Northern Star Resources has revealed a strong exploration update across its Australian operations, reporting deep extensions, high-grade intercepts, and emerging satellite targets.
These developments continue to bolster the company’s gold strategy, with the update part of its 2026 financial year (FY26) exploration program, and also reinforce the growth potential of its Kalgoorlie, Yandal, and Hemi hubs.
With this set, Northern Star will maintain its $225 million exploration budget for FY26, with 73 per cent directed towards near-mine growth and resource conversion, and will continue to focus on delivering low-cost ounces, reflected in its $19 per ounce discovery cost for 12 months to March 2025.
Northern Star managing director Stuart Tonkin said the update highlights the strong “organic growth” potential across its global portfolio.
“Our team continues to balance exploration priorities, from resource definition through to conversion, creating shareholder value by delivering low-cost resource ounces,” he said.
“At Kalgoorlie, drilling and investment are driving growth, with future options to supply high-margin ore to the expanded Fimiston mill from FY27.
At its Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCMG), drilling at Fimiston South has confirmed mineralisation extending up to 800 metres below the existing mineral resource.
As a result, new underground drill platforms are expected to provide further access into previously untested areas beneath the Super Pit’s western wall.
At Mt Charlotte, the newly identified Golden Goose target continues to deliver broad and high-grade results, including 73.1 metres at 1.9 grams per tonne (g/t) at 25.6 metres, at 4.9g/t.
Northern Star plans additional infill drilling and drill drive development at Golden Goose over the next 12 months to test strike extensions.
Across the broader Kalgoorlie region, the Hercules deposit, discovered only last year, is continuing to grow, returning thick high-grade hits such as 21.3 metres at 6.1g/t and 12.9 metres at 9.7g/t.
In the meantime, the Ballarat-Last Chance project, drilling immediately west of the Red Hill mineral resource, delivered “encouraging results” at widths and grades, reinforcing the potential of Kalgoorlie’s satellite opportunities.
Its Yandal production centre also benefitted from a strong year of drilling, particularly at Jundee, where several high-grade intersections have been defined outside current resource boundaries.
Results include narrow, but rich intervals of 0.6 metres at 277.2g/t and 0.3 metres at 157.8g/t, providing Northern Star confidence in the long-term optionality of the system.
As for Thunderbox, the Wonder West target, intercepts of 15.5 metres at 10.3g/t and 8.7 metres at 15.8g/t sit outside the current mineral resources, also strengthening the base for a regional mine uplift.
Tonkin said there has been substantial progress at the newly acquired Hemi development project in the Pilbara, with drilling between the Diucon and Crow deposits returning both high-grade shoots and broader mineralisation.
Key intercepts for this site include 3.6 metres at 19.4g/t, 2.2 metres at 37.5g/t, and broader zones such as 30 metres at 1.2g/t.
All of Northern Star’s production fronts – including its Pogo project in Alaska – point towards continuing resource growth, increased operational flexibility and enhanced future ore supply, the company said.
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