Havilah Resources Initiates RC Drilling at Brooks Dam Prospect Near Kalkaroo Copper-Gold Project

RC Drilling Begins at Brooks Dam After Prolonged Weather Delays

Havilah Resources has announced the start of reverse circulation drilling at the Brooks Dam prospect, located roughly 12 kilometres northwest of the Kalkaroo copper-gold deposit in the Curnamona Province of northeastern South Australia. The operation commenced following a delay exceeding two months caused by abnormally heavy and sustained rainstorms that hindered access for heavy drilling equipment. This weather-related interruption significantly impacted exploration activities in the region, but improved conditions have now allowed mobilisation of drilling rigs to the site.

The Brooks Dam drilling program is funded under the Strategic Alliance Agreement (SAA) with Sandfire Resources Limited, as detailed in a company update dated 13 November 2025. This drilling marks a critical advancement in Havilah's exploration efforts within the broader Kalkaroo district, running concurrently with Sandfire's development work on the Kalkaroo mining lease. Technical Director Dr Chris Giles expressed satisfaction at resuming drilling after the weather delays and indicated the company plans to provide more frequent updates on drilling results and field activities as both the SAA-funded exploration and Kalkaroo deposit drilling programs progress.

Geology of Brooks Dam Prospect and Targeting the Kalkaroo Stratabound Mineralised Horizon

The Brooks Dam prospect features strong, coincident copper, gold, lead, and zinc soil and lag geochemical anomalies adjacent to what is interpreted as a faulted regional anticlinal closure. The area includes one of only two known outcrops of the Kalkaroo stratabound mineralised horizon, known as the K2 unit, within the region. Historic rock chip sampling of a gossan-chert outcrop at Brooks Dam has yielded highly anomalous gold and copper assay results over multiple exploration campaigns spanning many years. The gossan represents an iron-rich surface cap formed by oxidation of underlying sulphide minerals, making the gossan-chert horizon at Brooks Dam one of only two surface exposures of the K2 unit regionally.

Previous aircore drilling by Newcrest Mining Limited in 1997 did not penetrate the hard gossan-chert horizon but recorded elevated copper values at the bottom of holes, indicating mineralisation beneath the resistant surface. Although known for nearly 30 years, the Brooks Dam prospect has never been adequately tested with an RC rig capable of drilling through the hard gossan-chert horizon to assess the underlying primary sulphide mineralisation. This geological context underpins the current RC drilling program, which aims to investigate the mineralisation beneath this distinctive surface feature.

Objectives of RC Drilling and Evaluating Primary Sulphide Mineralisation at Depth

The RC drilling program's main goal at Brooks Dam is to penetrate the gossan-chert horizon at multiple sites to evaluate the thickness and extent of the anticipated primary sulphide mineralisation below. Unlike the 1997 aircore drilling, the RC rig can drill through the hard, iron-rich gossan-chert surface, enabling assessment of the underlying mineralised horizon. Dr Chris Giles noted that until drilling through the gossan-chert horizon is completed, the thickness, grade, and extent of the primary sulphide mineralisation remain uncertain, highlighting the exploration significance of the current program.

Successfully drilling through the gossan-chert horizon will yield vital data on the economic potential of the Brooks Dam prospect. This will allow evaluation of the primary sulphide mineralisation beneath the gossan cap and how the mineralised horizon evolves at depth, influencing the prospect's geometry and resource potential. These insights will guide Havilah's decisions on further resource definition drilling or development considerations within the broader Kalkaroo district exploration and development strategy.

Sandfire's Ongoing Development and Infrastructure Progress at Kalkaroo

Sandfire Resources Limited has advanced operational infrastructure for the Kalkaroo copper-gold project as part of its pre-feasibility study. The company has completed an 80-bed onsite camp near the Kalkaroo homestead and Havilah's exploration camp and is progressing installation of a core processing facility. This camp supports extensive drilling and development activities planned over the coming months. Sandfire reported that its first drill rig has arrived onsite, with an additional six rigs expected soon to support a large-scale infill and extension drilling program.

Sandfire's infrastructure and drilling efforts on the Kalkaroo mining lease aim to complete a pre-feasibility study by the second half of financial year 2028. The company has made strong early progress establishing the foundations for an approximately US$70 million pre-feasibility study. These concurrent activities by Sandfire, as joint venture or development partner, complement Havilah's SAA-funded exploration at Brooks Dam and other district prospects, potentially creating synergies in geological knowledge, infrastructure use, and operational efficiency.

