Could Sand King’s New Mineralisation Extend Ora Banda’s Mine Life and Production?
Ora Banda Mining has reported significant new high-grade gold intercepts from drilling at its Sand King northern corridor, pointing to a potential expansion of its mining inventory and extended mine life.
- Multiple high-grade gold intercepts outside current life of mine plan
- Surface and underground drilling confirm substantial mineralisation extensions
- Grades up to 50.8 g/t Au over significant widths reported
- Exploration budget of $73 million allocated for FY26 drilling programs
- Drilling underway at nearby Palmerston pit to define additional resources
Significant Growth Potential at Sand King
Ora Banda Mining Ltd (ASX – OBM) has announced compelling new drilling results from the Sand King northern corridor, reinforcing the prospect of a materially larger gold resource than previously planned. The latest assays reveal multiple substantial mineralised intercepts well beyond the current life of mine (LOM) boundaries, with grades ranging from moderate to exceptionally high, including standout hits such as 16.6 metres at 8.3 grams per tonne (g/t) and 6.7 metres at 39.3 g/t.
This drilling campaign, comprising 43 surface reverse circulation and diamond holes alongside 57 underground resource extension holes, is systematically testing the northern corridor’s potential. To date, assays from 16 surface and 15 underground holes have confirmed the presence of significant mineralisation, suggesting a robust expansion of the mining inventory accessible via existing underground infrastructure.
Strategic Exploration and Resource Expansion
Beyond the northern corridor, seven surface drill holes in the southern corridor have also extended known mineralisation, with impressive intercepts such as 6.0 metres at 23.3 g/t. Concurrently, an underground rig has been mobilised to the historically mined Palmerston pit to expedite resource definition there, with six holes completed and assays pending.
Ora Banda’s Managing Director, Luke Creagh, emphasised the early stage of exploration success, highlighting the potential for increased production and mine life. The company’s commitment is underscored by a substantial $73 million exploration budget for FY26, focused on advancing Sand King and adjacent prospects.
Technical and Geological Insights
The Sand King deposit is characterised by stacked quartz-biotite-feldspar-sulphide shear lodes hosted within tholeiitic basalt, with mineralised structures predominantly striking northeast-southwest and dipping steeply north-west. Drilling orientations have been optimised to intersect these steeply dipping lodes, although reported intercepts represent downhole lengths rather than true widths.
Drilling results indicate continuity of the Sand King structural architecture, with dominant mineralised tension veins oriented at 060 degrees and subsidiary veins at 090 degrees. These geological insights provide a framework for ongoing targeting and resource modelling.
Looking Ahead
With assays still pending for several holes and further drilling planned, Ora Banda is poised to refine and potentially upgrade its resource base at Sand King and Palmerston. The company’s methodical approach and strong exploration funding position it well to capitalise on these promising extensions.
Bottom Line?
Ora Banda’s expanding high-grade discoveries at Sand King could reshape its production outlook and extend mine life, but investors await further assay results and resource updates.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the new drilling results impact the updated resource and reserve estimates?
- What is the timeline for assay results from the Palmerston underground drilling program?
- Could these extensions translate into increased production guidance or capital expenditure?
