Marmota (ASX: MEU) has provided an update on its Gawler Gold scoping study, confirming that workstreams across geology, mining, metallurgy, processing, and infrastructure are progressing toward a targeted completion date at the end of the March 2026 quarter.
The update was delivered at the company’s annual general meeting, where Marmota said the scoping study continues to advance in parallel with finalisation of the maiden Aurora Tank resource — the foundation on which the regional development concept is being built.
Project manager Paul Richardson said the study is designed around a centralised heap leach facility capable of treating 1 million tonnes per annum over at least seven years, subject to optimisation results and final resource inputs.
Regional Heap Leach Concept
The scoping study is evaluating a development pathway based on a single regional processing hub receiving ore from multiple deposits across Marmota’s broader Gawler Gold portfolio.
Current work is focused on resource estimation, with Ashmore Advisory preparing the Aurora Tank model and associated wireframes that will underpin pit optimisation and mining engineering.
Mr Richardson said mining studies now in progress include Whittle optimisations, pit designs, scheduling and preliminary cashflow modelling, each targeting a ±30% accuracy level consistent with scoping-level assessments.
Metallurgical work has also progressed, with Stage 1 test work by Australian Minmet Metallurgical Laboratories completed and Stage 2 confirmation test work under way at ALS.
Results from each will provide the design criteria for the heap leach flowsheet once process engineering begins.
Process Engineering and Services Studies
Marmota – which will commence process plant and infrastructure design activities once it has finalised the geological, mining, and metallurgical parameters – remains confident the study is on track for completion at the end of the March 2026 quarter.
Scope items include mass and water balances, equipment lists, process flow diagrams, capital and operating cost estimates, and a general arrangement layout for the heap leach facility.
Supporting studies — including water supply, power, accommodation and logistics — will be benchmarked against similar regional gold operations and developed to a similar ±30% accuracy.
Marmota said the study schedule reflects a staged approach, allowing key inputs to be refined sequentially as data becomes available, emphasising the scoping study’s conceptual nature that is aiming to define the broad development parameters rather than select a final mining or processing configuration.
The company continues to position the Gawler Gold Project as a multi-deposit development opportunity built around a central heap leach facility designed for scale, optionality and low operating intensity.
