Accelerate Resources Hits 8.44 g/t Gold in Shallow Drilling Near Kalgoorlie
Accelerate Resources delivers strong shallow gold hits at Fluffy prospect
Accelerate Resources has reported significant shallow gold intersections from its first drilling programme at the Fluffy Prospect in over 30 years, part of the Balagundi Gold Project approximately 15km east of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The maiden aircore programme comprised 35 holes for 1,473m on 100-150m spaced traverses, targeting the prospective eastern margin of the Catrock-textured porphyritic dolerite and cross-cutting structures identified from the company’s Gradient Array Induced Polarisation (GAIP) survey.
Headline intercepts include 10m @ 1.05 g/t Au from 24m (26BGAC086), 3m @ 1.96 g/t Au from 49m (26BGAC061), 1m @ 8.44 g/t Au from 37m (26BGAC078), and 4m @ 1.13 g/t Au from surface (26BGAC082). The Fluffy Prospect sits within the Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, a highly endowed geological corridor in Western Australia’s premier gold district.
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What is aircore drilling and why does it matter for gold exploration?
Aircore drilling is a shallow, cost-effective reconnaissance technique using a blade bit and compressed air to return samples from weathered rock zones near surface. It is commonly deployed to test exploration targets before committing to deeper, more capital-intensive reverse circulation (RC) or diamond drilling programmes.
Shallow gold hits from aircore drilling indicate mineralisation extends into surface weathered zones, providing geological justification for follow-up drilling into fresh rock below. For investors, successful aircore results de-risk a target at low cost, establishing whether a prospect warrants escalation to resource definition drilling.
Results confirm a coherent gold-arsenic corridor at Fluffy
The new intersections occur within the same broad geological corridor as significant historical drill intercepts, including 45m @ 1.35 g/t Au from 24m (BHR042), 10m @ 1.16 g/t Au from 10m (BDD2), and 6m @ 1.85 g/t Au from 30m (BHRC003). This spatial correlation reinforces the eastern margin of the Catrock dolerite as a key focus for gold mineralisation.
Drilling targeted structures identified from the GAIP geophysical survey, with multiple intercepts spatially associated with interpreted cross-cutting faults. The coincidence of geological, geochemical and geophysical vectors builds confidence in a significant mineralised system rather than isolated occurrences.
| Hole ID | Interval | Gold Grade | From Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26BGAC086 | 10m | 1.05 g/t Au | 24m |
| 26BGAC061 | 3m | 1.96 g/t Au | 49m |
| 26BGAC078 | 1m | 8.44 g/t Au | 37m |
| 26BGAC082 | 4m | 1.13 g/t Au | surface |
Consistency between new and historical results along a defined geological corridor strengthens the investment case for a substantial mineralised system with potential for resource development.
Widespread arsenic anomalism points to a deeper gold source
Widespread arsenic anomalism was intersected across the recent drilling programme, with the prospect area dominated by mafic rocks and sedimentary rocks notably absent. Elevated arsenic in this geological setting is unlikely to represent background lithological variation, instead interpreted as broader hydrothermal alteration associated with a potential gold mineralising event.
Geological logging recorded alteration, minor sulphides and quartz veining in several drillholes, providing further evidence of hydrothermal activity. The arsenic signature and alteration assemblage suggest the shallow gold hits are part of a larger hydrothermal system, with a primary gold source at depth yet to be tested by drilling into fresh rock.
Pathfinder geochemistry and alteration indicators are critical in orogenic gold exploration, as they often outline the footprint of a mineralising system beyond the zones of economic-grade gold. For investors, this interpretation supports the thesis that Fluffy represents an early-stage discovery with potential to grow through deeper drilling.
CEO outlines the exploration significance
Luke Meter, Chief Executive Officer
“We are highly encouraged by the Fluffy results, which returned significant shallow gold mineralisation with grades of up to 8.44g/t Au. The results align closely with historical drilling and reinforce a broad, coherent gold-arsenic corridor along the eastern margin of the Catrock dolerite. Alteration, sulphides and quartz veining identified in drilling further support the presence of a significant hydrothermal gold system at Fluffy.”
Mr Meter noted that ongoing analytical work and integrated geological interpretation will refine targets for deeper RC or diamond drilling. This next phase aims to test fresh rock below the weathered profile, where primary gold mineralisation is expected to be preserved.
Next steps at Fluffy and across the expanded Balagundi project
Accelerate has outlined a two-pronged exploration approach to advance Fluffy while systematically exploring the broader Balagundi landholding.
At Fluffy:
- Selected mineralised and altered samples will undergo further analysis to characterise host rocks and alteration associated with gold-bearing intervals
- Results will be integrated with recent drilling, historical data, multi-element geochemistry and GAIP geophysical interpretation
- Refinement of the structural model will define high-priority targets for RC or diamond drilling
Across new MRT tenure:
- Geological mapping and systematic geochemical sampling will commence across the expanded project area
- Work will prioritise additional gold targets on the landholding acquired through the Maritana Minerals Limited (ASX: MRT) transaction
The MRT transaction, announced on 19 May 2026, will increase Accelerate’s Balagundi landholding by approximately 80% to around 62 km² upon completion. This ground consolidation creates a larger platform for systematic exploration across multiple prospective trends in a historically productive gold camp near Kalgoorlie.
A clear pathway to escalate Fluffy toward resource definition drilling, combined with the unlocking of new targets across a materially larger project footprint, positions Balagundi as a significant growth asset for the company.
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Balagundi positioned as a multi-trend gold project near Kalgoorlie
Strategic location and underexplored status
The Balagundi Gold Project is located approximately 15km east of Kalgoorlie within the Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, one of Western Australia’s premier gold districts. The project hosts a prospective package of basalts, dolerites, sediments and felsic intrusives, with gold mineralisation associated with key structural corridors and historic workings.
Despite its proximity to Kalgoorlie, Balagundi remains underexplored by modern exploration methods. The recent ground consolidation and application of contemporary exploration techniques present an opportunity to test targets that have not been systematically drilled in decades.
Priority target areas
The company has identified multiple priority targets across the expanded Balagundi project:
- Spencers
- Paris Gift
- Delta
- Iron Bound
- Fluffy
- Additional emerging structural targets across the expanded tenure
The MRT transaction also secures tenure over the interpreted extension of the Delta Trend, a structural corridor with known gold mineralisation. Ground consolidation near Kalgoorlie creates a larger platform for systematic exploration across multiple prospective trends in a historically productive gold camp, positioning Balagundi as a multi-trend exploration asset with potential for multiple discoveries.
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