NMR Hits 19m at 3.09g/t Gold as North Pit Drilling Opens Next Mining Front
Key Takeaways
- The headline intercept from BJRC1304 returned 19m @ 3.09g/t Au from 41m, including a high-grade sub-interval of 2m @ 26.02g/t Au from 48m — the strongest result from the first 14 holes of the North Pit RC program.
- BJRC1305 delivered a broad 34m @ 1.81g/t Au from 42m, including 12m @ 4.63g/t Au, suggesting consistent gold mineralisation across the North Pit area rather than a single isolated hit.
- These are the first results from a planned ~6,000m, ~100-hole program that commenced in August 2026, with drilling and assaying ongoing and results to be reported progressively.
- The orebody is interpreted as shallow-dipping at approximately 30 degrees, with drilled widths considered very close to true widths — meaning reported intercept lengths are a reliable representation of actual mineralised thickness.
- North Pit is the next planned mining front at Blackjack following South Pit completion and ongoing Mid Pit operations, with definition drilling results feeding directly into pit design and mine planning.
Strong gold hits confirm North Pit potential at Blackjack
Native Mineral Resources Holdings Limited (ASX: NMR) has reported initial assay results from its North Pit RC drilling program at the Blackjack Gold Mine near Charters Towers, Queensland, with the first 14 holes returning strong gold mineralisation. The headline intercept from BJRC1304 delivered 19m @ 3.09g/t Au from 41m, including a high-grade zone of 2m @ 26.02g/t Au from 48m. These are the first results from a planned approximately 6,000m, ~100-hole program, with drilling and assaying continuing.
Key intercepts from the initial 14 holes include:
- BJRC1304: 19m @ 3.09g/t Au from 41m, including 4m @ 13.79g/t Au and 2m @ 26.02g/t Au from 48m
- BJRC1305: 34m @ 1.81g/t Au from 42m, including 12m @ 4.63g/t Au from 42m
- BJRC1300: 6m @ 1.93g/t Au from 56m
- BJRC1302: 21m @ 0.75g/t Au from 47m
- BJRC1306: 11m @ 0.85g/t Au from 45m
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Initial results from a 6,000m program already delivering
The North Pit RC drilling program commenced in August 2026 and is planned to comprise approximately 6,000m across ~100 drill holes. This is not grassroots exploration. The program has been designed to improve geological definition of gold mineralisation within the proposed North Pit area, including mineralised geometry, lithological and oxidation contacts, and structural controls.
Assay results from the first 14 holes have now been received, with drilling and assaying ongoing. Results will be progressively incorporated into NMR’s geological model and used to inform subsequent pit design and mine planning. North Pit forms part of NMR’s staged development program at Blackjack, following mining at South Pit and ongoing mining at the North Central Pit (Mid Pit).
Managing Director Blake Cannavo commented on the results:
Blake Cannavo, Managing Director
“These initial North Pit results are highly encouraging, particularly the broad 19m and 34m gold intersections returned from BJRC1304 and BJRC1305. These results are from within an existing operating gold project, immediately adjacent to our current Blackjack mining and processing activities.”
“The drilling program is designed to improve our geological understanding of North Pit and provide the information required to progress geological modelling and pit design, and on the back of our first month of gold production exceeding 1,000oz at Blackjack, we are excited about what’s ahead for our operation.”
What RC drilling is and why it matters at an operating mine
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is a technique where pressurised air drives rock chip samples back to the surface through the inner drill rods, enabling fast and cost-effective sampling across a range of depths. Compared to diamond drilling, which recovers intact core, RC drilling is better suited to large-scale definition programs where volume and speed matter as much as sample detail.
At Blackjack, the technique is being applied not to find a new deposit but to sharpen the geological picture of an area already earmarked for open-cut mining. Understanding the geometry of the mineralised zone, where lithology contacts occur, and how structural controls influence grade distribution are all critical inputs into how a pit is ultimately designed and scheduled.
Tighter geological definition means greater confidence in the estimated ore tonnes and grade feeding into the mine plan. The announcement notes that the orebody is interpreted as shallow-dipping at approximately 30 degrees, and that drilled widths are considered to be very close to true widths. That matters for investors because it means the reported intercept lengths are a reliable representation of the actual mineralised thickness, not a function of drilling angle.
Significant assay results at a glance
The table below summarises the significant intercepts reported from Table 2a of the announcement. All figures have been verified directly against the source.
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Au Grade (g/t) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BJRC1304 | 41m | 19m | 3.09 g/t Au | Headline intercept |
| including | 48m | 4m | 13.79 g/t Au | Sub-interval of BJRC1304 |
| including | 48m | 2m | 26.02 g/t Au | Sub-interval of BJRC1304 |
| BJRC1305 | 42m | 34m | 1.81 g/t Au | Broad headline intercept |
| including | 42m | 12m | 4.63 g/t Au | Sub-interval of BJRC1305 |
| BJRC1300 | 56m | 6m | 1.93 g/t Au | |
| BJRC1302 | 47m | 21m | 0.75 g/t Au | |
| BJRC1306 | 45m | 11m | 0.85 g/t Au |
Results from the remainder of the approximately 100-hole program are pending and will be reported progressively as they become available. The breadth of mineralisation across multiple holes, including the 34m intercept from BJRC1305, suggests consistent gold presence across the North Pit area, though the full picture will only emerge as further assays are received.
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What comes next for NMR at Blackjack
Drilling continues at North Pit, with further assay results pending and expected to be reported progressively. As results are received, they will be incorporated into NMR’s geological model to inform pit design and mine planning for the next stage of the Blackjack operation.
As a quality control measure, multi-element assays and umpire gold assays using 50g fire assay are anticipated to be undertaken at Intertek in Townsville, a certified assay laboratory. This is a standard QAQC step within the broader program rather than a separate assay initiative.
North Pit represents the logical next mining front at Blackjack, following the completion of South Pit mining and ongoing operations at Mid Pit (North Central Pit). The geological definition work being undertaken now is what underpins NMR’s ability to move North Pit through the planning and design stages with confidence. For investors watching the Blackjack story, the quality of these first 14 holes suggests the definition program is off to a strong start.
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