Brightstar Resources Limited (ASX: BTR) has announced a suite of significant drill results from its ongoing reverse circulation and diamond drilling programs at the Sandstone Gold Project in Western Australia. The results, released on 5 May 2026, come from multiple deposits across the 2.4Moz at 1.5g/t gold project, and are feeding directly into a Mineral Resource Estimate update due mid-year and an ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study.
Figure 1: Brightstar’s consolidated Sandstone Gold Project overview [Courtesy: Brightstar Resources Limited]
The drilling programs were designed to infill and extend key deposits across the Sandstone Hub, providing both geological confidence and critical geotechnical and metallurgical data for the Pre-Feasibility Study workstreams. Four rigs remain active across the Project, comprising two reverse circulation rigs and two diamond drill rigs.
Bull Oak Deposit Emerges as a Standout Growth Target
Brightstar’s Bull Oak Deposit hosts a current Mineral Resource Estimate of 2.5 million metric tons at 1.1g/t gold for 90,000 ounces. The current drilling targeted areas below and adjacent to the existing resource, where sparse historical drilling had left the deposit open at depth.
Figure 2: Bull Oak Deposit RC and diamond drill collar locations across the granodiorite and banded iron formation units [Courtesy: Brightstar Resources Limited]
Significant intercepts from diamond drilling include:
- BODD25003 returned a broad, unconstrained intercept of 214.75 metres at 0.97g/t gold from 32.75 metres, including 7 metres at 17.7g/t gold from 138 metres and 0.3 metres at 175.3g/t gold from 277.4 metres
- BODD25001 returned an unconstrained intercept of 186.9 metres at 0.87g/t gold from 113.75 metres, including 10.82 metres at 2.91g/t gold from 271.68 metres and 13 metres at 2.26g/t gold from 173 metres
Figure 3: Bull Oak Deposit drill section looking northwest [Courtesy: Brightstar Resources Limited]
RC Drilling Adds Further Depth to the Bull Oak Story
Reverse circulation drilling at Bull Oak also returned strong results, with the high-grade intervals consistently associated with sheeted, shallowly east-dipping vein sets within a granodiorite intrusion:
- BORC26003 intersected 10 metres at 4.00g/t gold from 80 metres, including 1 metre at 31.4g/t gold from 82 metres
- The same hole returned 3 metres at 24.3g/t gold from 94 metres, including 1 metre at 59.4g/t gold from 94 metres
Brightstar’s Managing Director Alex Rovira noted that the geological setting at Bull Oak is similar to that of the nearby Shillington-Two Mile Hill deposit, which hosts a Mineral Resource Estimate of 0.7Moz at 1.5g/t gold.
Key Results Reported Across Multiple Deposits
Results from the Vanguard, Indomitable East, Havilah, and Achilles deposits build a picture of broad mineralisation continuity across the Sandstone Hub:
- At the Vanguard Deposit (3.7 million metric tons at 1.8g/t gold for 217,000 ounces), diamond drillhole VNDD25001 returned 10.3 metres at 6.80g/t gold from 138 metres, including 2 metres at 25.1g/t gold from 144 metres
- At Indomitable East, diamond drillhole INDD25007 returned 19.05 metres at 3.80g/t gold from 106 metres, including 1.02 metres at 54.5g/t gold from 102.03 metres. Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike
Figure 4: Vanguard Deposit drill section looking northwest [Courtesy: Brightstar Resources Limited]
Havilah and Achilles Continue to Deliver
Significant intercepts from the Havilah and Achilles deposits include:
- HVDD25001 returned 3.9 metres at 11.9g/t gold from 105 metres, including 0.98 metres at 38.4g/t gold from 107.42 metres
- HVDD25002 returned 8.0 metres at 4.32g/t gold from 31 metres, including 0.90 metres at 16.7g/t gold from 36.5 metres
- ACRC26014 returned 5 metres at 5.34g/t gold from 102 metres and 4 metres at 3.05g/t gold from 183 metres
- ACRC26002 returned 4 metres at 4.50g/t gold from 82 metres
The planned Achilles reverse circulation program comprises approximately 9,600 metres in total, with results received so far covering 24 holes for approximately 2,000 metres.
Figure 5: Achilles Deposit RC and diamond drill collar layout [Courtesy: Brightstar Resources Limited]
The Role of Diamond Drilling in PFS Preparation
Across the Sandstone Gold Project, the diamond drilling component of these programs was designed not only to extend mineralisation but to collect structural, geotechnical, and metallurgical data essential for the Pre-Feasibility Study. Diamond drillholes completed at Vanguard, Indomitable East, Lord Nelson, Havilah, Montague-Boulder, and Achilles have all provided data contributing to PFS workstreams.