Heritage Survey Completion and Regulatory Approvals for Drilling North of Barrier Highway

Havilah has finalized a heritage survey clearing multiple planned drillholes at the Homestead, North Dome Breccia, and North Dome Closure prospects. This survey ensures exploration respects Indigenous cultural heritage values and enables advancement of the exploration pipeline beyond Brooks Dam. These prospects are part of Havilah's broader portfolio within the Curnamona Province.

Additionally, Havilah has secured approval from the Department for Energy and Mining in South Australia to conduct drilling programs across key prospects north of the Barrier Highway. This approval requires submission and approval of individual program notifications prior to drilling at each site. This regulatory clearance removes a major permitting barrier and allows Havilah to transition from planning to active drilling across multiple prospects in the region.

Havilah Resources' Operational Focus and Asset Portfolio

Havilah Resources Limited is an exploration and development company targeting copper-gold and base metals projects in South Australia's Curnamona Province. Its primary asset is the Kalkaroo copper-gold deposit, central to its exploration and development strategy. The company’s portfolio also includes the Brooks Dam, Homestead, North Dome Breccia, and North Dome Closure prospects, among others. Havilah pursues a partnership-driven development model, exemplified by its Strategic Alliance Agreement with Sandfire Resources, which provides funding and expertise for exploration and development.

As an exploration and development-stage company, Havilah currently does not generate mining revenue but benefits from partnerships like the one with Sandfire. The company aims to progress its mineral assets toward potential development and production, contingent on successful resource definition, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, and necessary regulatory and environmental approvals. Current exploration and development activities are critical milestones on this path.

Strategic Importance of Brooks Dam Within the Kalkaroo District Exploration Framework

The Brooks Dam prospect holds strategic value within the Kalkaroo district due to its proximity—approximately 12 kilometres northwest—to the established Kalkaroo copper-gold deposit and its geological features. Hosting the Kalkaroo stratabound mineralised horizon (K2 unit) at Brooks Dam suggests a district-scale mineralised system with potential for multiple economic deposits. Strong coincident copper, gold, lead, and zinc geochemical anomalies adjacent to an interpreted anticlinal closure further justify exploration at this site.

Unlike greenfields exploration, the Brooks Dam program builds on nearly three decades of historical data and previous exploration. The 1997 Newcrest aircore drilling identified the K2 unit and elevated copper values but was unable to penetrate the hard gossan-chert horizon, leaving the primary sulphide mineralisation beneath untested. The current RC drilling addresses this gap, representing a logical step in systematically exploring this known district-scale mineralised system.

Exploration Results Timeline and Investor Communication Plans

Havilah’s Technical Director indicated that the company expects to provide more frequent and regular updates on drilling results and field activities as drilling advances on both SAA-funded exploration prospects and the Kalkaroo deposit. This suggests investors can anticipate a steady flow of information on drilling progress and findings. The timing of specific results announcements will depend on drilling pace, hole depths, and the company’s discretion regarding reporting versus ongoing drilling.

This enhanced communication approach contrasts with previous periods of limited drilling and aims to offer investors increased visibility into exploration progress and geological insights. Updates may include drilling program commencements, progress reports if significant geology is encountered, and final assay results announcements. Investors should expect a series of updates documenting the Brooks Dam RC drilling and other exploration activities in the coming months.

Exploration Economics and Sector Drivers in South Australia’s Curnamona Province

The Curnamona Province is a well-established mineral exploration region with a history of copper and gold discoveries and development. The active programs by Havilah and Sandfire highlight ongoing sector interest. Strong copper and gold market prices in recent years provide economic incentives for exploration and development. Project feasibility depends on commodity prices, operating costs, and capital availability, influenced by broader market conditions.

The region benefits from existing infrastructure, experienced exploration teams, and a regulatory framework supportive of exploration. The Kalkaroo deposit serves as a benchmark for geological and economic characteristics, positively impacting investor and financial institution perceptions of nearby prospects. The Strategic Alliance Agreement between Havilah and Sandfire, including Sandfire’s substantial pre-feasibility study budget, reflects confidence in the district’s mineral potential.