Javelin Minerals to drill six diamond holes near Kalgoorlie ahead of June mining
- Doug Bright
- Nov 11
- 3 min read
Javelin Minerals (ASX: JAV) is set to launch a six-hole diamond drilling campaign at its Eureka gold project in Western Australia this month, paving the way for mining operations to begin in the June quarter of 2026.
The campaign will comprise four geotechnical diamond holes for about ~950m at the company’s Eureka Pit to inform mine design and planning and to provide metallurgical samples for processing optimisation.
Two more stratigraphic diamond holes for about 350m will probe the adjacent Eureka North target area, an underexplored extension directly along strike from the Eureka open pit, to improve understanding of structural controls on high-grade mineralised zones.
The Eureka North diamond holes will target historical high-grade intercepts which include one hole that delivered 4m at an eyebrow-raising 134.52g/t gold from 53m and another hole that landed 3m at an impressive 48.75g/t gold from 129m.
Despite those bonanza results and other solid hits that include 4m at 32.6g/t gold in one hole from 104m and another hole which nailed 4m at 11g/t gold from 42m, no prior diamond drilling has been undertaken in the Eureka North area.
Kalgoorlie drilling contractor TopDrill will undertake the initial diamond drilling program at the two Eureka targets and notably, will drill for equity in Javelin rather than cash.
The program follows a recently signed Land Use Agreement with the Marlinyu Ghoorlie Native Title Claimant Group that secures the company’s access to its granted mining leases.
The start of drilling this month will be an important milestone and will help ensure we remain on track to commence mining in the June quarter of next year. We are also progressing our strategy to grow the resource base and production outlook by drilling north of the pit, where high-grade mineralisation has been intersected.
Javelin Executive Chairman Brett Mitchell
Javelin also plans to launch a follow-up reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign in February next year that will employ one of TopDrill’s rigs which has already been booked.
The RC drilling program will focus on resource definition and extensions, including depth potential below the existing pit and high-grade zones to the north, to expand the mine plan ahead of production.
Targeting of some of the RC drilling in the northward pit extensions will be assisted by grade and geotechnical results from the preceding diamond drilling.
Javelin’s Eureka project is underpinned by a JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate of 2.04 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.69g/t gold for a total of 110,687 ounces, of which a significant 1.36 million tonnes at 1.8g/t gold for 78,678 ounces – or 71% - is classified as indicated.
Most of that resource lies within the immediate strike and depth extensions to the open pit which is expected to be a promising zone of focus for the initial mining phase.
The company plans to begin mining in June next year under a contract agreement with established Goldfields provider MEGA Resources, a gold and base metal mining services provider that partners with companies to provide geological, engineering, and mining services, while also managing project approvals and funding.
Importantly, MEGA will provide the development capital in the lead up to mining as part of its contract and Javelin will receive an advance payment of $250,000 each month once ore processing starts.
The arrangement will put the company in a strong financial position that will support its transition to cashflow-positive operations and means it likely will not need to raise further capital ahead of production.
Javelin is in ongoing discussions with nearby mill operators to enable ore processing from the September quarter 2026.
Located near Kalgoorlie in a prolific gold-producing greenstone belt, the Eureka project benefits from its proximity to mining-related infrastructure and suppliers.
As Javelin gears-up for its first mining in mid-2026 and with an eye on its first gold pour later in the year, the two upcoming drilling programs will be the company’s key first steps on its path to production in WA’s Eastern Goldfields.
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