Santana Minerals Limited (ASX:SMI), an Australian-based exploration and development company focused on its Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project in New Zealand, announced on 3 September 2026 that infill drilling at its Rise and Shine (RAS) South prospect continues to upgrade the size and tenor of its high-grade core. The latest results, from two additional holes, contribute to expanding and increasing the quality of the RAS high-grade core (HG1 domain), reinforcing areas central to the early mining sequence. This drilling programme aims to reduce drill spacing to 25 metres on section, building upon previously announced results from July 2026.
The recent drilling delivered exceptional intercepts, notably from holes MDD529 and MDD530. MDD529 returned 20.7 metres at 4.8 grams per tonne gold from 168.8 metres (true width 17.5m), and a separate intercept of 2.3 metres at 19.7 grams per tonne gold from 198 metres (true width 1.9m). MDD530 also yielded significant results, including 25.8 metres at 1.1 grams per tonne gold from 152.5 metres (true width 22.9m), 11.0 metres at 8.5 grams per tonne gold from 182.0 metres (true width 9.7m), and an important 11.3 metres at 7.3 grams per tonne gold from 234.0 metres (true width 10.0m), which appears to be a new stacked deeper repetition beneath the HG1 domain.
Santana’s CEO, Damian Spring, commented on the findings, stating that “The tighter we drill this HG1 domain, the better and more consistent it becomes. It allows us to enhance our early mining strategy for the areas of planned open pit mining as we advance towards a development decision.” Mr. Spring also expressed excitement regarding the deeper high-grade intercepts, suggesting a “whole new dimension to the ore system at RAS” as these parallel stacked zones begin to cohere. Geological interpretation indicates that the infill holes have confidently projected the HG1 domain further to the west, demonstrating clear grade continuity. Infill drilling is continuing, with three holes remaining in the current programme.
