ASX-listed explorer Venus Metals Corporation has initiated groundwork for a crucial Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) at its Bellchambers gold asset, located in the heart of Western Australia's prolific Sandstone gold district.
Project Details and Resource Base
The Bellchambers gold project sits approximately 23 kilometres southwest of Sandstone and 70km northeast of the historic Youanmi gold operation. The deposit is housed within a 415-hectare granted mining lease, which is 90 per cent owned by Venus and encompasses both the Bellchambers and nearby Rangeview prospect.
The company's current mineral resource estimate for Bellchambers stands at 754,000 tonnes at an average grade of 1.27 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, containing 30,800 ounces. This resource is broken down into 8,800 ounces in the measured category, 17,900 ounces indicated, and 4,500 ounces inferred.
An optimised, pit-constrained portion of this resource, using a 0.5g/t gold cut-off and a gold price of A$4,500 per ounce, outlines 437,500 tonnes at 1.36g/t gold for 19,130 ounces. With the current gold price hovering near record highs of around A$6,700 per ounce, the project enjoys a substantial economic buffer.
Pathway to Development and 2026 Work Program
Following the grant of the key mining lease earlier this year, Venus has moved decisively. The company has appointed several key consultants to advance necessary environmental, hydrological, and waste management studies required for future mining development and closure plans.
The Board has committed to a structured work program for 2026, headlined by the launch of the PFS. The study is slated for completion in the third or fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year, to be followed by a full Feasibility Study. Concurrently, Venus is seeking quotes for earthmoving and mining, while also evaluating potential joint venture opportunities.
Exploration efforts continue in parallel. The company will undertake deeper drilling at Bellchambers and Rangeview through Q1 and Q2 of FY2026 to expand the resource base, alongside regional exploration across its broader tenure.
Collaboration and Upcoming Reports
Venus is reviewing several ore treatment pathways. One prominent option involves negotiating a mine-gate sale agreement on a best-endeavours basis with Rox Resources, owner of the nearby Youanmi gold project, for trucking ore to third-party mills.
A collaborative research project with Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has recently wrapped up. Using advanced hyperspectral techniques to improve targeting in the historic Bellchambers district, the project's final report—expected to highlight newly-identified targets—is due in early January 2026.
Separately, Venus announced it will release its half-year report for the period ended 31 December 2025 on Monday, 12 January 2026. This report is anticipated to include an updated independent valuation of the company's valuable 1 per cent net smelter royalty from gold produced at the Youanmi mining leases.
With a clear roadmap now established for technical studies, drilling, and development planning, Venus Metals is methodically advancing the Bellchambers project towards a future production decision, reinforcing its position in Western Australia's enduring goldfields.
