Rox Resources Broadens Youanmi Mine Plan with High-Grade Gold Hits

Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) has returned further high-grade gold from underground drilling at its 100%-owned Youanmi gold mine in Western Australia, led by an intercept of 2.24 metres at 39.33 grams per tonne gold from 220.70m.

The latest drilling and underground face sampling have reinforced the potential for mineralisation at United North to extend beyond the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) mine plan, with ore drives already progressing beyond the planned development areas.

Mining reached 522m in July, including 350m of development advance across three mining areas and 172m of stripping in the historical Youanmi Decline, exceeding overall advance rates assumed in the DFS.

Rox has also signed a major power contract and reported continued processing plant construction as it targets first gold from Youanmi in mid-2027.

United North Extends Youanmi

Underground diamond drilling remained on schedule during July with 17 holes completed for 3,198m, as Rox works towards having the mine infill drilled to 12 months ahead of mining by mid-2027.

Results included 10.40m at 2.65g/t gold with a 4.37m interval at 4.96g/t, while another hole returned 5.00m at 6.39g/t including 1.27m at 22.36g/t.

Ore drive development at the 2356 and 2341 levels has moved beyond the DFS mine plan, while a second ore drive on the 2341 level is returning encouraging face grades that could provide additional near-term stoping opportunities.

“Development drives are now progressing beyond the DFS mine plan, delivering encouraging face sampling results which are strengthening our confidence in mineralisation extending beyond that outlined in the DFS,” chief executive officer Phill Wilding said.

“Combined, these results are setting the stage for the Youanmi gold mine to progress towards our aspiration of becoming a 150,000ozpa operation in future years.”

Mining and Plant Progress

Secondary ventilation has been established for the Youanmi and Pollard declines and the initial primary ventilation circuit is in place at United North, opening more operational areas as underground development continues.

Primary pump stations and escapeways are being installed to enable production stoping to begin in coming months, while development is continuing across all planned declines and ore stockpiling is part of the pathway to production.

Construction of the processing plant is progressing on schedule, with the facility designed for a nameplate capacity of 1.0 million tonnes per annum and concrete foundations advancing across key areas.

Screen plant and carbon-in-leach (CIL) ring beams have been completed, work is continuing on the crusher, conveyor, fine ore bin, tunnel, and ball mill.

Additionally, CIL tank construction is underway and all long-lead equipment remains on schedule.

Power Contract Executed

Rox has executed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Pacific Energy under a build-own-operate structure, with pricing in line with assumptions contained in the DFS financial model and extension options available for future mine growth.

The planned facility will provide 25 megawatts of thermal generation and 26 megawatts direct current of solar capacity, with 2MW of backup diesel and battery support incorporated into the power system.

Pacific Energy has begun mobilisation to site, leaving the oxygen supply contract as the final outstanding major contract, with a preferred supplier selected and final negotiations underway.

Youanmi Deeps resource conversion and exploration drilling is on track to begin in the third quarter of 2026 as Rox continues defining near-mine and regional targets.

The broader development schedule remains directed towards first gold in mid-2027, with plant construction, underground mining, infrastructure works, and project contracting continuing alongside the drilling program.