AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
FRA
GER
ESP
ITA
NLD
PRT
SWE
GRC
IND
POL
BRA
ZAF
RUS
CHN
UAE
Highlights
- Critica (CRI) partners with Ausgold (AUC) on WA exploration licence
- Farm-in deal strengthens Ausgold’s regional presence near Katanning Gold Project
- Critica realigns focus toward Jupiter Rare Earths Project development
Critica (ASX:CRI) has entered into a pivotal farm-in agreement with Ausgold (ASX:AUC), unlocking new exploration opportunities in Western Australia’s Katanning Greenstone Belt. The deal centers around licence E70/5077, a 106km² tenement that borders Ausgold’s Kulin Gold Project and sits approximately 75km northeast of its flagship Katanning Gold Project.
This strategic agreement is set to bolster Ausgold’s regional footprint across one of WA’s promising gold corridors. The tenement enhances Ausgold’s existing holdings, which already include advanced prospects such as Duggan and Nanicup Bridge-Zinger. The move is in line with Ausgold’s broader strategy to build a regional gold production hub, leveraging satellite deposits that can tap into Katanning’s existing infrastructure.
The staged farm-in structure enables Ausgold to earn up to a 70% interest over three and a half years. The initial stage involves a $250,000 investment within 18 months to gain a 51% stake, followed by an additional $360,000 over the next 24 months to reach the full 70%. Upon completion, Critica retains a 30% stake with the option to convert to a 1.5% net smelter royalty once a mining decision is made.
This agreement allows Critica to sharpen its operational focus on the Jupiter Rare Earths Project. The Jupiter Project boasts a significant global inferred resource of 1.8 billion tonnes at 1,700ppm total rare earth oxides, including a high-grade core of 520 million tonnes at 2,200ppm. With a market capitalisation of $43.15 million, Critica continues to concentrate efforts on advancing this large-scale rare earth asset.
Meanwhile, Ausgold plans to kick off exploration work at the newly acquired licence in FY2026. The company intends to lodge a program of work in the first quarter, followed by a maiden drilling campaign in Q2 or Q3. This effort will target high-priority gold-in-soil and trenching anomalies, potentially unlocking new value across the Katanning Belt.
While neither Critica nor Ausgold are currently included in the ASX200, their focused development activities and strategic partnerships position them to contribute meaningfully to Western Australia’s resource-driven growth narrative. The alliance highlights a growing trend among emerging explorers to consolidate and optimise regional exploration portfolios in search of long-term value.
