Rumble Resources Ltd
- ASX Code: RTR
- Market Cap: $63,693,040
- Shares On Issue (SOI): 1,326,938,331
Rumble Resources Appoints Seasoned Mining Executive to Lead Western Queen Into Production
Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR) has announced the appointment of Jake Campbell as General Manager Operations, effective 10 August 2026. Rumble Resources appoints Jake Campbell to lead Western Queen into production at a pivotal moment, as the Western Queen Gold and Tungsten Project moves from planning toward execution. Campbell brings more than 15 years of underground mining experience across project development, commissioning and operations.
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A Hire That Reflects Real Intent
Senior operational appointments of this nature typically signal that a company is preparing the groundwork for an actual mining operation rather than continuing to advance a project on paper alone. Campbell's background aligns closely with what Western Queen requires at its current stage.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering Science (Mining) from the University of Ballarat and spent five years at Panoramic Resources' Lanfranchi Nickel Mine, including three years as Mining Manager. In that role, he was responsible for introducing new mining methods and optimising personnel and plant to improve production consistency and reduce costs.
Since 2019, Campbell has held project management roles at Macmahon across surface, civil and underground operations, including managing an underground mine on behalf of a client. He has also overseen project mobilisations and contributed to estimating, commercial management and business development.
This combination of hands-on underground mine management and contractor-side project experience is considered particularly relevant for a project transitioning from development into steady-state production.
Managing Director & CEO Peter Harold commented: "We are delighted that Jake has agreed to join us to take Western Queen through development and into steady state operations. I worked with Jake when he was Manager Mining at Panoramic's highly successful Lanfranchi Nickel Mine and was impressed with his knowledge of underground mining, his team-based approach to underground mining operations, his focus on safety and his leadership qualities. Since leaving Lanfranchi Jake has broadened his skill set and experience and is now ready to take on the General Manager Operations role."
Harold and Campbell previously worked together at Lanfranchi, giving the appointment a foundation built on prior professional familiarity rather than an unfamiliar hire.
Jake Campbell commented: "I am excited to be joining Rumble as they transition from explorer to developer. The Western Queen gold and tungsten project has huge potential to be a significant gold producing mine with the potential to add a tungsten revenue stream in the future. I look forward to working with the Rumble team to apply my project development and operating skills to build an efficient, safe and profitable mining operation at Western Queen."
Western Queen: The Project Campbell Has Been Hired to Build
Western Queen is not an early-stage exploration concept. It carries historical production credentials, a recently upgraded resource base, and a development pathway already progressing through permitting.
Location and Ownership
- Located 90km northwest of Mt Magnet in Western Australia's Yalgoo mineral field
- Rumble holds 100% equity across two contiguous mining leases covering 9.8 km²
- Ore processing is planned at Gylden's 2.1Mtpa Kirkalocka gold processing plant, approximately 180km by road from the project
Historical Production Credentials
According to the company, combined historical production from the two deposits at Western Queen totalled 880,000 tonnes at 7.6 g/t gold for 215,000 ounces.
| Deposit | Tonnes Mined | Grade (g/t Au) | Ounces Produced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Queen Central Mine | 660,000t | 8.9 g/t | 189,500 oz |
| Western Queen South Mine | 220,000t | 3.6 g/t | 25,500 oz |
| Combined Total | 880,000t | 7.6 g/t | 215,000 oz |
Current Mineral Resource Estimate
In June 2026, Rumble reported an updated Mineral Resource Estimate reflecting a 54% increase in Indicated Resources, bringing the total to 5.13 million tonnes at 2.6 g/t gold for 433,600 ounces (Indicated and Inferred).
A newly defined high-grade zone of 145,000 tonnes at 11.3 g/t gold for 52,500 ounces was identified directly beneath the historical underground workings at Western Queen Central.
What Happens Next: The Development Sequence
Harold indicated that the immediate operational priority is dewatering the Western Queen open pit. Once complete, underground mine development can begin, with first ore expected on the run-of-mine (ROM) pad approximately six months after the underground portal is cut. A ROM pad is the area where mined ore is stockpiled before being transported for processing.
| Milestone | Status / Expected Timing |
|---|---|
| Works Approval | Obtained |
| Native Vegetation Clearance Approval | Obtained |
| Groundwater Licence | Pending |
| Mine Development and Closure Proposal | Pending |
| Open pit dewatering | Upon receipt of remaining approvals |
| Underground portal cut | Following dewatering |
| First ore to ROM pad | Approximately 6 months after portal cut |
| Updated Scoping Study | September 2026 quarter |
| Bankable Feasibility Study | Following updated Scoping Study |
Understanding the Economics: What the November 2025 Scoping Study Tells Us
What Is a Scoping Study?
A Scoping Study is an early-stage assessment of a project's economic viability. It draws on resource data, assumed mining methods and cost estimates to generate indicative financial metrics such as net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR). It is not a definitive feasibility study, but it provides an early signal of whether a project's economics warrant further investment in more detailed studies.
