Evergold Hits 52.74g/t Gold in Maiden Drill Program as 10,000m Follow-Up Starts
Evergold delivers highest-grade gold intercept at Duchess of York as maiden RC program concludes
Evergold Minerals has reported the final assay results from its maiden 2026 reverse circulation drilling program at the Mt Monger Gold Project, confirming the highest-grade gold intercept ever returned at the Duchess of York prospect. The company intersected 1m at 52.74 g/t Au from 9m within a broader zone of 25m at 3.47 g/t Au from 3m in hole MM26RC0005, marking a significant milestone as the program concludes.
The final batch of results continues the pattern established across the campaign: broad zones of structurally controlled gold mineralisation punctuated by high-grade shoots. MM26RC0006 returned a further high-grade intercept of 6m at 5.43 g/t Au from 29m, including 2m at 12.25 g/t Au from the same depth. Additional results include 2m at 4.46 g/t Au from 45m in MM26RC0007.
Standout previously reported intercepts from the completed maiden program include 2m at 7.90 g/t Au from 43m in MM26RC0009, 3m at 5.11 g/t Au from 3m (including 1m at 11.46 g/t Au) in MM26RC0012, and 22m at 1.80 g/t Au from 59m (including 8m at 3.38 g/t Au) in MM26RC0024.
Gold is associated with sulphide-bearing quartz veins, with pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and sphalerite observed during logging of drill chips. The association of gold with galena and sphalerite, and the development of high-grade shoots within structurally controlled quartz veins, are hallmarks of the gold systems that have supported a long history of high-grade mining in the Mt Monger district.
Veining occurs as folded veins and stockwork zones concentrated around fold hinges, with gold spread through vein networks rather than confined to single structures. Mineralisation is interpreted as bulk-tonnage in style, with the potential for higher-grade shoots within the broader system.
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What is reverse circulation drilling and why does it matter?
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is a method that uses compressed air and a face-sampling hammer to bring rock chips to the surface for analysis. A cyclone and splitter at the rig separate a representative sub-sample from each metre drilled, typically yielding 2–3 kg of material for assay.
RC drilling is widely used at this stage of exploration because it provides a cost-effective way to test the geometry and grade distribution of mineralisation over significant depths. At Duchess of York, RC drilling has confirmed that gold extends in multiple directions and at depth, building confidence in the continuity of the mineralised system.
The technique is considered industry standard for the style of mineralisation being tested and allows explorers to efficiently define targets ahead of more detailed follow-up work, such as diamond drilling or resource estimation programs.
Broad and high-grade gold zones confirmed across multiple drill holes
The completed RC program at Duchess of York has demonstrated a consistent pattern: broad structurally controlled zones punctuated by high-grade shoots. This style of mineralisation supports both bulk-tonnage and high-grade mining scenarios depending on the distribution of grade within the system.
Gold association with sulphide-bearing quartz veins containing pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and sphalerite is consistent with the orogenic gold systems that have historically supported mining throughout the Mt Monger district. The presence of galena and sphalerite alongside gold, and the development of high-grade shoots within structurally controlled vein networks, are characteristics of the region’s most productive deposits.
The table below summarises key intercepts from the final batch of assays and standout results from earlier in the program.
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Au (g/t) | Including |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MM26RC0005 | 3 | 25 | 3.47 | 1m at 52.74 g/t Au |
| MM26RC0006 | 29 | 6 | 5.43 | 2m at 12.25 g/t Au |
| MM26RC0009 | 43 | 2 | 7.90 | – |
| MM26RC0012 | 3 | 3 | 5.11 | 1m at 11.46 g/t Au |
| MM26RC0024 | 59 | 22 | 1.80 | 8m at 3.38 g/t Au |
Multiple broad intercepts with embedded high-grade zones indicate a mineralised system with scale potential. The continuity demonstrated across the drilling campaign supports the interpretation that Duchess of York hosts a structurally controlled gold system that remains open in multiple directions.
Shallow mineralisation positions Duchess of York for cost-effective follow-up
Mineralisation intersected to date at Duchess of York is generally shallow, well within reach of aircore drilling. This provides a cost-effective pathway for the next phase of exploration, which will systematically test extensions and offsets of the known system.
Near-surface gold concentration can occur through supergene enrichment, a weathering process in which gold is remobilised and locally concentrated in the upper weathered zone. Some of the higher grades intersected at shallow depth, including the 1m at 52.74 g/t Au in MM26RC0005, may partly reflect this near-surface enrichment rather than the grade of the primary mineralisation below.
