Brightstar Resources Limited Accelerates Sandstone Gold Project: 80,000m Drilling, 1H CY26 PFS, and Ambitious 200koz p.a. Production Target
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
at
8:25 am
Brightstar Resources Limited is fast-tracking its Sandstone Gold Project, with an 80,000m drilling campaign and key studies underway. The initiative aims to deliver a Pre-Feasibility Study by early 2026, paving the way for a long-life production center and significant growth potential in gold.
Brightstar Resources Limited has unveiled significant progress at its Sandstone Gold Project, marking a pivotal step in its strategy to evolve into a mid‐tier gold producer in Western Australia. The Company is advancing several workstreams toward a Pre‐Feasibility Study (PFS) targeted for delivery in the first half of calendar year 2026. Early assessments indicate that an optimally sized processing plant of between 2.5 to 3.5 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) could enhance operational and financial outputs as the project transitions into a potential long-life production centre. The current Mineral Resource Estimate stands at 1.5 million ounces of gold at 1.5 g/t, with plans to upgrade the resource in the second half of 2025 with results from an ongoing 80,000-meter drilling campaign, part of a broader 134,000-meter exploration program across the portfolio.
In addition to the robust drilling program, the project update highlights detailed progress on metallurgical studies, geotechnical evaluation, open pit mine design optimizations, and permitting processes. Recent assay results—including high-grade intercepts at deposits such as Lord Nelson and Vanguard—underscore the quality of mineralisation. A conceptual review of the processing plant indicates that, based on head grade and throughput scenarios, the envisaged facility could produce between 101,000 to 152,000 thousand ounces per annum under a 90% recovery factor. The proximity of the project to established infrastructure, including the town of Sandstone and key transport routes, further supports the economic case for development.
The Company is strategically aligning the project’s timeline with its broader assets at Laverton and Menzies, aiming for a construction commencement in the second half of 2027 and first gold production in the latter half of 2028. This coordinated approach positions the Group to target a production profile exceeding 200,000 ounces of gold per annum within five years, offering a compelling long-term growth narrative. Meanwhile, the exploration team continues to identify and test high-priority targets—such as Hacks West, Bulchina South, and Sandstone North—which present additional greenfield upside potential beyond the current resource.
The news carries both bullish and bearish elements for market observers. On the bullish side, the aggressive drilling campaign, strong high-grade intercepts, and the strategic emphasis on updating resource estimates provide a clear development pathway and growth catalyst for the Company. Moreover, the integration of Sandstone into the existing multi-hub strategy, with synergies alongside established operations, adds further appeal. Conversely, some caution is warranted as the progress relies on successful completion of the PFS, pending assay results, and further de-risking studies such as metallurgical and geotechnical assessments. The forward-looking nature of the project timelines and production targets may also introduce execution and market price risks that beginner traders should monitor.