In a promising development for Western Australia's historic goldfields, Venus Metals Corporation has outlined a substantial new exploration target for deeper mineralisation at its Bellchambers project. The target lies directly below the existing resource and points to significant untapped potential in the region.
Quantifying the Depth Potential
Independent consultancy Widenbar and Associates (WAA) has estimated the new Exploration Target to be between 800,000 and 950,000 tonnes, grading from 1.75 to 2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. This translates to a contained gold range of 45,000 to 60,000 ounces.
This deeper target sits under the company's current global mineral resource for Bellchambers, which stands at 766,000 tonnes at 1.27g/t gold for 31,400 ounces. The new zone extends northward at depth from the indicated and inferred resource. WAA modelled the target using an assumed underground cut-off grade of 1g/t gold and a bulk density of 3 tonnes per cubic metre for fresh rock.
Geological Basis and Historical Work
The estimate is founded on two principal mineralised zones with a combined true thickness of roughly 15 metres across a long-section area of about 21,000 square metres. The grade range is supported by comparisons with nearby deeper inferred material, which averages approximately 1.95g/t gold at the same 1g/t cut-off.
Exploration in the area has a long history, with drilling dating back to reverse circulation (RC) and diamond programs conducted between 1988 and 2001. Venus has since added its own campaigns, including nine holes in 2020 targeting depth extensions, three RC holes in 2023, and a further 17 infill RC holes completed in 2025.
Conceptual Target with Real Prospects
In line with the JORC Code (2012), Venus emphasises that the exploration target remains conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient drilling to date to define a mineral resource in this deeper zone, and it is uncertain if future exploration will successfully convert any part into a formal resource.
However, the target strongly suggests additional underground potential at Bellchambers. The deposit sits on a granted mining lease, 90% owned by Venus, which is the centrepiece of the company's advancing gold strategy in the Sandstone area.
The company is actively pushing the project forward. As reported last week, Venus has formally launched preparations for a pre-feasibility study (PFS) on Bellchambers, aiming for completion in the third or fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year.
Concurrent work includes:
- Environmental and hydrological studies.
- Seeking mining quotes and evaluating ore treatment options, including potential toll-treatment arrangements.
- Planning deeper drilling through the first half of 2026 to grow the resource base.
With the key mining lease secured and deeper potential now quantified, Venus is steadily guiding Bellchambers toward a future production decision in the proven Sandstone gold district. While early-stage, this new target provides valuable optionality as the PFS and drilling programs progress through 2026.
Exploration at depth always carries risk, but focused observers may soon see drill results that could transform parts of this conceptual target into tangible additional resources. Unlike its scorching planetary namesake, this Venus project is located in a far more hospitable and historically productive setting—just a 700km drive northeast of Perth in Western Australia's Murchison region.
