrological investigations, all of which support pre-mining studies. Regional exploration continues under the RINA programme, with field mapping and soil sampling ongoing for target generation.
The overall trajectory is one of progressive de-risking. Each infill result builds a stronger, more defensible case for the Bendigo Ophir Gold Project as Santana moves closer to a development decision.
Key intercepts — MDD529 and MDD530 (Appendix 1):
| Hole ID | From (m) | Drill Intercept (m) | True Width (m) | Au Grade (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MDD529 | 168.8 | 20.7 | 17.5 | 4.8 |
| MDD529 | 198.0 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 19.7 |
| MDD530 | 152.5 | 25.8 | 22.9 | 1.1 |
| MDD530 | 182.0 | 11.0 | 9.7 | 8.5 |
| MDD530 | 234.0 | 11.3 | 10.0 | 7.3 |
Source: Appendix 1, Santana Minerals ASX Announcement, 3 September 2026. Intercepts reported at a 0.50 g/t lower cut-off grade with maximum 2m internal dilution.
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