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Austral Resources Australia Ltd (ASX:AR1)

ALERT: Price-sensitive ASX Announcement for AR1
Current share price for AR1 : $0.068 -0.037 (-35.24%)+
Announcement
Release
13 Feb 2026 9:39AM
Price at Release
$0.105
Full Release
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Summary
Austral Resources Australia Ltd is set to begin drilling at its Rocklands site to bolster confidence in its copper-gold resource estimates. The 18-hole, 2,567-meter drill programme will target the Las Minerale and Double Oxide prospects to validate key geological assumptions and improve confidence in resource estimates. Concurrently, metallurgical and comminution test work will be conducted to enhance processing techniques. Results will be released through Q3 2026, aiding further resource definition and optimization efforts. Austral is addressing historical operational inefficiencies at the Rocklands Processing Plant, which has a nameplate capacity of 3.0 Mtpa, by focusing on throughput imbalances and considering SAG mill integration. The company aims to produce 50,000 tonnes of copper annually from the Mt Isa–Cloncurry region, establishing itself as a regional processing hub.
Key Points
  • Austral Resources Australia Ltd (ASX:AR1) announced the commencement of a drilling campaign at Rocklands targeting improved confidence in the Cu-Au mineral resource.
  • The drilling will include an 18-hole RC/DDH programme covering 2,567 meters aimed at the Las Minerale and Double Oxide Cu-Au prospects.
  • The programme aims to validate the geological and mineralisation controls and improve confidence in the existing Rocklands mineral resource estimate.
  • The initiative will also include targeted metallurgical and comminution test work to assess processing assumptions such as flotation response and grinding behavior.
  • Austral plans to deliver results progressively through Q3 2026 to support further resource definition and processing optimisation studies.
  • The Rocklands Processing Plant is a large-scale Cu-Au sulphide flotation facility with a 3.0 Mtpa capacity, affected historically by throughput imbalances.
  • Austral is focused on plant optimisation, addressing debottlenecking opportunities across the circuit, including SAG mill integration.
  • The company aims to produce 50,000 tonnes of copper per year from the Mt Isa–Cloncurry region and position itself as a regional processing hub.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is autogenerated and has not been reviewed for accuracy or completeness. You should refer to the full announcement here for further information.