- 01Rox hit 4.87m at 15.13g/t below United North.
- 02Infill results support resource continuity.
- 03Drilling may extend mine life; first gold targeted mid-2027.
Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) has intersected high-grade gold below the existing United North resource at its Youanmi gold mine in Western Australia, providing early evidence of mineralisation extending at depth.
The first growth hole returned 4.87 metres at 15.13 grams per tonne gold from 584.13m, including 1.78m at 32.98g/t, in an area outside the current resource.
The intersection sits approximately 25m below the resource boundary and 50m beneath the deepest intercept within that resource, according to the company’s geological interpretation.
An initial infill result has separately supported continuity within the existing resource, as Rox pursues resource conversion and growth ahead of its targeted first gold production in mid-2027.
High Grades Beneath United North
The deeper intersection came from the first of three diamond holes completed in the resource growth target below United North during September and October.
Rox identified characteristic Youanmi main-lode shear rocks and mineralisation consistent with the existing deposit, supporting continuity of both the main and hanging-wall lodes down plunge.
The growth result also gives Rox a target for subsequent step-out drilling beneath United North and towards Youanmi Main.
“The first results are encouraging, with the infill drilling confirming the existing geological model and the first growth step-out hole returning a very high-grade intercept in the expected position and in line with projected plunge of the orebody,” managing director Phill Wilding said.
“Returning grades of this tenor in the first step-out hole is particularly encouraging and reinforces the potential we see at depth—should subsequent drilling continue to support our geological interpretation, we will commence evaluating opportunities to increase production rates and further extend the mine life.”
Resource Conversion Drilling
Three other diamond holes were directed at an inferred resource area to bring drilling density closer to that of adjoining indicated resources.
Assays from the first of those holes returned 3.16m at 3.78g/t gold from 448.20m, reinforcing the interpreted lode thickness and mineralisation continuity, while additional intersections in that hole included 8.76m at 1.73g/t and 1.80m at 3.39g/t.
Converting Inferred material into the Indicated classification is intended to support potential future ore reserve growth, subject to the necessary estimation and technical work.
The six completed surface holes comprise three aimed at resource conversion and three testing growth areas, with assay results so far received for one hole in each group.
Mid-2027 Production Restart
The company’s September mineral resource estimate for Youanmi stood at 12.4 million tonnes grading 5.5g/t gold for 2.195 million ounces, providing the baseline for its latest drilling campaign.
Rox expects assay results from the remaining four completed holes before the end of 2026, while surface diamond drilling is set to continue into early 2027 alongside underground drilling.
The broader campaign is designed to convert existing resources, identify additional mineralisation around the current estimate and explore deeper extensions along the mineralised plunge.
Its planned production restart is targeting first gold by mid-2027, although the company’s stated longer-term aspiration of producing 150,000 ounces annually remains a growth objective rather than a committed production outcome.
Further drilling results will guide subsequent hole locations and help determine whether the newly intersected mineralisation can support an expanded resource and longer mine life.
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