Astral Resources has kept its Think Big gold deposit on track for mining in the March quarter of 2027 after securing a key environmental approval and returning a series of shallow, high-grade gold intersections.

The 92-hole, 5229m reverse circulation (RC) program at Think Big, part of Astral’s 100 per cent-owned Feysville project about 14km south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, delivered a best result of 11m at 7.34 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 38m.

Other standout hits included 12m at 5.89g/t gold from 30m, including 1m at 57.1g/t, and three separate zones in one hole: 3m at 10g/t from 21m, 2m at 9.53g/t from 30m and 9m at 6.01g/t from 93m.

Astral managing director Marc Ducler said Think Big was advancing as an early cash-flow opportunity through a proposed mining joint venture with Mineral Mining Services (MMS).

“We have made tremendous recent progress towards the development of the Think Big deposit as an early cash-flow opportunity through our proposed mining Joint Venture with MMS,” he said.

“Assay results from a recently completed 92-hole (5,229m) in-fill RC drill program have all been received and will feed into an update of the mineralised wireframes and grade control model ahead of mine planning.

“The nature of the predominantly supergene-style mineralisation is well suited to the joint venture development pathway with third-party processing. An attractive open pit Resource has been further improved by some outstanding shallow high-grade drill intervals.”

Under the proposed joint venture, MMS will fund 100 per cent of development costs, which will be recovered from initial cash flows.

Profits will then be split 50:50 until joint venture profit reaches $40 million, after which Astral’s share increases.

The Think Big deposit hosts a mineral resource of 2.4 million tonnes at 1.1g/t gold for 85,200 ounces, bringing Astral’s broader portfolio to 2.07 million ounces, including 1.74 million ounces at its flagship Mandilla project, following an April resource upgrade.

The Native Vegetation Clearing Permit was approved within six months of submission, while the Mine Development and Closure Plan remains under assessment.

Objections to an additional miscellaneous licence for ore haulage have also been resolved. The approval follows land-use progress across Astral’s WA portfolio, including an October 2025 agreement covering key Feysville tenements.

“Permitting is also advancing, with the NVCP approved within six months of submission, which was ahead of our internal schedule,” Ducler said.

“This leaves the mine development and closure plan and the design and construction of an important intersection of the Think Big haul road with the Goldfields Highway as the remaining critical path development activities required ahead of the commencement of mining.

“Think Big remains on track for development in the March quarter of 2027, with revenue expected in the June quarter of 2027.”