Rox Resources Youanmi Gold Project Showcases Exceptional Grades and Advancing Development
Rox's Youanmi Gold Project has emerged as one of Western Australia's most compelling gold development opportunities. Located in the central Youanmi Greenstone Belt within the Southern Cross Province of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton, the Rox Resources Youanmi Gold Project benefits from being in Australia's premier gold province surrounded by million-ounce deposits and major producers.
The project boasts a recently upgraded Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 12.1Mt at 5.6 g/t Au for 2,170,000 ounces, including a substantial underground component of 10.9Mt at 6.0 g/t Au for 2,101,000 ounces. This represents a significant 36% increase in the underground Indicated category and an 11% increase in grade compared to previous estimates.
"The upgraded resource continues to enhance our confidence in Youanmi as a high-grade underground gold project with exceptional economics and multiple growth opportunities." – Phillip Wilding, Managing Director & CEO
Clear Pathway to Production
Rox is progressing rapidly along its development timeline, with several key milestones already achieved:
- Dewatering of the United North Pit completed
- Main Pit dewatering underway
- Portal wall meshing complete
- United North exploration decline expected to commence in Q4 2025
- Major clearing permits obtained
- Camp expansion underway
The company is on track to deliver its Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in late H2 CY2025, with a Final Investment Decision (FID) anticipated in early 2026 and first gold targeted for mid-2027.
Strong Economics Driven by High Grades
The project's July 2024 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) demonstrated compelling economics based on a Probable Ore Reserve of 3.8Mt at 4.4 g/t Au for 546,000 ounces. Key metrics include:
- Production profile of >100,000 ounces per annum
- Total production of 786,000 ounces of gold doré over a 7.7-year mine life
- Low All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of A$1,676/oz
- Pre-production capital of A$245 million
- NPV8 of A$486 million and IRR of 42% (pre-tax) at A$3,100/oz gold price
- Potential for A$1.3 billion in free cash flow at A$3,700/oz gold price
With the recent resource upgrade showing higher grades and increased ounces, particularly in the Indicated category, the DFS is expected to demonstrate even stronger economics, including a potentially larger reserve and longer mine life.
Metallurgical Success Confirms Processing Route
Recent metallurgical test work has confirmed the project's processing flowsheet, with gold recoveries of 90-92% through a conventional crushing, grinding and flotation circuit followed by the Albion Process for concentrate treatment.
Key results include:
- 98.3% sulphur recovery and 91.6% gold recovery through flotation
- Recovery of 94.0-95.8% gold from Albion oxidation of concentrate
- Low mass pull of approximately 9%
- Conventional leach to recover gold from flotation tails and oxidized concentrate
Understanding the Albion Process
The Albion Process is a specialized oxidation technology used to treat refractory gold ores, where gold is encapsulated within sulphide minerals and cannot be efficiently extracted through conventional cyanide leaching alone.
The process involves two key stages:
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Ultrafine Grinding: The sulphide concentrate is ground to a very fine particle size (P80 of 10-12 μm), which increases the surface area of the material.
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Oxidation: The ultrafine material is then oxidized in specially designed vessels using oxygen under atmospheric conditions, which breaks down the sulphide minerals and exposes the gold for subsequent cyanide leaching.
For Youanmi, the Albion Process offers several advantages compared to other oxidation methods:
- Lower capital costs
- Simpler operation without the need for specialist operators
- Flexibility to handle variable sulphur grades and throughputs
- Quick commissioning and robust operation
At Youanmi, approximately 15% of the total material will go through the ultrafine grinding and Albion process, with up to 60% of the gold being free-milling, which contributes to the project's strong metallurgical performance.
Exploration Upside Remains Substantial
Beyond the current resource, Rox controls over 60km of strike along the Youanmi Shear Zone, offering substantial exploration potential. Recent drilling has returned promising results, including:
- 5.30m at 6.34 g/t Au from 84.2m at Bunker
- 4.12m at 14.86 g/t Au from 330.9m at Midway
- 3.00m at 19.05 g/t Au from 57.7m at Currans Find
The company continues to test near-mine growth targets while advancing regional exploration across its extensive land package.
Well-Funded with Strong Shareholder Base
With approximately A$50.5 million in cash (as of June 30, 2025), Rox is well-funded to continue advancing the Youanmi Gold Project toward production. The company has a diverse shareholder base including institutional investors (21.7%), Hawke's Point (17.7%), and QGold (8.5%).
The company's market capitalisation of approximately A$412 million (at A$0.55 per share) reflects growing investor confidence in the project's potential, with several broker analysts now covering the stock.
Project Timeline and Upcoming Catalysts
Rox has outlined a clear development pathway with several key milestones expected over the next 18 months:
| Period | Key Milestones |
|---|---|
| Q4 2025 | Commencement of United North exploration decline |
| Late H2 2025 | Completion and release of Definitive Feasibility Study |
| Q1 2026 | Commencement of Pollard exploration decline |
| Early 2026 | Final Investment Decision |
| 2026-2027 | Construction and commissioning |
| Mid-2027 | First gold production |
Why Investors Should Take Notice
Rox Resources presents a compelling investment opportunity for several key reasons:
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High-grade resource – 12.1Mt at 5.6 g/t Au for 2.17Moz, significantly above the average grade of most Australian gold projects
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Advanced development stage – dewatering, early works, and DFS well underway with a clear pathway to production
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Strong economics – low costs, high margins, and robust returns even at conservative gold prices
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Existing infrastructure – historical mining operations provide significant advantages for redevelopment
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Exploration upside – extensive land package with multiple high-priority targets for resource growth
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Experienced team – management and board with proven track records in developing Australian gold mines
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Favorable jurisdiction – Western Australia is a premier global mining destination with exceptional infrastructure and regulatory framework
As gold prices remain strong, Rox Resources is strategically positioned to become one of Australia's next significant gold producers, offering investors exposure to a high-grade, advanced-stage project with substantial upside potential.
Ready to Explore This Premium Gold Investment Opportunity?
Discover how Rox Resources' Youanmi Gold Project, with its exceptional 5.6 g/t gold grade and clear pathway to production, could deliver significant returns for investors. For comprehensive information about the company's development timeline, resource upgrades, and strategic growth plans, visit Rox Resources' website to learn how you can be part of this compelling Australian gold story.
