Brightstar aims for gold production at Sandstone by 2028

Brightstar Resources is advancing PFS workstreams as it targets gold production at its Sandstone consolidated project by 2028.

The company plans to become a +200,000oz per annum gold producer by 2029. Pic: Getty Images.

• BTR on track to becoming long-life +200koz Au pa gold producer in WA

• Sandstone PFS release expected 1H 2026 with construction in 2027 and production a year later

• Greenfields growth also on the cards with +80,000m drilling planned

 

Special Report: Brightstar Resources is well on the way with its aim for the 1.5Moz consolidated Sandstone gold project to be a new long-life producer in WA’s Goldfields.

After acquiring Alto Metals and the Montague East gold project from Gateway Mining in late 2024, the company has expedited exploration and study efforts at Sandstone.

The overarching goal is advancing pre-feasibility study (PFS) workstreams to unlock the project’s full potential, with delivery expected in 1H 2026.

And already, preliminary assessments are suggesting an optimal processing plant capacity of 2.5-3.5Mtpa.

As part of PFS work, Brightstar Resources (ASX:BTR) is also progressing metallurgical and geotechnical studies, open pit mining optimisations, and permitting and approvals activities.

All of this is progressing the aspirational project construction start date of 2H 2027 and first gold production in 2H 2028.

Based on that timeline, production from Sandstone is targeted to coincide with peak operations at Brightstar’s Laverton and Menzies operations – with the aim of being a +200,000oz per annum gold producer within five years.

+80,000m exploration drilling strategy

Brightstar’s 2025 exploration strategy is to aggressively drill out the historically underexplored Sandstone project with a fully funded +80,000m drilling program, a significant increase compared to recent exploration by previous owners.

The project’s mineral resource estimate stands at 1.5Moz at 1.5g/t gold, and the company is targeting an upgrade in 2H 2025 to support the declaration of maiden ore reserves to support the PFS.

BTR has drilled 23km to date at the Sandstone Project this year with assays pending from Bull Oak, Havilah, Lord Nelson and the Indomitable Camp.

There’s also significant greenfields upside for potential discoveries, with multiple exploration targets already identified for drill testing including Hacks West, Bulchina South, Sandstone North and Lord’s Corridor.

“We are very excited with the progress at our Sandstone Gold Project, where our team’s exploration and study efforts are already unlocking significant and historically dormant value,” MD Alex Rovira said.

“Sandstone is materially underexplored, despite ~90% of the current 1.5Moz resource being located within 150m of surface – largely due to a focus on shallow oxide material during a low gold price environment of A$500/oz (1995-2010).

“Today, with gold at ~A$5,200/oz, or well over 10 times the gold price during the last operational phase, our fully-funded +80,000m drilling program is systematically addressing this value gap.

“The high-grade results at deposits like Vanguard North and Whistler, combined with new exploration targets within the highly prospective and well-endowed broader Sandstone greenstone belt, positions Sandstone for material resource growth.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Brightstar Resources, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.