Supergene enrichment is a common feature of gold deposits in the Eastern Goldfields. The shallow, flat-lying position of this material may be a positive for any future development scenario due to lower extraction costs compared to deeper, primary mineralisation.
Drilling to date has intersected both supergene and primary mineralisation. Follow-up work will continue to test the primary system at depth to determine the extent and grade distribution of mineralisation below the weathered zone.
Gladiator prospect delivers first gold at depth
Maiden RC drilling at the Gladiator prospect has confirmed gold mineralisation at depth, with MM26RC0030 returning 8m at 0.44 g/t Au from 43m and 1m at 0.80 g/t Au from 60m. These first RC results demonstrate that the mineralised system extends beneath the surface geochemical and gravity anomalism previously defined at the prospect.
Gladiator is interpreted to share the same intrusion-related (sanukitoid) structural setting that controls mineralisation at Duchess of York. The felsic intrusive adjacent to the Gladiator Fault is considered analogous to the geological controls on gold mineralisation throughout the Mt Monger district.
While still at an early stage of exploration, these results strengthen confidence in Gladiator as a priority prospect within the Mt Monger project. The prospect will be a key focus of the upcoming regional aircore drilling program and planned Exploration Incentive Scheme (EIS) co-funded diamond drilling.
10,000m aircore program to commence next week
Site preparation is underway for a large-scale aircore drilling program comprising more than 10,000 metres across Mt Monger. Drilling is scheduled to commence at Duchess of York next week, initially testing extension and offset positions around the known mineralised system before progressively moving across the broader project.
The program will systematically test a pipeline of priority targets, including extensions and offsets at Duchess of York, together with Gladiator, Samurai, Hickman’s Find, Tiger Lily, Captain Hook and the newly defined Crusader and Paladin targets.
The regional aircore program will apply the intrusion-related structural model developed at Duchess of York to assess whether the same geological setting is repeated elsewhere across Mt Monger. The objective is to identify additional gold systems within the company’s contiguous landholding along a major regional structural corridor.
Near-term activities include:
- Commencement of 10,000m+ regional aircore drilling at Mt Monger (starting Duchess of York next week)
- Further RC drilling at Duchess of York
- EIS co-funded diamond drilling at Gladiator
- Completion of high-resolution drone magnetic survey at Craig’s Rest
- Receipt and interpretation of soil geochemistry from Craig’s Rest
Strategic location near existing processing infrastructure
Mt Monger is located approximately 70km southeast of Kalgoorlie, positioning the project within one of Western Australia’s premier gold districts. The project benefits from proximity to Vault Minerals’ 1.2 Mtpa Randalls Gold Mill, located less than 5km from the project.
Additional processing facilities at Jubilee, St Ives and Lakewood are all within 50km of the project. This infrastructure proximity reduces potential capital requirements and de-risks any future development pathway by providing multiple processing options within trucking distance.
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Director sees immediate path to expanded drilling
Glenn Grayson, Director, Evergold Minerals
“With our maiden RC program now complete, the focus shifts immediately to expanding on these results. Importantly, the mineralisation intersected to date is generally shallow — well within the reach of aircore drilling — making it a highly effective tool for the next phase. Aircore drilling commences next week, systematically testing structural, geochemical and geophysical targets along the extensions of Duchess of York and across our regional prospects. Follow-up RC drilling will then commence as soon as possible, testing the best results from the aircore program and continuing to build on the success at Duchess of York. The zones we’ve intersected sit within a broader mineralised system that remains open in multiple directions, and we’ll be testing whether the same setting can deliver the next Duchess elsewhere across Mt Monger.”
Management commentary signals an aggressive near-term exploration cadence, with the 10,000m+ aircore program commencing next week and follow-up RC drilling planned as soon as results are received. The approach reflects confidence in the intrusion-related structural model and the potential for discovery of additional gold systems within the broader Mt Monger landholding.
Could Duchess of York be the next high-grade gold discovery in WA’s Mt Monger district?
Evergold has confirmed the highest-grade gold intercept ever returned at Duchess of York, with mineralisation showing both scale and high-grade shoots within a structurally controlled system that remains open in multiple directions. The shallow, near-surface position of the gold and proximity to existing processing infrastructure provide a clear pathway for rapid development as the company prepares to test extensions across its broader Mt Monger landholding.
With a 10,000m+ aircore program commencing next week and follow-up RC drilling planned immediately after, investors seeking exposure to early-stage gold discovery in a proven district can view the full announcement at the Evergold investor centre. The company’s systematic approach to testing intrusion-related structural targets across Mt Monger positions it to potentially replicate the Duchess of York success elsewhere within its contiguous tenure.