Pacgold to Turn Over 500,000 Tonnes of Ore as Heap Leach Irrigation Resumes

Heap Leach Irrigation Recommences

Pacgold Limited (ASX – PGO) has reached a pivotal milestone in its efforts to revive gold production at the White Dam Gold Project in South Australia. The company announced it has received regulatory approval to restart irrigation of the heap leach pad, a critical step in extracting gold from the ore. This approval follows the relining of the Pregnant Leach Solution (PLS) pond, which stores the gold-bearing solution used in the heap leaching process.

Work is already underway with irrigation and dripper lines being installed on the northern pad area, where approximately 500,000 tonnes of run of mine ore are being turned over. This turnover process aerates and breaks up the ore, exposing material that may not have been fully leached previously, potentially unlocking additional gold recovery at a relatively low cost.

Drilling Program to Upgrade Resources

Alongside heap leach activities, Pacgold is advancing a substantial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Vertigo pit, a key area within the White Dam project. With 2,700 metres already completed and a total of 7,000 metres planned, the drilling aims to upgrade Inferred Resources to the Indicated category. This upgrade is essential for updating the Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and underpinning the planned production restart.

Initial assay results from the drilling are anticipated after the Christmas break, around mid-January 2026. These results will be closely watched by investors and analysts as they will provide clearer insight into the project's resource quality and potential production profile.

Looking Ahead to Production Restart

Pacgold’s Managing Director, Matthew Boyes, expressed confidence in the progress, highlighting the motivated on-site team and the company’s broader exploration efforts in Queensland and South Australia. The recommencement of irrigation and ore turnover, combined with the drilling program, positions Pacgold well to restart gold production at White Dam in 2026.

The company is also expanding its camp facilities to support ongoing operations, signaling a commitment to sustained activity at the site. As Pacgold transitions from exploration to production, the White Dam acquisition offers a near-term revenue pathway that could fund further growth and exploration initiatives.