Key Highlights

  • Hamelin Gold began diamond drilling at its Day Dawn gold project in the Paterson Province on 22 October 2026.
  • The program is planned at approximately 16 holes for about 1,500 metres over roughly two to three weeks.
  • No assay results are included, and assays from the Phase 2 RC program of 35 holes are expected shortly, according to the company.

Hamelin Gold Limited (ASX:HMG) said on 23 October 2026 that diamond drilling began at its Day Dawn gold project in the Paterson Province of Western Australia on 22 October. The company describes the campaign as its maiden diamond program at the project. It is planned to comprise approximately 16 holes for about 1,500 metres and to run for roughly two to three weeks.

The drilling is designed in two parts. Some holes will be diamond tails, which extend selected Phase 2 reverse circulation (RC) pre-collars to greater depth. Others will be dedicated large-diameter core holes drilled through the upper portions of the Aurora and Altus lodes. Hamelin said the work will use a DDH-1 rig, although a figure in the release captions the rig as "Rig 3".

The company set out three objectives. The first is to test down-plunge extensions of the Aurora lodes below the depth limits of RC drilling. The second is to collect material for preliminary metallurgical test work. The third is to gather structural data that can refine the three-dimensional geological model and check televiewer interpretations from selected Phase 2 RC holes.

Hamelin also gave a reason for switching methods. Diamond drilling will replace RC where wet sample returns have occurred below roughly 150 to 200 metres, with the aim of maintaining sample quality. The announcement does not give a hole-by-hole breakdown, target depths or collar coordinates.

Geological setting

Day Dawn covers about 20 square kilometres and lies about 10 kilometres north-west of the Telfer gold-copper mine, which the company describes as containing more than 20 million ounces. Hamelin characterises the Aurora and Altus system as steeply dipping, parallel, high-grade gold lodes within a primary mineralised corridor that remains open down plunge. Reef-style gold mineralisation has also been recognised alongside the lodes.

The company considers the combined architecture analogous to Proterozoic sediment-hosted deposits, including Telfer. Hamelin notes that drilling so far has tested only the shallow upper parts of the system, and it says observations from the Phase 2 RC program indicate the Aurora lodes remain open at depth. No resource figures were given.

Results and what is still pending

The announcement contains no assay results from the diamond program, because drilling has only just started. Core will be logged and sampled on site and then transported to Perth for analysis. Separately, the Phase 2 RC program of 35 holes for approximately 4,000 metres has assays that have not yet been reported. Hamelin said they are expected shortly.

Wider activity and funding

Hamelin Gold (ASX:HMG) said drilling is also planned at its Venus project and in the West Tanami region. The company describes itself as well funded and names Gold Fields Limited and Vault Minerals Limited among its shareholders, but the release does not state cash balances or any funding amounts. The announcement refers back to earlier disclosures dated 20 July 2026 and 3 August 2026.

Next milestones

The near-term items stated by the company are the completion of the diamond program over the next two to three weeks, the release of Phase 2 RC assays, and the delivery of diamond core to Perth for analysis and preliminary metallurgical test work. The release is authorised by Managing Director and CEO Peter Bewick, and Hamelin has not given dates for assay results beyond saying they are expected shortly.