Auric Mining Hits 4m at 10.49g/t Gold as Munda Mine Restart Targets 2027
Key Takeaways
- Western extension RC drilling at Munda returned a headline intercept of 4m @ 10.49 g/t Au from 46m, supporting potential resource growth along strike beyond the current Stage 2 pit boundary.
- Grade control drilling has completed 92 holes for 2,226m, with standout results including 4m @ 19.34 g/t and 9m @ 7.82 g/t that closely mirror the high-grade mineralisation mined in the previously completed Starter Pit.
- Geotechnical diamond drilling is complete at 4 holes for 580m, with pit wall parameters now feeding directly into final pit design and Ore Reserve estimation — both targeted for October 2026.
- Four concurrent drilling programs are running simultaneously, compressing the development timeline toward a planned 2027 open pit mining recommencement at the 600ktpa Burbanks Processing Plant.
- The Mine Development and Closure Plan — a key permit required before mining can restart — is currently in preparation, representing the primary regulatory milestone still to clear ahead of 2027.
Munda drilling delivers high-grade results as 2027 mine restart takes shape
Auric Mining (ASX: AWJ) has released initial drilling results from four concurrent programs at the Munda Gold Project in Western Australia, with all workstreams advancing toward a planned recommencement of open pit mining in 2027. The headline result from western extension RC drilling returned 4m @ 10.49 g/t Au from 46m, while grade control drilling delivered a series of high-grade near-surface intercepts that closely mirror results from the previously mined Starter Pit.
The announcement, released on 24 September 2026, positions Munda as a de-risking story rather than a discovery story. Multiple parallel programs are running simultaneously, each targeting a specific input required for Ore Reserve estimation, final pit design, and mine planning — all expected to converge in October 2026 ahead of the targeted 2027 mining restart.
Mark English, Managing Director
“These initial results are an encouraging start to our substantial drilling program at Munda. The high-grade extensional intercept of 4m at 10.49 g/t gold supports the potential to grow the Resource along strike beyond the current pit design, while the grade control results continue to demonstrate strong near-surface mineralisation within the planned open pit.
“With extension and grade control drilling continuing, geotechnical drilling completed and final pit design and Ore Reserve work advancing, we are steadily de-risking the next stage of development ahead of the planned recommencement of mining in 2027.”
Grade control standouts from the program include:
- 15m @ 5.56 g/t from 6m
- 4m @ 19.34 g/t from 9m (including 2m @ 38.10 g/t)
- 9m @ 7.82 g/t from 17m (including 1m @ 26.40 g/t)
- 14m @ 3.92 g/t from 6m
- 10m @ 4.66 g/t from 13m
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Four programs running simultaneously — what each one does
Rather than sequencing its drilling programs one after another, Auric is running four distinct programs concurrently at Munda. This parallel approach compresses the development timeline and signals the company is actively resourcing its path to 2027 production. Here is what each program is designed to achieve:
- Western Extension RC drilling — Testing whether the Munda gold deposit can be extended along strike to the west, beyond the current Stage 2 pit boundary. An initial phase has been completed, with additional drilling targeting the ultramafic contact expected to commence shortly.
- Grade control RC drilling — 92 holes completed for 2,226m, defining ore block boundaries in the upper 30m of the planned pit. This is the fine-scale drilling that underpins detailed mine planning and smooth production ramp-up.
- Geotechnical diamond drilling — 4 holes completed for 580m, determining pit wall parameters for the Stage 2 pit design. Results feed directly into Ore Reserve estimation, with both expected to be finalised in October 2026.
- Sterilisation RC drilling — 29 holes completed for 1,475m, confirming that the proposed Waste Rock Landform location does not contain ore. No assay results have been received to date, with the program ongoing.
Understanding grade control drilling and why it matters before mining begins
Grade control drilling is a close-spaced drilling program conducted before open pit mining begins. It is designed to define the boundaries between ore and waste at a level of detail that is simply not possible from broader resource definition drilling. At Munda, the grade control program is being drilled on a 5m x 5m pattern to precisely delineate ore blocks within the upper 30m of the planned Stage 2 pit.
Why does this matter? Because knowing exactly where high-grade material sits before the first blast means the mining team can direct ore to the mill efficiently and avoid diluting high-grade tonnes with waste. Experience from the previously mined Starter Pit at Munda demonstrated that localised high-grade zones have a considerable influence on overall gold inventory — and the Stage 2 grade control results are showing the same style of mineralisation.
Munda gold production results from the previously completed campaign exceeded targets, establishing the grade continuity baseline that the current Stage 2 grade control program is now confirming at depth and along strike.
That consistency is important for investors. It suggests the grade model is tracking to plan, rather than revealing surprises. The intended processing destination is the 600ktpa Burbanks Processing Plant, and a smooth production ramp-up at that facility depends on the kind of detailed ore block definition that grade control drilling provides.
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Key milestones and what comes next for Munda
The path from current drilling to 2027 production follows a clear sequence of de-risking steps:
- Geotechnical diamond drilling: completed ✓
- Final pit design and engineering: expected to be finalised October 2026
- Ore Reserve estimation: expected to be published October 2026
- Western extension RC drilling: next phase targeting ultramafic contact commencing shortly
- RC drilling below the deepest section of the designed pit: commencing in coming months (targeting depth extension and potential underground optionality)
- Stage 2 grade control drilling: ongoing
- Mine Development and Closure Plan (MDCP): preparation underway — a key permit required for the next stage of mining
- Mining recommencement: planned 2027
| Program | Drill Type | Holes / Metres Completed | Purpose | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Extension | RC | 42 holes / 4,208m | Testing resource growth potential along strike west of the Stage 2 pit boundary | Initial phase complete; next phase commencing shortly |
| Grade Control | RC | 92 holes / 2,226m | Defining ore blocks in the upper 30m of the planned pit ahead of mine planning | Ongoing |
| Geotechnical Diamond | Diamond | 4 holes / 580m | Determining pit wall parameters for Stage 2 pit design and Ore Reserve estimation | Completed ✓ |
| Sterilisation | RC | 29 holes / 1,475m | Confirming proposed Waste Rock Landform location is free of ore | Ongoing; no assays received to date |
With all four programs either completed or actively advancing, Auric is steadily de-risking the inputs required for the October 2026 Ore Reserve publication — the critical gating milestone before the planned 2027 mining recommencement at Munda.
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