Forrestania Resources Upgrades British Hill Gold Resource 131% to 126,290oz
British Hill resource jumps 131% to 126,290oz gold in major upgrade for Forrestania
Forrestania Resources has reported an updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate for its British Hill Deposit totalling 2,620,900 tonnes @ 1.50 g/t Au for 126,290oz Au at a 0.5 g/t cut-off, representing a 131% uplift from the previous estimate. The upgrade includes 1,878,500 tonnes @ 1.43 g/t in the Indicated category for 86,080oz Au, a 180% uplift from the previous MRE, significantly increasing the proportion of higher-confidence resources. The announcement positions British Hill as a key asset within Forrestania’s broader gold strategy across its Western Australian portfolio.
The updated estimate was independently created and verified by Widenbar and Associates Pty Ltd, a Perth-based geological consultancy, and was supported by a recent 19-hole, 4,765m drill program, including 693m of diamond tails. The resource upgrade reflects both increased confidence in the mineralisation and expansion of the known deposit footprint at British Hill, located 75km south-southeast of Southern Cross in the Yilgarn Mineral Field.
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Breaking down the upgraded resource
The updated MRE demonstrates substantial growth in both total ounces and the proportion classified as Indicated Resources, which carry higher geological confidence. The estimate was prepared in accordance with the 2012 JORC Code and assumes open-pit mining with processing at the Edna May plant, using a gold price assumption of AUD 5,500/oz.
The classification methodology incorporated drill hole spacing, geological continuity, kriging variance, and data quality. Indicated material is confined to areas where resource definition drilling is 25m x 25m or less, while material with drill spacing up to 50m x 50m is classified as Inferred.
| Classification | Cut-off (g/t Au) | Tonnes | Au g/t | Au Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indicated | 0.50 | 1,878,500 | 1.43 | 86,080 |
| Inferred | 0.50 | 742,400 | 1.68 | 40,210 |
| Total | 0.50 | 2,620,900 | 1.50 | 126,290 |
The shift toward a higher proportion of Indicated Resources improves the foundation for future development studies and reduces geological risk, providing greater confidence for technical and economic assessments.
What a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate means for investors
For investors new to mining, understanding the structure of a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate is fundamental to assessing project value and risk.
A JORC MRE categorises mineralisation based on geological confidence, determined primarily by drill hole spacing and the quality of geological interpretation. The two main confidence categories are:
- Indicated Resources — drill spacing of 25m x 25m or less (higher confidence)
- Inferred Resources — drill spacing up to 50m x 50m (lower confidence)
Indicated Resources carry sufficient geological confidence to support preliminary economic studies and mine planning. Inferred Resources represent mineralisation where additional drilling is required to improve confidence before inclusion in detailed feasibility work.
The cut-off grade is the minimum grade used to define economic mineralisation. In this case, a 0.5 g/t Au cut-off was applied, meaning only material grading at or above this threshold is included in the resource estimate. The cut-off is determined by expected mining and processing costs, metallurgical recovery, and gold price assumptions.
All JORC Resources must demonstrate Reasonable Prospects for Eventual Economic Extraction (RPEEE). For British Hill, this was assessed using pit optimisation with open-pit mining assumptions, processing at the Edna May plant, and a gold price of AUD 5,500/oz. RPEEE ensures that reported resources have a realistic pathway to eventual development, rather than simply representing mineralisation in the ground.
A larger, higher-confidence resource provides the technical foundation for advancing a project through feasibility studies, securing financing, and ultimately moving toward development.
Drilling continues with three RC rigs and a 100-hole program approved
Work has recommenced at British Hill with three RC rigs focused on resource extension along strike and down-dip. The company has secured approval for an additional 100-hole drill program (PoW Registration ID 208470), targeting further expansion of the mineralised footprint and conversion of Inferred Resources to Indicated status through infill drilling.
The deposit currently extends over approximately 1,100m along strike, up to 200m across strike, and to 250m depth. The mineralisation remains open in multiple directions, providing a clear pathway for further resource growth.
Recent drilling in 2026 has returned strong intercepts, demonstrating grade continuity and validating the expansion potential:
- 8m @ 5.06 g/t Au from surface (26BHRC0015)
- 22m @ 1.21 g/t Au from 33m
- 5m @ 5.96 g/t Au from 124m
- 15m @ 1.91 g/t Au from 225m
All intercepts are reported as down-hole widths; true widths are not yet known.
The combination of strong drill results, systematic infill drilling, and an open mineralised system positions British Hill for continued resource expansion over the coming quarters.
Director commentary
David Geraghty, Chairman, Forrestania Resources
“British Hill continues to expand, with a more than doubling of the previous Mineral Resource Estimate and a material increase in the proportion of higher-confidence Indicated Resources. The combination of resource growth, ongoing drilling success and excellent regional infrastructure positions British Hill as a key asset within our broader Forrestania gold strategy. With three RC drilling rigs on site and drilling continuing, we believe there remains significant opportunity to further expand the resource base and enhance project economics as we progress technical studies and evaluate future development pathways.”
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The investment case and what’s next
The updated JORC MRE at British Hill represents a significant step in Forrestania’s strategy to build a scalable gold production platform across Western Australia. The deposit sits within the Forrestania Greenstone Belt, host to the historic +1Moz Bounty Gold Mine, underscoring the region’s demonstrated prospectivity for structurally controlled greenstone gold systems.
Resource growth, combined with a rising proportion of Indicated Resources and excellent regional infrastructure, positions British Hill as a key asset within Forrestania’s broader strategy to develop two complementary processing hubs at Edna May and Lake Johnston.
Planned activities over the next 12 months include:
- Conceptual mining studies
- Metallurgical test work
- 100-hole drill program to extend the resource along strike and down-dip
- Infill drilling to convert Inferred Resources to Indicated status
- Securing a milling option for British Hill ore treatment
The company is also evaluating future development pathways through technical studies, with the updated resource providing the foundation for preliminary economic assessments.
British Hill benefits from its proximity to established gold infrastructure and processing facilities, reducing the capital and technical risk typically associated with greenfield development. The deposit’s scale, open mineralisation, and rising geological confidence provide a strong technical foundation for advancing the project toward development consideration.
Additional exploration potential exists below the current resource, where historic drill intercepts require validation and further testing. Future programs will depend on results and strategic priorities.
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