Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX) has announced a substantial increase in the ore reserve at its Bluebird-South Junction project, with a remarkable 233% boost. This significant upgrade highlights the project's enhanced resource potential and underscores Westgold's continued commitment to expanding its mining operations.
Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX:WGX) has significantly increased the ore reserve at its Bluebird-South Junction mine complex in Western Australia, with a remarkable 233% boost. This update includes a maiden reserve report for the South Junction mine.
The South Junction ore reserve is now estimated at 2.6 million tonnes at 2.7 grams per tonne of gold, translating to 225,000 ounces. This increase raises the total reserve at Bluebird-South Junction to 3.0 million tonnes at 2.8 grams per tonne for a total of 277,000 ounces—130,000 ounces more than the Interim Mineral Resource announced in March 2024, even after accounting for the depletion of 14,000 ounces.
Additionally, Westgold has reported a 61% increase in the 'Indicated' category of its mineral resource estimate (MRE), which now stands at 11 million tonnes at 2.8 grams per tonne for a total of 960,000 ounces. Within this, 4.7 million tonnes at 3.1 grams per tonne account for 465,000 ounces in the Measured and Indicated category.
Westgold’s Managing Director and CEO, Wayne Bramwell, emphasized the significance of this drilling data in expanding and refining the resource at the Bluebird-South Junction complex. He highlighted the ongoing success of expanding the mining complex to a 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) run rate by Q3 FY25, noting that this development will enhance the value of their Murchison operations.
Bramwell also pointed out that a larger and more productive Bluebird-South Junction underground mine will reduce the need and cost of road haulage from Cue, located approximately 140 kilometers away, as the complex is within 2 kilometers of the Bluebird mill. Westgold plans to continue investing in drilling across its portfolio throughout FY25.