By Maddison Elliott

Maritana Minerals (ASX:MRT) has begun resource conversion and extensional drilling at the Coote and Crake gold deposits, located 10km northwest of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia.

This drilling program is part of a larger 60,000m campaign across Maritana’s assets, following the completion of reverse circulation drilling at Boorara.

Maritana completed 17,000m of drilling across 119 holes, with the program acting as the first ore source for the Black Swan Processing Hub (BSPH).

The drilling is intended to convert the inferred resource estimate to the indicated category. This resource conversion will support the ore reserve updates, as well as an updated life-of-mine plan for the BSPH.

Maritana is targeting a mining restart at Boorara in mid-2027, before BSPH commissioning and first processing in H2 2027.

CEO Grant Haywood says the company is conducting “one of the most active drill programs in the district”.

“The majority of these programs will lift confidence in the ounces closest to the Black Swan Processing Hub so they can be converted into reserves and scheduled into the mine plan.”

Meanwhile, Maritana has also completed a 4,000m maiden aircore drilling program at the Wilsons gold prospect.

Assays have now been submitted, with the first results expected in October. Wilsons is located around 400m from the BSPH.

Maritana has also completed phase two of extensional drilling at the Burbanks Project, stating that the first holes returned ‘high-grade’ results.

“In addition, Wilsons represents a new discovery opportunity within a stone’s throw of our Black Swan infrastructure,” Haywood adds.

“This reserve conversion work is strategically sequenced ahead of the commissioning of the Black Swan Processing Hub.

“With further Burbanks phase-two results expected shortly and assays pending from the major program at Boorara, we expect to have results flowing through over the coming months to support ore reserve updates and an updated life-of-mine plan for Maritana.

“This puts us on track for mining to restart at Boorara in mid-CY2027 and first processing in H2 CY2027.”

Maritana currently has three drill rigs operating across its project portfolio in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie. A fourth rig is set to commence drilling this month to support the acceleration of drilling operations.

The company reported progress across demolition, earthworks, and accommodation at the BSPH yesterday.

Early works are advancing as the project transitions from development and approvals into physical execution, with the work being conducted by GR Engineering Services (ASX:GNG), as reported.

Maritana Minerals is an emerging mid-tier gold producer focused on developing the Black Swan Processing Hub.

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