Vita Resources Restarts Ninnis Gold Drilling With 300 Additional Infill Holes
Vita Resources will recommence its maiden auger drilling programme at Ninnis Gold in Western Australia in early August 2026, following remobilisation of Gyro Drilling. The programme was suspended after 850 of 1,200 holes were completed due to wet weather affecting rig mobility — not a technical or funding issue. The weather pause allowed the Board to review the initial 850 assay results, which were encouraging enough to prompt an expansion of the programme. Approximately 350 holes remain from the original plan, with ~300 infill holes now added. Completion is expected by end of August 2026.
Vita Resources restarts Ninnis Gold auger drilling and expands programme with 300 infill holes
The original programme targeted 1,200 auger holes at Ninnis Gold, located approximately 30km west of Laverton in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. The project, referenced as E39/2110, covers 25km² and was acquired by Vita in November 2025.
The expansion reflects confidence in the early results reported on 21 May 2026. Those results identified multiple large gold-in-soil anomalies, prompting the Board to add infill drilling to tighten the structural definition of the mineralised system ahead of reverse circulation (RC) drilling.
A Programme of Work (PoW) has been granted for the infill component, allowing Gyro Drilling to resume operations in early August.
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What the first 850 holes revealed
The initial 850 auger holes identified two distinct anomaly zones at Ninnis Gold, both of which are considered encouraging from an exploration perspective.
In the northern sector, multiple large gold-in-soil anomalies extend 600m north-west. In the southern sector, closer-spaced sampling identified a large, consistent gold-in-soil anomaly measuring 500m north-south by 300m wide.
These anomalies have highlighted two sub-parallel fault zones, now identified as the major structural controls to the mineralised system. The ~300 infill holes will target these fault zones specifically, aiming to refine the structural framework and guide the maiden RC drilling programme planned for later in 2026.
Non-Executive Chairman Gavin Rutherford
“Whilst the programme being interrupted was not ideal, the rain induced hiatus in our Ninnis Gold auger drilling programme provided the Company with the opportunity to review the initial 850 assay results, which were very pleasing. The results provided encouraging guidance and an incentive for the Board to expand our maiden Ninnis Gold programme to include some in-fill drilling. We anticipate the programme being complete in August 2026 and if the balance of the results yields similar results, we will be very pleased. Whilst not ruling out more infill auger drilling, we expect to follow up with an RC drilling programme later in 2026.”
Understanding auger drilling and why it matters
Auger drilling is a low-cost, shallow, early-stage sampling method used to detect gold-in-soil anomalies. These anomalies map where mineralisation may sit beneath the surface, without requiring expensive deeper drilling at the outset.
For investors, auger drilling is significant because it is a cost-effective way to prioritise targets before committing to more expensive RC drilling. Strong soil anomalies guide where deeper drilling should be aimed, reducing exploration risk and capital spend. Vita is currently at the early stage of this exploration lifecycle, using auger drilling to de-risk targets ahead of the planned RC programme.
The exploration pathway typically follows this sequence:
- Auger drilling to identify soil anomalies (current stage)
- Geochemistry review of results
- Maiden RC drilling programme (planned later 2026)
Regional setting and the investment case
Ninnis Gold presents a similar geological setting to several multi-million-ounce gold discoveries in the region, including Genesis Minerals’ (ASX: GMD) Mount Morgans Gold Mining Centre. The contained variety of differing geological gold deposits are only a few kilometres to the south of Ninnis Gold and cluster about the regional Celia and Ninnis fault systems.
Vita does not yet have a resource at Ninnis Gold — the project is early-stage exploration. However, the geological neighbourhood and structural setting support the exploration thesis. The project was acquired in November 2025, following the Bastion Minerals acquisition announcement.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Ninnis Gold (E39/2110) |
| Location | ~30km west of Laverton, Eastern Goldfields WA |
| Area | 25km² |
| Acquired | November 2025 |
| Nearby analogue | Genesis Minerals’ Mount Morgans centre |
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What comes next for Vita Resources
The near-term roadmap for Ninnis Gold is clearly defined, with multiple value-driving catalysts expected over the next six months.
- Early August 2026: auger drilling recommences (Gyro Drilling remobilises)
- End August 2026: maiden auger programme (remaining ~350 holes + ~300 infill holes) expected complete
- Following completion: geochemistry review
- Later 2026: maiden RC drilling programme planned
Successful completion of the auger programme, combined with consistent results from the remaining holes, would strengthen the case for progressing to RC drilling. The RC programme represents the next value-driving catalyst, as it will test the interpreted structural controls at depth and determine whether the soil anomalies translate into meaningful mineralisation.
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