Black Cat Syndicate has allocated up to $35 million to exploration and resource conversion drilling in the 2027 financial year, as it aims to grow its resources and extend mine lives across its Paulsens and Kal East gold operations in Western Australia.
The company has identified about 814 thousand ounces (koz) of inferred resources across the two operations, comprising 1.97 million tonnes (Mt) at 2.3 grams per tonne (g/t) gold for 143koz at Paulsens and 12.71Mt at 1.6g/t gold for 671koz at Kal East.
Black Cat said drilling will focus on converting priority inferred resources to indicated resources to support life-of-mine planning, with any subsequent ore reserve additions dependent on further studies and modifying factors.
The increased exploration program follows Black Cat’s transition from developer to producer, with its annual mineral resource and ore reserve update recording a group mineral resource of 2.31 million ounces (Moz) of gold and an ore reserve of 272koz.
Black Cat managing director Chris Stone said the company was well placed to grow its resources.
“Our investment at Kal East has delivered two operating mines and a reliable and performing processing facility, and at Paulsens we continue to build momentum with increasing production,” Stone said.
“FY27 will see both operations ramping up to capacity, supported by one of our largest discovery and growth programs to date. The renewed focus on resource conversion and extension across Paulsens and Kal East is particularly exciting, with significant potential to add near-mine ounces and extend life of mine.”
At Paulsens, Black Cat has allocated between $13 and 15m to near-mine and regional exploration, including a dedicated underground exploration rig and surface diamond drilling targeting extensions to the Belvedere resource and other near-surface targets.
A second underground rig is scheduled to be mobilised in January 2027 to test targets in the Hangingwall Zone, including potential extensions to Galileo, Voyager and Apollo.
Black Cat has allocated between $13 and 15m at Kal East for resource development and near-mine and regional exploration, with drilling focused on resource extension and conversion around the Fingals and Majestic operations.
A further $4 to 5m will be spent at the Coyote gold project, focused on near-mine drilling at Coyote Central, including infill drilling at Kavanaugh and extensions to the Axial Core Zone.
The company’s June 2026 resource update recorded 30.3Mt at 2.4g/t gold for 2.31Moz across its gold portfolio, while ore reserves stood at 5.26Mt at 1.6g/t gold for 272koz.
The Paulsens underground Resource totals 2Mt at 5.4g/t gold for 349koz, while Kal East retains a 1.22Moz Resource.
Black Cat said recent discoveries at Paulsens, including Lynx and Regulus, are not yet reflected in the current resource inventory.