Savannah Goldfields Limited Unveils Ambitious 80-Hole Drilling Programme to Extend Georgetown Gold Processing and Boost 36,800 oz Ore Reserve

Wednesday, August 13, 2025
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9:12 am
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Savannah Goldfields Limited has commenced an 80-hole RC drilling programme at its Big Reef, Red Dam, and Electric Light deposits near the Georgetown processing plant. The campaign, starting in September, aims to secure additional oxide gold feed to extend operations and boost near-term cash flow.

Savannah Goldfields Limited has provided an extensive update on its exploration and production activities in Far North Queensland. The company detailed its planned drilling programme covering the Big Reef, Red Dam, and Electric Light deposits situated around its Georgetown Gold Processing Plant, as well as ongoing geological review work at the Agate Creek Project approximately 100km south of Georgetown. The focus is on further delineating both shallow oxide and deeper sulphide gold mineralisation to support near-term feedstocks for the processing plant and to extend its life in the long term. The company is set to commence an 80-hole reverse circulation drilling programme covering 2,355 metres from September 2025 to test strike extensions and new structural targets. At Big Reef, about 1,500 metres of potential extension will be investigated with drill holes ranging from 25m to 50m in depth. In the Red Dam area, up to 1,000 metres of strike extension will be explored through a series of 25 shallow holes along with additional deeper holes to probe for sulphide mineralisation beneath the previously mined open pit. Meanwhile, the Electric Light deposit will see approximately 300 metres along its southwest strike tested through a handful of reverse circulation drill holes, with supplementary diamond drilling planned for additional metallurgical sampling and testing. The update also underscores the company’s strategy to validate five new exploration targets announced earlier this year, which collectively range between 870,000 and 2.23 million tonnes and contain potential grades of 2.5 to 4.2 grams per tonne gold. Among these targets are prospects at Red Dam, Electric Light, Big Reef, Jubilee Plunger, and Phily’s. Savannah Goldfields is concurrently completing essential cultural heritage surveys and updating landowner agreements to secure access to these sites, a key phase before full-scale exploration activity resumes. On the production front, the company disclosed plans for a production campaign at the Georgetown Gold Processing Plant in the latter half of 2025. This campaign aims to process around 13,000 tonnes of stockpiled material along with a further 18,000 tonnes sourced from the Big Reef deposit, with an eye towards resuming mining activity at Agate Creek and restarting processing operations by the second quarter of 2026. Technical indicators reported include an Agate Creek Ore Reserve of 460,000 tonnes at an average grade of 2.5 g/t gold (approximately 36,800 ounces) and a broader Mineral Resource estimate of 16.4 million tonnes averaging 1.02 g/t gold (around 541,000 ounces). The announcement carries mixed market sentiment. On the bullish side, the robust drilling programme, production campaign, and potential to extend the processing life at Georgetown through additional oxide and sulphide feeds present strong near- and mid-term catalysts. These initiatives, along with the validation of multiple high-grade exploration targets and potential for further resource expansion, could boost cash generation and justify a more optimistic outlook. Conversely, the bearish perspective acknowledges execution risks associated with drilling outcomes, delays in finalising environmental permits and land agreements, and uncertainties in converting exploration targets into economic resources. While challenges remain, the comprehensive strategic plan signals potential for growth and operational stability, making the news largely favorable for investors focused on long-term value.

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