Venus Metals Reports Significant Resource Growth at Bellchambers Gold Deposit
Venus Metals Corporation (ASX: VMC) has announced an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for its Bellchambers Gold Deposit, located 25 kilometres south of Sandstone in Western Australia. The update follows a comprehensive RC drilling program completed in April 2025, with significant increases in measured resources highlighting development potential.
Resource Update Reveals Increased Confidence and Development Potential
The updated global resource for Bellchambers Gold Deposit Venus Metals now stands at 754,000 tonnes at 1.27 g/t gold for 30,800 ounces, reported at a 0.5 g/t gold cutoff. Importantly, the drilling program has substantially increased the measured resource category, providing greater confidence for potential mine development.
When constrained by an optimised pit shell (using a gold price of A$4,500/oz), the resources comprise:
| Class | Au Cutoff | Tonnes | Au g/t | Au Ounces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measured | 0.5 | 187,400 | 1.45 | 8,730 |
| Indicated | 0.5 | 250,000 | 1.29 | 10,410 |
| Total | 0.5 | 437,500 | 1.36 | 19,130 |
This represents a pit-constrained resource of 437,500 tonnes at 1.36 g/t gold for 19,130 ounces, demonstrating the potential economic viability of the project.
Project Location and Infrastructure Advantages
The Bellchambers Gold Project is strategically located within Venus Metals' broader Sandstone project area, approximately 23 km southwest of the town of Sandstone and 70 km by road northeast from the Youanmi Gold Project being advanced by Rox Resources.
The project benefits from excellent infrastructure access, with the Paynes Find-Sandstone road and the Mt Magnet-Sandstone sealed road passing through the tenement, providing good access to the Bellchambers mining area.
"Venus Metals Corporation holds a significant and wide-ranging portfolio of Australian gold, copper, base metals, lithium, titanium, vanadium exploration projects in Western Australia, in addition to owning a 1% Royalty over the Youanmi Gold Mine and being a substantial shareholder of Rox Resources Limited."
Understanding the Bellchambers Geology
The Bellchambers Gold Deposit Venus Metals is situated in the Sandstone Archaean greenstone belt on the western limb of a northerly plunging antiform. The area incorporates the western limb and southern portion of a syncline comprised of an isoclinal folded greenstone sequence.
Gold mineralisation at Bellchambers is primarily hosted in sheared meta-basalt and meta-sediments, including fine-grained psammatics, carbonaceous shales, pelites, banded cherts and cherty limonitic/magnetite BIF (Banded Iron Formation). Higher gold grades typically occur in zones of quartz/ironstone stockwork and quartz ironstone veins, with the mineralisation situated within or near the BIF horizon.
The mineralisation consists of two well-defined shoots approximately 100m along strike and 10-15m wide, with the western zone extending approximately 140m below surface and the eastern zone extending approximately 90m below surface.
What is a Banded Iron Formation (BIF) and Why It Matters to Gold Investors
A Banded Iron Formation (BIF) is a distinctive type of rock that consists of alternating layers (bands) of iron-rich minerals and silica (chert). These formations were primarily formed during the Precambrian era (over 1.8 billion years ago) when oxygen began accumulating in Earth's atmosphere and oceans, causing dissolved iron to precipitate.
For gold investors, BIFs are significant because they often serve as important host rocks for gold mineralisation in many Archaean greenstone belts across Western Australia. The chemical and physical properties of BIFs make them excellent "chemical traps" for gold-bearing fluids moving through rock systems.
At Bellchambers, the association of gold mineralisation with BIF horizons is a positive indicator for the deposit's potential, as BIF-hosted gold deposits often display good continuity and can be predictable targets for mining operations.
Progress Toward Development
Venus Metals has made significant progress toward potential development of the Bellchambers Gold Deposit Venus Metals:
- Mining lease M57/671 covering the Bellchambers and Rangeview deposits has recently been granted
- Key consultants have been appointed to assist in the preparation and submission of a Mining Development and Closure Proposal (MDCP)
- Environmental studies including flora and fauna surveys, surface hydrology, and waste characterisation work are underway
- Results from a comprehensive metallurgical test work program involving seven representative samples are expected in the coming weeks
Initial metallurgical results from previous testing have been encouraging, with bottle-roll analysis of composite samples showing gold recoveries ranging from:
- 86.3% to 92.0% for oxide samples
- 81.9% to 95.6% for transition zone samples
- 75.0% to 90.1% for fresh rock samples
These results suggest conventional processing methods should be viable, though the company notes that a comprehensive metallurgical program is currently underway to confirm these findings.
Why Venus Metals Deserves Investor Attention
Venus Metals Corporation presents a compelling investment case for several key reasons:
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Resource Growth Potential: The recent drilling program has not only increased confidence in the existing resource but also defined a new resource at the Rangeview prospect just 2 km northeast of Bellchambers, with "additional scope to grow this resource" according to the company.
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Path to Production: With the recent granting of the mining lease and ongoing preparation of development proposals, Venus is moving steadily toward potential production at Bellchambers Gold Deposit Venus Metals.
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Diversified Portfolio: Venus holds a significant and wide-ranging portfolio of Australian gold, copper, base metals, lithium, titanium, and vanadium exploration projects in Western Australia. This provides investors with exposure to multiple commodities and reduces single-project risk.
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Strategic Location: The project's location in the established Sandstone mining district, with good road access and proximity to existing infrastructure, enhances its development potential.
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Royalty Income Potential: Venus owns a 1% royalty over the Youanmi Gold Mine and is a substantial shareholder of Rox Resources Limited, providing additional potential value streams beyond its own development projects.
The updated resource estimate and clear development pathway at Bellchambers represents a significant milestone for Venus Metals as it works to unlock value from its diverse portfolio of Western Australian mining assets. With metallurgical test results pending and mining studies progressing, investors can expect continued news flow from this emerging gold development opportunity.
Ready to Unlock the Value in Venus Metals' Gold Assets?
Discover how Venus Metals Corporation's expanding Bellchambers Gold Deposit and clear development pathway could present a compelling investment opportunity. For comprehensive details about the company's diverse portfolio of Australian mining assets and to learn more about their latest resource update, access Venus Metals' latest presentation here.
