Ore Resources Stakes 18 Tenements, Lifting Kal East Ground 55% Before November Drilling
Key Takeaways
- Ore Resources has staked 18 new tenements covering 408.87km², lifting Kal East to more than 1,100km², a 55% expansion, but all 18 are still pending grant.
- First-pass aircore drilling of 3,000-5,000m begins in November 2026 at Kims, Scotch Star and Rummy, with Programmes of Work approved and heritage surveys about 50% complete.
- Historical intercepts including 5m at 7.94 g/t Au at Rummy and 9m at 6.25 g/t Au at Kims underpin the targets, but they are past results that November's drilling must confirm.
- New ground flanks the Aldiss Mining Centre (352koz) and surrounds the French Kiss Gold Mine, with Vault's Mt Belches (1.69Moz) next to Randalls South.
- A$6.8 million cash with zero debt as at 30 June 2026 funds the near-term program ahead of 10,000-20,000m of AC and RC drilling planned for early 2027, subject to grant and heritage clearances.
Kal East tenure expanded by 55% to more than 1,100km²
Ore Resources (ASX: OR3) has staked 18 new tenements, adding more than 400km² (the tenement table totals 408.87km²) and lifting the Kal East Gold Project’s total gold tenure position to more than 1,100km². The announcement, dated 13 October 2026, describes the landholding as expanded by more than 55%.
The acquisition was described as low-cost and followed a detailed technical review. The new ground covers the Mt Monger, Randalls, Mt Belches and Aldiss gold districts in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia.
One point matters for how you read this: all 18 tenements carry PENDING status in the source table. They have been applied for, not granted, so drilling on them depends on grant and heritage clearances.
Key highlights from the announcement:
- 55% expansion of the Kal East landholding
- 18 new tenements staked
- 7 tenements at Mt Monger, adding more than 18km²
- Cash of A$6.8 million with zero debt (as at 30 June 2026)
Put together, this gives investors a much larger exploration footprint and more chances at a discovery, backed by a balance sheet the company describes as well funded.
Strategic positioning next to major mining centres
New tenure over the eastern extension of the Karonie Greenstone Belt flanks the Aldiss Mining Centre, which contains 6Mt at 1.8 g/t Au for 352koz and includes the operating French Kiss deposit. Ore’s exploration licence application E28/3533 surrounds the French Kiss Gold Mine.
For regional context, the announcement points to Vault Minerals’ Daisy Milano, Mt Belches and Aldiss Mining Centres (3.6Moz @ 1.8g/t) and Black Cat Syndicate’s Kal East Gold Project (1.22Moz @ 1.7g/t Au). These are other companies’ resources, not Ore’s, and they show what the neighbouring ground is known to host.
Nick Rathjen, Managing Director and CEO
“This tenure has been systematically assembled following detailed geological and structural reviews… substantially enhancing the scale and discovery potential of the Kal East Gold Projects.”
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
Mt Monger drilling set to start in November 2026
Heritage clearance surveys across priority target areas at Mt Monger are approximately 50% complete, with the remainder expected to be finalised in late October. Programmes of Work (PoWs), the approvals needed to start drilling, have been approved.
First-pass drilling is scheduled to commence in November 2026. It comprises 3,000-5,000m of aircore (AC) drilling over November and December 2026 at the Kims, Scotch Star and Rummy prospects, focused on testing for further shallow mineralisation and strike extensions.
The table below lists historical results only. They were identified through a review of past drilling and form the basis for the planned drill testing.
| Prospect | Hole ID | Intercept | From depth | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kims | 15MMAC1215 | 9m @ 6.25 g/t Au | 9m | Along strike from Daisy Milano (5.9Mt @ 7.3 g/t Au for 1.39Moz, a Vault resource) |
| Kims | 16MMAC1215 | 3m @ 5.93 g/t Au | 30m | As above |
| Scotch Star | 12SSRC039 | 10m @ 5.80 g/t Au | 61m | On trend with Black Cat’s Fingals Gold Mine (4.99Mt @ 1.6 g/t Au for 251koz) |
| Scotch Star | 12SSRC040 | 16m @ 1.15 g/t Au | 47m | As above |
| Rummy | NMR390 | 5m @ 7.94 g/t Au | 42m | Described as a standout historical intercept |
Management said the prospects remain largely untested by modern exploration techniques. The shift from target generation to drill readiness is the first near-term catalyst for the company, and the November drilling will show whether the historical grades hold up.
What is aircore drilling and why does it matter?
Aircore (AC) drilling is a relatively fast, low-cost method that tests shallow ground, including the weathered surface layer (regolith) and the bedrock beneath it. Reverse circulation (RC) drilling, by comparison, is generally used to go deeper and costs more.
That makes AC a natural fit for early-stage testing of poorly defined prospects, which is how the announcement describes the Mt Monger targets. The aim is to find shallow mineralisation and strike extensions before committing to bigger programmes.
Before any ground-disturbing work, heritage clearances are required. Heritage Protection Agreements (HPAs) are negotiated with the relevant Native Title parties, and staged work area clearance surveys follow their execution.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
2027 drilling programme and catalysts ahead
Ore plans approximately 10,000-20,000m of AC and RC drilling across the broader Kal East tenure, expected to commence in early 2027 and subject to tenure grant and heritage clearances. The announcement sets out the following sequence:
- Follow-up and testing of new high-priority targets at Mt Monger
- Maiden drilling at Randalls South, which flanks Vault’s Mt Belches Mining Centre (16Mt @ 3.3 g/t Au for 1.69Moz)
- Randalls North, covering a prospective greenstone regolith bounding structure of more than 30km in strike, running parallel to the Randalls Fault, with anomalies including Lone Pine Dam, Venetian and Campese
While Karonie tenure applications progress, Ore is reviewing historical exploration datasets and geophysical information to identify and prioritise targets.
The investment case rests on three things: a larger tenure position, a cash balance of A$6.8 million with zero debt (as at 30 June 2026), and a staged drilling schedule. Management said it believes 2027 “has the potential to be a transformative year for the Company.”
That is a forward-looking view from management, not a guarantee. Grant of the pending tenements, heritage clearances and drilling results will determine whether it holds.
Ready to Explore Ore Resources’ Expanded Kal East Gold Project?
Ore Resources (ASX: OR3) has lifted its Kal East tenure by more than 55% to over 1,100km², with first-pass aircore drilling at Mt Monger scheduled for November 2026. Backed by $6.8 million in cash and zero debt, the company is moving from target generation to drill readiness across ground flanking major Eastern Goldfields mining centres.
Investors seeking the full picture can explore the Ore Resources investor profile and latest announcements for further project detail. Review the company’s drilling timeline and upcoming catalysts before the November programme begins.