Heliostar Drills 101 Metres Grading 5.34 g/t Gold in the Ana Paula Expansion Zone
“Deep‑grade drill intercepts push Ana Paula’s high‑grade core deeper, sharpening the path to a 2028 underground mine.”
- On 2026‑04‑09 Heliostar announced six new drill holes in the Ana Paula Expansion Zone (Mexico).
- The headline intercept is 101.0 m @ 5.34 g/t Au (hole AP‑125‑374) with a sub‑interval of 33.5 m @ 8.98 g/t Au. This extends mineralisation ~80 m deeper than the PEA model and lies 20 m east of previously drilled stopes.
- Additional high‑grade results: 8.75 m @ 9.11 g/t Au, 7.15 m @ 6.98 g/t Au, plus a 25.35 m @ 0.46 % antimony zone with associated gold.
- The drill program is 84 holes / 28,318 m for 2025‑26, targeting step‑out extensions and deeper zones around the planned underground decline.
- Five more Expansion‑Zone holes are pending assay later in the quarter; results are expected before the end of Q2 2026.
- The company plans to restart work on the mine decline in H2 2026 to improve access for further resource extensions.
| Aspect | Prior expectation | New information | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resource growth | Expansion zone already identified as open‑ended; depth extension anticipated but not quantified. | 101 m @ 5.34 g/t Au (plus 33.5 m @ 8.98 g/t) pushes the high‑grade envelope ~80 m deeper. | Material – Positive: materially improves confidence in a larger, higher‑grade resource and supports the upcoming Feasibility Study (FS). |
| Project economics | PEA for Ana Paula projected 101 koz/yr at $1,011 AISC; depth extension could increase ore grade and life. | Higher‑grade intercepts at depth suggest potential to lower cut‑off grades, raise average grade and extend mine life. | Positive but still forward‑looking – reinforces the economic case without changing headline PEA numbers yet. |
| Capital requirements | $27 M 2026 exploration budget funded from operating cash; decline restart planned H2 2026. | No new capital spend disclosed; results are generated from existing drill program. | Neutral – no immediate financing impact. |
| Market perception | Analysts already rate the news as “Material – Positive” (e.g., Stonegate coverage). | The depth extension is a concrete, data‑driven validation of the open‑ended model, likely to be welcomed by investors. | Material – Positive. |
Overall, the drill results are materially positive because they deliver new, high‑grade mineralisation at greater depth than previously modelled, directly supporting the feasibility study timeline and potentially enhancing project economics.
Heliostar Metals Ltd. is a 100 % owned gold producer and explorer focused on three operating mines (La Colorada, San Agustín, Veta Madre) in Mexico and a flagship underground development – the Ana Paula Project (Guerrero, Mexico). Ana Paula’s PEA (Nov 2025) forecasts 101 koz/yr production at $1,011 AISC with an after‑tax NPV₅ of $426 M. The company is advancing a 15–28 km decline to access deeper high‑grade zones and plans a feasibility study in H1 2027.