Geopacific Resources Limited Launches 30,000m Drilling Campaign at 1.67 Moz Gold Project as DFS Advances and Rising Gold Prices Boost Potential Returns
Friday, June 20, 2025
at
8:19 am
Geopacific Resources Limited has launched a major drilling campaign at its 1.67 Moz Woodlark Gold Project in Papua New Guinea. The initiative targets near-surface gold zones, with early results expected soon, setting the stage for a comprehensive Definitive Feasibility Study later this year.
Geopacific Resources Limited has launched an ambitious 30,000-metre RC and diamond drilling campaign at its wholly owned Woodlark Gold Project in Papua New Guinea. The program, which spans 174 drill holes in clearly defined and exploratory areas, is designed to extend the known gold mineralisation and test new targets. Early efforts focus on the Boscalo North and Great Northern prospects, where previous near-surface high-grade intercepts have generated optimism. Assay results from these areas are anticipated by August 2025, while promising high-grade auger samples from the Little MacKenzie and Wayai Creek prospects are set to be followed up with trenching and assays as early as July 2025.
Project development activities are also in full swing as Geopacific advances preparations for its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS), scheduled for completion by the end of calendar 2025. Key DFS work includes geotechnical drilling at critical infrastructure sites for the process plant, updated environmental assessments, and detailed plant design considerations, all underpinned by a robust 2024 scoping study. The current gold market conditions, with prices at A$5,185 per ounce compared to the A$2,900 used in earlier models, add significant upside to the project’s economic potential.
Technical highlights include a deliberate approach to drill targeting that focuses on both established areas and less-explored regions along structural corridors with magnetic signatures indicative of gold enrichment. The campaign is underpinned by the Woodlark Mineral Resource Estimate of 1.67 million ounces, derived from 48.3 million tonnes averaging 1.07 g/t Au. This resource, which has been classified into measured, indicated, and inferred categories, reinforces the project’s potential and the DFS’s role in confirming its technical and economic viability.
In terms of market sentiment, the news is bullish given the scale of the ongoing drilling programme, the strategic focus on high-priority targets, and the favourable gold price that bolsters the profitability outlook. The DFS progression and expanded infrastructure design work further underpin a positive view towards realizing significant free cash flow. However, a bearish outlook might highlight the inherent risks associated with exploration drilling, the extended timeline into 2026, and potential execution challenges related to environmental approvals and geotechnical uncertainties. Overall, while the project shows strong promise, market participants are advised to remain cautious given the exploratory nature of the work and the complexities of advancing mining projects in a challenging region.