At Lord Nelson, which hosts a total resource of 5.6 million metric tons at 1.6g/t gold for 291,000 ounces, three diamond drill holes for 637 metres have been completed with assays pending. Fourteen reverse circulation holes for approximately 2,500 metres were completed at Lord Nelson earlier in the program, with results for 10 of those holes reported on 18 Mar 2026.
Montague-Boulder Infill Confirms Near-Surface Continuity
The Montague-Boulder Deposit forms part of Brightstar’s Montague Project, located approximately 70 kilometres north of the town of Sandstone. Infill drilling returned the following results:
- 3 metres at 3.73g/t gold from 80 metres in MBRC26002
- 3 metres at 2.24g/t gold from 107 metres in MBRC26001
- An extensional hole returned 5 metres at 1.67g/t gold from 119 metres in MBRC26016
Six diamond drill holes for approximately 1,000 metres have also been completed at Montague-Boulder, with assays pending. Brightstar’s Managing Director, Alex Rovira, commented: “The metallurgical and geotechnical data provided by these diamond drillholes will contribute to ongoing PFS work as we forge ahead with the delivery of a comprehensive study in the second half of the year.”
BTR ASX Share Price
Brightstar Resources Limited (ASX: BTR) is currently trading at A$0.385 per share, with a market capitalisation of A$411.66 million. The 52-week range stands at A$0.295 to A$0.745 per share.
Figure 6: Brightstar Resources (ASX: BTR) share price performance over one year [Courtesy: ASX]
Industry Outlook
The Western Australia gold discovery pipeline remains one of the most active in the world, underpinned by a gold price environment that continues to support Pre-Feasibility Study investment across mid-tier and emerging producers.
The Sandstone Gold Project sits within the prolific Murchison region, a district that has historically produced significant ounce endowments and continues to attract sustained exploration capital.
The ongoing global appetite for high-quality gold development-stage assets positions projects like Sandstone, with multi-deposit scale and an advancing Pre-Feasibility Study, as increasingly strategic assets.
Future Direction and Impact on BTR Investors
The results announced on 5 May 2026 contribute to a clear forward trajectory for Brightstar Resources and its Sandstone Gold Project update timeline:
- The Sandstone Mineral Resource Estimate upgrade is targeted for delivery mid-year, with the current project-wide Mineral Resource sitting at 2.4Moz at 1.5g/t gold
- The Pre-Feasibility Study is targeted for delivery in the second half of CY26
- Four rigs remain active at Sandstone, comprising two reverse circulation and two diamond drill rigs, completing infill and extensional programs
- Bull Oak is identified by management as a deposit with genuine growth potential and scale, with Brightstar Resources gold drilling continuing below the existing Mineral Resource
- The Achilles Deposit has a large-scale infill and extensional program of approximately 9,600 metres underway, with the majority of results still to be received
- Assays remain pending for diamond drill holes at Lord Nelson, Montague-Boulder, and Achilles
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the current Mineral Resource Estimate for the Sandstone Gold Project?
Ans. The Sandstone Gold Project hosts a current Mineral Resource Estimate of 2.4Moz at 1.5g/t gold, with an upgrade expected mid-year.
Q2. What were the standout intercepts from the Bull Oak Deposit?
Ans. BODD25003 returned an unconstrained intercept of 214.75 metres at 0.97g/t gold from 32.75 metres, including 0.3 metres at 175.3g/t gold from 277.4 metres.
Q3. When is the Sandstone Pre-Feasibility Study expected to be delivered?
Ans. The Pre-Feasibility Study is targeted for delivery in the second half of CY26.
Q4. How many rigs are currently active at Sandstone?
Ans. Four rigs are currently active, comprising two reverse circulation and two diamond drill rigs.
Q5. What is the significance of the diamond drilling component of this program?
Ans. Diamond drilling provides structural, geotechnical, and metallurgical data that directly feeds into the Pre-Feasibility Study workstreams, helping de-risk the deposits ahead of mine development.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. All content is based on the Brightstar Resources ASX announcement. Share price and market capitalisation data reflect figures provided at the time of publication. Investing in securities involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Readers should conduct their own research and seek independent financial advice before making any investment decisions. Colitco does not hold any position in the companies or organisations mentioned.
Sources
https://www.brightstarresources.com.au/
https://www.australianmining.com.au/golden-hits-reshape-brightstars-sandstone/
Last modified: May 7, 2026
