Ballard Mining Triples Mt Ida Gold Targets with New +900m Mineralised Trend

Expanding the Gold Frontier at Mt Ida

Ballard Mining (ASX, BM1) has unveiled a compelling exploration update from its Mt Ida Gold Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields region. The company’s recent geophysical analysis, led by structural geologist Dr Sarah Jones, has dramatically expanded the project’s exploration footprint by identifying up to 35 new gold targets. This surge triples the initial 18 targets previously identified through historical workings and rock chip sampling, signaling a robust pipeline of opportunities across the 26-kilometre greenstone belt.

Phase 1 drilling results reinforce this optimism, with multiple prospects delivering encouraging gold intercepts. Notably, the Astro prospect yielded 8 metres at 1.8 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 30 metres depth, while Quasar and Dickson prospects also returned significant grades, including a standout 1 metre at 17.6 g/t gold at Dickson. These results underscore the presence of shallow, high-grade mineralisation across multiple zones.

New Mineralised Trends and Structural Insights

A key highlight is the discovery of a new +900 metre mineralised trend linking the Astro and Quasar prospects. This trend remains open along strike, extending potential mineralisation beyond current drill lines. Adjacent to this, the Dickson prospect reveals a 1,100 metre strike of mineralisation running parallel to the Baldock deposit, which itself hosts a substantial resource of 930,000 ounces at 4.1 g/t gold.

Dr Jones’ structural review of high-resolution aeromagnetic data has been pivotal, identifying multiple priority zones where shear structures intersect, prime locations for gold deposition. These structural controls suggest a fertile system with multiple parallel mineralised zones along both the Ballard Fault and Baldock Thrust shear zones, enhancing the likelihood of further discoveries.

Progress Toward Development Milestones

Ballard’s infill resource conversion drilling at the Baldock deposit is now 70% complete, maintaining the company’s timeline to deliver a Maiden Ore Reserve by mid-2026. This milestone is critical for underpinning a proposed 5 to 6 year mine life at Baldock and supporting a broader 10-year development plan for the Mt Ida Project. The project benefits from comprehensive mining approvals, including open pit and underground mining permits, a processing plant works approval, and pending water abstraction licensing.

Managing Director Paul Brennan expressed enthusiasm about the project’s trajectory, highlighting the consistency of early drill results with those that initially defined the Baldock resource. He emphasized the strategic shift toward resource growth in 2026, driven by ongoing exploration success and a robust drilling program totaling 130,000 metres.

Looking Ahead

With a strong foundation of geological data, expanding target zones, and advancing development approvals, Ballard Mining is positioning Mt Ida as a significant gold project in Western Australia. The combination of structural insights and drilling success provides a promising outlook for resource expansion and eventual production.