Saturn Metals Granted Licences Over 26.5km Aquarius Gold Trend Near Apollo Hill
Saturn Metals secures exploration licences over 26.5km Aquarius gold trend near 2.83Moz Apollo Hill
Saturn Metals has been granted three contiguous exploration licences (E31/1340, E31/1394 and E39/2439) at its Aquarius Gold Prospect, 30km southeast of the company’s 2.83Moz Apollo Hill Gold Resource and planned mine development. The grant provides access for follow-up drilling across a 26.5km drill-defined gold trend that management has framed as having the potential to develop into a “second gold camp.”
The licences consolidate Saturn’s position across the gold corridor, adjacent to its existing ~1,000km² regional land package in the Leonora region of Western Australia. Aquarius sits between Apollo Hill and Northern Star’s Carosue Dam operations, positioning the company within one of WA’s premier gold districts.
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Why these licences matter
The grant consolidates Saturn’s position across a gold corridor that extends from its existing Apollo Hill resource through to Northern Star’s operating mines. The newly granted E39/2439 (135km²) covers ground previously held and explored by Sumitomo Metal Mining Oceania Pty Ltd, immediately along strike to the south of the Aquarius prospect. Sumitomo’s earlier work returned encouraging aircore results across the 26.5km strike length, now accessible for follow-up drilling.
The strategic significance lies in district-scale exploration upside adjacent to an existing large-tonnage development. Saturn holds ground across one of WA’s most productive gold belts, where proximity to existing infrastructure and major operations reduces technical risk and capital intensity for any future development. The grant follows the recent approval of Mining Lease 31/496, which covers the proposed Apollo Hill mine development and associated infrastructure, signalling dual-track progress on development and exploration growth.
Ian Bamborough, Managing Director
“Aquarius already displays many of the characteristics that we look for in a significant gold system, with a 26.5km long mineralised trend defined by drilling, including several broad and higher-grade gold intercepts.
“Importantly, the grant of these licences consolidates our position across this gold corridor and will allow us to systematically evaluate what we believe has the potential to develop into a second gold camp, just 30km from our 2.83Moz Apollo Hill Gold Resource.”
The drilling that defines the Aquarius trend
The 26.5km Aquarius gold trend is defined by historical drilling programmes conducted by Sumitomo and Saturn, with results previously reported in WAMEX open file data and ASX announcements dated 28 January 2022 and 15 May 2025. The intercepts include a mix of broad, lower-grade zones and higher-grade shoots, which collectively indicate a significant gold system worthy of systematic follow-up.
| Hole ID | Intercept | Grade | From (m) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBAC0629 | 3m | 8.51g/t Au | 102m | Aircore (Sumitomo/WAMEX) |
| MBRC0005 | 2m (within 82m interval; incl. 36m @ 1.25g/t Au from 102m) | 0.83g/t Au | 87m | Reverse Circulation (RC) |
| MBDD0010 | 16m (incl 6m @ 2.89g/t Au from 234m) | 1.72g/t Au | 228m | Diamond |
| MBRC0016 | 33m | 1.27g/t Au | 78m | Reverse Circulation (RC) |
The hallmark of the Aquarius system is the combination of broad host intervals (MBRC0005 hosts an 82m interval containing a 36m @ 1.25g/t Au sub-intercept from 102m) and higher-grade zones (3m @ 8.51g/t Au in MBAC0629) over a 26.5km strike. These results are not new discoveries, they are historical intercepts that have now become accessible for systematic follow-up drilling following the grant of the exploration licences.
Gold exploration in the Leonora district explained
For investors new to gold exploration, the grant of an exploration licence is a gating step that permits a company to conduct drilling and other fieldwork on a defined parcel of land. Without the licence, no exploration activity can legally take place. The Aquarius licences were pending for some time, and their approval now allows Saturn to advance drill planning and fieldwork.
Drilling programmes typically progress through three stages. Aircore drilling is a shallow, low-cost method used to detect gold anomalies near the surface. It provides early scout data but limited detail. Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling penetrates deeper and delivers more accurate samples, allowing geologists to define the size and grade of a gold zone. Diamond drilling is the most advanced and expensive method, providing a continuous core sample that reveals the structure, mineralogy, and exact geometry of the deposit. At Aquarius, all three methods have been deployed, with diamond drilling confirming higher-grade mineralisation at depth.
A “gold camp” refers to a cluster of deposits within a defined geological corridor, often sharing similar rock types, structural controls, and mineralisation styles. Examples include Kalgoorlie, Leonora, and the Laverton belt, where multiple deposits have supported decades of mining. Proximity to existing resources and major operations matters because it de-risks future development. Infrastructure such as roads, power, processing facilities, and skilled labour is already in place, reducing capital costs and project timelines. For Saturn, the Aquarius trend’s position between Apollo Hill and Northern Star’s Carosue Dam operations enhances its strategic value and optionality for future growth.
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What comes next for Saturn
Saturn has consolidated its geological interpretation of the Aquarius trend and is refining drill targets ahead of follow-up programmes planned for the coming months. The company has not specified exact timelines or drill metres, but the grant of the licences removes a key permitting constraint and allows fieldwork to proceed.
The grant follows the recent approval of Mining Lease 31/496, which covers the proposed Apollo Hill mine development and associated infrastructure. This signals dual-track progress: advancing the Apollo Hill project towards production while unlocking district-scale exploration upside at Aquarius.
- Mineral Resource: 174Mt @ 0.51g/t Au for 2,830,000oz (ASX 3 June 2026).
- Ore Reserve: 104.6Mt @ 0.47g/t Au for 1,586,000oz (ASX 17 December 2025).
- Production Target: 117.4Mt @ 0.47g/t Au for 1,771,200oz (PFS, 17 December 2025).
- Apollo Hill is 100%-owned by Saturn, located approximately 60km southeast of Leonora, and positioned for low-strip open pit potential.
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