Avira Resources Finishes First Sirdar Drilling at Mt Cattlin as Assay Results Loom
Key Takeaways
- Avira has completed first-pass RC drilling at Sirdar, 10 holes for 1,362m, the first time the company has drill-tested the prospect.
- Phase 1 is about 3,602m through the 4,500m program (30 of 37 holes), with roughly 900m left and Ellendale drilling due to finish in mid-October.
- No assay results are in yet, so no mineralisation is confirmed and grades from this drilling remain unknown.
- Sirdar's historical highlights include 6.00m @ 50.07 g/t Au and 1.00m @ 131.24 g/t Au, and Maori Queen and Sirdar together carry historical production of 23,006 tonnes at 24.56 g/t Au.
- Assay announcements from SGS Australia are the next catalyst, ahead of the company's plan for a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate with no timeline given.
Sirdar RC drilling complete at Mt Cattlin as Phase 1 passes 3,600m
First-pass drilling at Sirdar is finished, but the result that matters most, the assays, has not arrived yet. Avira Resources (ASX:AVW) said in its 12 October 2026 update that reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Mt Cattlin Gold Project is complete at Sirdar, with 10 holes drilled for 1,362m.
This is the first time Avira has drill-tested Sirdar. Two further extensional holes (holes drilled to extend known mineralisation) have also been completed at Maori Queen for 330m, and drilling is now underway at Ellendale.
Assay results are pending, so no mineralisation has been confirmed by this drilling.
Andrew van Bentum, Chief Executive Officer
“Completing first-pass drilling at Sirdar, together with two further extensional holes at Maori Queen, is a good start to the resumed program…”
The resumed program is moving through its targets, and assay news flow is the next catalyst for investors to watch.
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Phase 1 program progress
Strike Drilling, the company’s appointed RC drilling contractor, re-commenced drilling on 25 September 2026, following the 22 September 2026 announcement. The work is part of the approved 4,500-metre Phase 1 program.
| Prospect | Holes/Metres | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sirdar | **10 holes, 1,362m** | Complete | First-pass RC drilling |
| Maori Queen | **2 extensional holes, 330m** | Complete | Further extensional holes |
| Ellendale | Underway | Completion expected mid-October | Included in remaining metres |
| Total | **30 of 37 holes**, approximately **3,602m of 4,500m** | Approximately **900m** remaining | Includes drilling now underway at Ellendale |
The 3,602m and 900m figures are stated by the company as approximate. A significant portion of Phase 1 has been drilled, so the program is nearing completion.
Why Sirdar and Ellendale matter
Sirdar’s high-grade history
Sirdar is historically the most extensively drilled prospect at Mt Cattlin. Earlier drilling programs recorded high-grade intersections (see ASX announcement 24 March 2026), including:
- 1.00m @ 131.24 g/t Au
- 6.00m @ 50.07 g/t Au
Avira’s first-pass drilling was designed to test the historical interpretation that Sirdar hosts the highest grades and largest mineralised footprint of any prospect in the project area. Geological interpretation is ongoing.
Maori Queen and Sirdar together carry a historical production record of 23,006 tonnes at 24.56 g/t Au. That is history, not a forecast of what the new drilling will find.
Ellendale, the next target
Ellendale sits north-west of Sirdar. It has returned historical intersections including 10.00m @ 2.70 g/t Au from 77m and 13.00m @ 1.51 g/t Au from 24m (see ASX announcement 24 March 2026).
The current drilling represents the first drill-testing of Ellendale by Avira.
What is RC drilling and why do assays matter?
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is a method that returns rock chips from the hole to surface, where they can be collected and sampled. It tells geologists what rock is down the hole, but not how much gold it holds.
That answer comes from laboratory assay, which measures the grade of the samples. Avira said drill samples are being transported progressively to SGS Australia’s laboratory in Perth.
Until those results are received and interpreted, the grades from this drilling are unknown. That is why the market will watch for assay announcements, and why historical grades are context only, not a guarantee.
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Investment context and next steps
Mt Cattlin is about 430km east-southeast of Perth and 4km north of Ravensthorpe. It sits immediately adjacent to the Mt Cattlin Lithium Mine and 15km NW of Medallion Metals Ltd’s Kundip Gold Project (1.1Moz Au).
Avira holds 100% of the gold and non-pegmatite mineral rights over Exploration Licence E74/401, following completion of the acquisition announced on 20 October 2025.
The company outlined these next steps:
- Drilling at Ellendale is expected to be completed in mid-October.
- Drill samples continue to be transported progressively to SGS Australia’s laboratory in Perth.
- The company will advise the market when assay results are received and interpreted.
- A further update will follow on completion of the program.
Mt Cattlin remains the company’s primary exploration focus, underpinning Avira’s plan to deliver a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Project. The announcement does not give a timeline for that estimate.
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