Scoping Studies are typically followed by Pre-Feasibility Studies and then Bankable Feasibility Studies (BFS), each adding further engineering detail and cost certainty. Rumble is targeting a BFS following the updated Scoping Study anticipated in the September 2026 quarter.
Key Findings From the November 2025 Western Queen South Scoping Study
The Study was conducted by independent mining consultant Baybridge Mining Services and focused on a portion of the Western Queen South underground resource.
| Economic Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Production Target | 617kt at 2.95 g/t for 58,500 oz contained gold |
| Free Cash Flow | $133 million |
| NPV (8% discount rate) | $112 million |
| IRR | 370% |
| Gold Price Assumption | $5,540/oz (current spot approximately $5,850/oz) |
| All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) | $2,970/oz |
| Pre-Development Capital | Less than $10 million |
The reported IRR of 370% is notable for a project at this stage, attributed largely to the low pre-development capital requirement and the use of uphole stoping — a low-cost underground mining method where ore is blasted upward in stages from development drives.
The gold price assumption used in the Study is conservative relative to the current spot price of approximately $5,850/oz, suggesting the modelled economics could be more favourable at prevailing prices, though this has not been confirmed by an updated study.
Importantly, the Scoping Study captured only 29% of the July 2025 Mineral Resource at Western Queen South, leaving considerable scope to extend mine life and expand the production target in the updated Scoping Study expected later in 2026.
A Second Revenue Stream: The Tungsten Dimension
Western Queen also hosts a tungsten resource, consequently distinguishing it from single-commodity gold projects. In August 2025, Rumble reported a maiden tungsten Mineral Resource Estimate of 4.31 million tonnes at 0.31% WO3 for 13,200 tonnes of WO3. WO3, or tungsten trioxide, is the standard measure used to express tungsten resource and concentrate grades.
The tungsten mineralisation occurs within a prograde skarn stage situated close to the gold mineralisation. Metallurgical testwork reported in March 2026 indicated that the scheelite material at Western Queen can be upgraded to a concentrate containing 48% WO3 at a 45% recovery using a conventional gravity circuit.
A Scoping Study on the tungsten resource is planned following completion of the gold Feasibility Study, meaning this potential revenue stream has not yet been incorporated into current project economic modelling.
Glossary of Key Terms
- ROM Pad: Run-of-Mine pad, the area where mined ore is stockpiled before transport to processing.
- Portal: The entrance to an underground mine.
- Uphole Stoping: An underground mining method where ore is blasted upward in stages, known for being cost-effective and operationally straightforward.
- NPV (Net Present Value): The present value of future project cash flows, discounted at a specified rate.
- IRR (Internal Rate of Return): The discount rate at which a project's NPV equals zero; higher figures indicate a more financially attractive project.
- AISC (All-In Sustaining Cost): A comprehensive per-ounce measure of gold production costs, including mining, processing, administration and sustaining capital.
- WO3: Tungsten trioxide, the standard measure for tungsten grades.
- Scoping Study: An early-stage economic assessment used to determine whether further study is warranted.
- BFS (Bankable Feasibility Study): A detailed, investment-grade study used to support final investment decisions.
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Why Investors Should Be Watching Rumble Resources
The decision by Rumble Resources to appoint Jake Campbell to lead Western Queen into production forms part of a broader sequence of developments reported by the company through 2025 and into 2026. Furthermore, each milestone adds further weight to the project's operational momentum.
- August 2025 – Maiden tungsten resource announced: 13,200 tonnes of WO3
- November 2025 – Scoping Study released reporting a 370% IRR and sub-$10 million pre-development capital requirement
- March 2026 – Metallurgical testwork results reported for tungsten concentrate
- June 2026 – Mineral resource updated to 433,600 ounces, with Indicated category expanded by 54%
- July 2026 – Experienced GM Operations appointed ahead of planned development activity
The next milestones — including remaining permitting approvals, dewatering, the underground portal cut and the updated Scoping Study — are expected through the remainder of 2026, with the updated Scoping Study targeted for the September 2026 quarter.
Key Takeaway: Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR) has appointed an experienced operations executive as it works toward transitioning Western Queen from an advanced development project into a producing gold mine. With an updated Scoping Study targeted for the September 2026 quarter, permitting progressing, and a resource base that has grown over the past 12 months, the company's project milestones may become more frequent in the period ahead. Investors following near-term gold development stories, particularly those involving low capital entry points and high-grade underground resources, may find developments at Western Queen worth monitoring.
Want to Know More About Rumble Resources and the Western Queen Project?
With an experienced General Manager Operations now on board, permitting advancing, and an updated Scoping Study targeted for the September 2026 quarter, Rumble Resources (ASX: RTR) is moving with clear intent toward production at Western Queen. Investors looking to follow the company's progress — from underground development through to first ore — can find further information directly at the Rumble Resources website.
