NMR Hits Record 1.09g/t Head Grade at Blackjack Setting Up Strong August Output
NMR hits record head grade at Blackjack, setting up strong August gold production
Native Mineral Resources has delivered its highest reconciled monthly mill head grade of 1.09g/t Au since recommissioning the Blackjack Processing Plant at its Charters Towers, Queensland operations. The July 2026 result marks a record since the plant was recommissioned in July 2025, up from 0.93g/t in June. The company announced on 5 August 2026 that it poured 590oz doré on 4 August comprising three bars, with combined gold purity expected to exceed 60% pending official refinery settlement. Operational ROM inventory stood at approximately 12,000 tonnes @ 1.39g/t Au, containing an estimated 536oz of gold, positioning the operation for improved throughput in August following completion of primary generator replacement and planned maintenance.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
July gold pours confirm consistent production
NMR maintained its weekly gold smelting cadence throughout July, with official refinery settlements confirming 326.6oz of payable gold and 187.5oz of payable silver from a combined official doré weight of 670.3oz. The company’s consistent weekly production demonstrates operational stability as mine-to-mill reconciliation continues to validate ore quality delivered to the plant.
The latest 4 August pour remains pending official refinery settlement, with combined gold purity expected to exceed 60%.
| Pour Date | Doré Weight (oz) | Payable Gold (oz) | Payable Silver (oz) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 July (BJM073–075) | Not disclosed | 109.47 | 53.29 | Settled |
| 14 July | 131.3 | 65.55 | 48.50 | Settled |
| 21 July | 335.3 | 151.56 | 85.71 | Settled |
| July Total | 670.3 (combined official weight) | 326.6 | 187.5 | Settled |
| 4 August (BJM079–081) | 590.0 | Pending | Pending | >60% purity expected |
Refinery outturns from July demonstrated consistent recoveries, providing increasing confidence in the company’s grade control and mine-to-mill performance.
Record head grade despite maintenance-driven throughput dip
July operating performance delivered a record reconciled head grade despite reduced throughput attributable to approximately 250 hours of planned and unplanned downtime. The reduction in milling activity was primarily due to replacement and commissioning of the site’s primary Aggreko power generator following generator failure, together with scheduled plant maintenance and reliability improvement works.
Key operating metrics for July:
- Dry tonnes milled: 18,699 dmt (down from 21,152 dmt in June)
- Reconciled plant recovery: 96.1% (sustained above 96%)
- Reconciled gold recovered: 629.2oz (up from 610.3oz in June)
- Reconciled head grade: 1.09g/t (record since recommissioning, up from 0.93g/t)
- Ball mill availability: 99.0% (improved following reliability upgrades)
- Crusher availability: 78.0% (reduced due to major maintenance)
Metallurgical performance remained strong despite reduced operating hours, with reconciled plant recovery sustained above 96% and reconciled gold recovered increasing month-on-month. The ball mill availability improved to 99.0% following reliability improvements, whilst crusher availability reduced temporarily as major maintenance was undertaken.
| Metric | June ’26 | July ’26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Tonnes Milled | 21,152 dmt | 18,699 dmt | Planned maintenance impact |
| Throughput Rate | 39.7 tph | 38.4 tph | Stable |
| Reconciled Plant Recovery | 96.3% | 96.1% | Maintained |
| Reconciled Gold Recovered | 610.3 oz | 629.2 oz | Improved |
| Reconciled Head Grade | 0.93 g/t | 1.09 g/t | Record |
| Tailings Grade | 0.03 g/t | 0.04 g/t | Stable |
| Crusher Availability | 93.8% | 78.0% | Reduced due to planned maintenance |
| Ball Mill Availability | 91.3% | 99.0% | Strong |
Blake Cannavo, Managing Director & CEO
“July represented another important step forward for Blackjack. While overall throughput was temporarily impacted by planned maintenance and the replacement of the site’s primary power generator, the operation achieved its highest reconciled monthly mill head grade since recommissioning at 1.09g/t gold. Pleasingly, our ongoing reconciliation program continues to validate the quality of ore delivered to the plant, with refinery outturns from our July gold pours demonstrating consistent recoveries and providing increasing confidence in our grade control and mine-to-mill performance.
Importantly, we have now replaced the site’s primary power generator and completed planned maintenance. Combined with approximately 12,000 tonnes of mill feed grading 1.39g/t Au currently available on the ROM pad and our latest 590-ounce doré pour, Blackjack enters August well positioned for improved throughput and continued weekly gold production.”
Importantly, the primary power generator has now been replaced and commissioned, and maintenance completed, positioning August for improved availability.
Understanding head grade and mine-to-mill reconciliation
Head grade measures the grams of gold per tonne of ore fed to the processing plant. A higher head grade means more gold is extracted per tonne processed, directly improving production economics and reducing unit costs. For example, processing ore at 1.09g/t recovers more gold per tonne than ore at 0.93g/t, even if the same tonnage is milled.
Reconciliation compares the predicted grade (estimated before mining) against the actual grade measured at the plant. Consistent reconciliation builds investor confidence in a miner’s grade control processes and ore reserve estimates. When predicted and actual grades align closely, it validates the geological model and de-risks future production forecasts. NMR’s improving reconciliation demonstrates strengthening mine-to-mill performance and supports confidence in ongoing production planning.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
What the strong ROM inventory means for August and beyond
August is well-positioned following July’s record grade achievement, completion of major maintenance activities, and resolution of the primary power generator issue. The substantial high-grade ROM stockpile ready for processing underpins near-term production continuity as the company maintains its weekly gold smelting program.
Forward catalysts supporting August performance:
- ROM pad inventory: Approximately 12,000 tonnes @ 1.39g/t Au, containing an estimated 536oz of gold, provides a strong production platform for continued weekly pours.
- Primary power generator replacement complete: The new Aggreko generator has been commissioned, with improved plant availability expected to lift throughput in August.
- Continued weekly gold pours: The established weekly smelting cadence supports steady near-term production and cash flow generation.
- Pending official settlement: The 4 August 590oz doré pour awaits refinery settlement, with combined gold purity expected to exceed 60%.
The combination of record reconciled head grade, sustained plant recovery above 96%, and a substantial high-grade ROM inventory positions NMR’s Blackjack operations for improved operating performance through August. Consistent weekly production coupled with improving grade control underpins the company’s operational momentum at the Charters Towers project.
Get ASX Gold News Before the Market Moves
Join 30,000+ investors receiving FREE breaking ASX gold alerts delivered within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis. Native Mineral Resources just hit record head grades at Blackjack—don’t miss the next significant development. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Discovery Alert to start receiving real-time mining sector updates the moment news breaks.