Horizon Minerals has delivered another round of exceptional gold grades from drilling at its Burbanks gold project, located south of Coolgardie in Western Australia. The company's latest assays confirm a standout intercept grading up to a remarkable 396.6 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold, reinforcing the high-grade potential of this key asset.
Spectacular Drilling Results Unveiled
The impressive results stem from the remaining holes drilled in late 2025, building directly on the ultra-high-grade numbers announced in December. A highlight includes a 2-metre section at 235.7g/t gold from 248 metres depth, featuring a 1.16-metre segment within a breccia zone that graded an astonishing 396.6g/t gold. This intercept is situated close to a previously reported bonanza hit of 5848g/t gold over 0.3 metres, revealed late last year.
These assays are part of the phase one infill drilling campaign launched in November, which forms a component of a broader two-stage 30,000-metre program. Horizon reports that this initial phase is now 75 per cent complete, with all holes drilled in 2025 having received assays. The company has resumed drilling after the Christmas break to finish the remaining nine holes in phase one.
Strategic Advancements and Resource Upgrades
Horizon Minerals is leveraging these results to upgrade confidence in the mineralisation ahead of a targeted resource upgrade next quarter. The company has also completed two metallurgical holes at Burbanks to support mine-feed planning for its Black Swan processing hub, with test work underway to determine gold recoveries.
The remaining phase one assays, expected by the end of March, will be followed by a phase two extensional drilling campaign. This next stage comprises a further 15,000 metres of drilling along-strike and down-dip of the current 466,000-ounce resource. The infill program aims to establish continuity between the Main Lode and Burbanks North resources, south of the Main Lode workings, and within the Burbanks North area.
Historical Context and Infrastructure Advantages
The Burbanks project area boasts a storied history of gold production, having previously yielded 324,000 ounces of vein gold at an impressive 22.7g/t gold. The historic mine currently hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 6.1 million tonnes at 2.4g/t gold for 466,000 ounces.
Strategically positioned near established infrastructure, power, and water sources, Burbanks benefits from its proximity to Horizon's recently acquired Black Swan facility. This plant is undergoing fast-tracked refurbishment to convert from nickel to gold treatment, with first gold output targeted for late 2026 as part of Horizon's hub-and-spoke strategy in the Eastern Goldfields.
CEO Commentary and Broader Strategy
"The Burbanks resource drilling continues to deliver, with spectacular high-grade intersections announced today including gold grades of up to 5,848g/t. The drilling program unequivocally highlights the exceptional grade potential of the system which significantly underpins our strategy to increase high-grade, high margin feed to our 100% owned Black Swan processing plant," stated Horizon Minerals managing director and CEO Grant Haywood.
This strategy involves supplying high-grade ore to Black Swan from multiple regional deposits, including Burbanks and the Boorara project. In the interim, ore from Boorara continues to generate revenue through a toll milling agreement at Norton Gold Fields' Paddington mill.
Pathway to Mid-Tier Gold Producer Status
Backed by a total gold resource base of 1.8 million ounces and cash flows from current operations, Horizon Minerals appears to be advancing steadily toward its goal of becoming a self-sustaining gold producer. The company is positioning itself as an emerging mid-tier player in Western Australia's prolific Goldfields region, with the Burbanks project playing a pivotal role in this ambitious trajectory.
