Highlights

  • Hole YRC26-43 returned 8 metres at 2.94 per cent copper and 0.19 grams per tonne gold from 96 metres.
  • Yuinmery's JORC 2012 combined resource totals 3.56 million tonnes at 1.25 per cent copper and 0.46 grams per tonne gold.
  • Cash fell from A$3.579 million to about A$2.571 million, giving an estimated 4.52 quarters of funding at current outgoings.
  • Director Dr Michael Ruane agreed not to demand repayment of A$1.05 million in loans for at least 12 months.

In Western Australia, Empire Resources (ASX:ERL) has released assays from its Yuinmery copper-gold project alongside its quarterly report to 30 September 2026. The results include copper, gold, palladium-platinum and early rare earth signals. There was no drilling at Yuinmery during the quarter because of poor rig availability and unseasonal heavy rainfall.

Yuinmery Resource and Results

Empire holds a JORC 2012 combined mineral resource at Yuinmery of 3.56 million tonnes at 1.25 per cent copper and 0.46 grams per tonne gold, using a 0.5 per cent copper cut-off, across the Just Desserts and A-Zone deposits. Just Desserts contains about 33,000 tonnes of copper and 40,000 ounces of gold. Metallurgical work on oxide-transitional ore, using acid leach, magnetic separation and gravity methods, is continuing, and an updated mineral resource estimate is being prepared.

Assays received from June-quarter reverse circulation drilling included, at Just Desserts, hole YRC26-43 with 8 metres at 2.94 per cent copper and 0.19 grams per tonne gold from 96 metres, within 18 metres at 1.57 per cent copper from 96 metres. YRC26-16A returned 23 metres at 0.50 per cent copper from 26 metres. At Microbe Well, YRC26-49 returned 21 metres at 0.60 grams per tonne gold from 97 metres, and at Lorne, YRC26-52 returned 19 metres at 0.35 per cent copper from 25 metres. These are exploration results and are not mineral resources.

Hillside and Rare Earths

At the Hillside prospects, Empire reported palladium-platinum intercepts, including 52 metres at 0.43 grams per tonne from 4 metres in YRC26-41. At Hillside North, YRC26-27 returned 7 metres at 1.82 grams per tonne from 16 metres, within 55 metres at 0.74 grams per tonne from surface. Iron content at Hillside North was downgraded to an average of 16.6 per cent from an earlier 24.2 per cent.

Archived data show anomalous total rare earth oxides plus yttrium of up to 1,712.5 parts per million in holes YT19, YT01 and YT02. Historic 2020 fresh-rock samples reached up to 3,147 parts per million with magnet rare earths and elevated phosphate. Empire has requested full rare earth data from archived and recent drilling and noted that rare earth-phosphate minerals respond to flotation. No rare earth resource has been estimated.

Other Projects and Royalty

At the Pennys project, a 34-hole, 1,777-metre air core programme was completed in September, with preliminary composite samples at the laboratory and results expected in the December quarter. Empire is also reviewing Bradley Well, formerly Nanadie, near Meekatharra, as a possible northern extension to Solstice Minerals' Nanadie copper-gold project. A programme of works has been approved and drilling is scheduled for the December quarter.

Empire holds a royalty over the Penny's Find gold mine, owned by Maritana Minerals. It covers 5 per cent of gold recovered up to 50,000 ounces and 2.5 per cent above that, plus A$200,000 payments on mining commencement and on first gold pour. The company estimated the first 50,000 ounces of royalty at roughly A$15 million at an assumed gold price of A$6,000 an ounce. That figure is an illustration, and no production has begun.

Cash and Funding

Cash fell from A$3.579 million to about A$2.571 million. Operating cash outflow was A$568,000 and investing outflow was A$240,000, while a A$200,000 loan repayment drove financing outflow. Exploration and evaluation spending was A$423,000, and tradeable securities were about A$656,000.

A$1.05 million was drawn at quarter end from an unsecured loan facility with director Dr Michael Ruane at 7.5 per cent a year. The loans were originally due between December 2025 and April 2026, but Dr Ruane has agreed not to demand repayment for at least 12 months from 29 September 2026. Empire had 2,087,141,555 shares on issue.