Challenger DFS Pit Optimisation Drilling Complete
| Stock | Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (BGD.ASX) |
|---|---|
| Release Time | 16 Apr 2026, 8:58 a.m. |
| Price Sensitive | Yes |
Barton Gold Completes Challenger DFS Pit Optimisation Drilling
- DFS underway following Challenger JORC (2012) Mineral Resources upgrade to 313koz Au
- Targeting JORC (2012) Ore Reserves conversion and 'Stage 1' DFS by H2 CY 2026
- DFS to model a viable, simplified 'baseline' Stage 1 operation to underwrite CGM restart
Barton Gold Holdings Limited (ASX:BGD) has completed 1,322m of diamond drilling at its Challenger Gold Project in South Australia, as part of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) process. The drilling, carried out by Foraco Drilling, will generate additional geotechnical data and metallurgical samples to support the optimisation of Challenger open pit designs and operations. Together with 8,065m of recently completed reverse circulation (RC) drilling, Barton is targeting conversion of existing open pit mineralisation (and new near-surface targets) to JORC (2012) 'Indicated' Resources and, subject to the DFS, to 'Ore Reserves'. The DFS is designed to target an initial 3 - 4 year 'Stage 1' 'baseline' operation, utilising only historical higher-grade tailings from tailings storage facility 1 (TSF1) and limited, near-surface materials, without disturbing Challenger's historical high-grade underground mine, its mineralisation or its infrastructure access. This model aims to de-risk and underwrite the restart of Barton's wholly-owned Central Gawler Mill (CGM), while also providing further time to optimise development plans for Challenger's underground mine and Barton's other regional assets, including Tarcoola, Tolmer and Wudinna.
Barton is targeting conversion of existing open pit mineralisation (and new near-surface targets) to JORC (2012) 'Indicated' Resources and, subject to the completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), to 'Ore Reserves'. The DFS is designed to target an initial 3 - 4 year 'Stage 1' 'baseline' operation, utilising only historical higher-grade tailings and limited, near-surface materials, to de-risk and underwrite the restart of Barton's Central Gawler Mill while providing further time to optimise development plans for Challenger's underground mine and Barton's other regional assets.