ASX-listed Brightstar Resources has reported that the June 2025 quarter represented a period of sustained steady-state operations at its Second Fortune mine, in Laverton, Australia.

The mine delivered a 25% increase in production compared with the March quarter, at 35 000 t at 3.29 g/t gold for 4 000 oz mined.

The company notes that new opportunities have been identified to add increased ounces per vertical metre to the operation through a targeted drill-out of the newly discovered FTV lode, to the north of the Second Fortune main lode.

Previously, Brightstar says, mining at Second Fortune was constrained by the northern fault, which represented the lateral extent of the mineralisation to the north.

In late June, Brightstar’s owner-operator team developed out on the 1 015 Level, targeting a 2024 drill hole that intercepted narrow mineralisation in a previously unexplored area of the mine, offset approximately 20 m beyond the northern fault.

Mine development of the FTV Lode on the 1 015 Level occurred in late June, with stoping currently under way and the panel delivering about 25 m of additional strike length – before being further offset – and a weighted average face sample grade of 4.55 g/t gold.

The company says the presence of economic widths and grades of mineralisation beyond the northern fault presents as an attractive in-mine exploration target for Brightstar, given the capital development required to mine additional ounces per level is sunk, presenting potentially low-cost additional ounces to be factored into future mine plans.

Reverse circulation (RC) drilling from surface will begin in July to target the upper areas of Second Fortune for an extension of the FTV lode closer to surface.

Underground diamond drilling will begin in September, targeting the lower areas of Second Fortune and extensions down dip with 1 000 m across five holes planned utilising surface RC drilling, supplemented by a further 1 500 m of underground diamond drilling.

“This represents a material in-mine exploration target for Second Fortune, as it has the potential to increase the ounce endowment per level for low-cost additional production.

“Excitingly, the existence of the FTV Lode indicates the lateral extents of the mineralisation are unknown, and we plan to test this up dip and down dip to the north of the current mine area with both surface and underground drilling in the coming weeks,” says operations executive director Andrew Rich.

Meanwhile, Brightstar says the Fish underground mine, also in Laverton, is now fully established as the company’s second high-grade underground operation in the Laverton Hub, contributing ore supply under the ore purchase agreement with Genesis Minerals.

Since the start of mining operations in April, over 500 m of twin boom jumbo development has been completed, including decline and capital development.

Included in this development were the excavation of two diamond drilling platforms for the underground drilling programme due to begin in July, once the surface programme has been completed.

The majority of surface infrastructure installation was completed in the June quarter, with only minor non-critical works left to complete in July, including the drilling core shed and workshop wash bay.

The access to the first ore drive, the 1350 Level, was excavated in late June. The company says this marks a key step forward for the Fish operations team with stoping to occur later in the current quarter.

Importantly, and a credit to the Fish site team, Brightstar says the mine has achieved first ore intersection under budget, with all key site establishment activities now completed safely and efficiently.

The start of haulage of first ore to Genesis’ Laverton mill has begun for processing in combination with Second Fortune ore and representing first revenue from Fish.

First face assays from the 1350 Level access have been returned, showing results in-line with budgeted grade expectations.

Further, Brightstar says surface exploration drilling is ongoing at Fish, with a total of eight drillholes planned, totalling 2 600 m. The RC component of this is complete and totalled 1 700 m of drilling, including five RC pre-collars and three RC-only holes.

The diamond drilling is underway and expected to complete later this month, totalling 900 m and consisting of five diamond tails drilled onto the RC pre-collars.

The programme is aimed at testing two key areas beneath the planned Fish underground development and current resource area.

Brightstar will continue to provide updates on production and exploration results from its Laverton operations as they become available.

The company says it anticipates further ramp-up in production at Fish during the September quarter, alongside the progression of drilling programmes at both Fish and Second Fortune to support targeted mineral resource upgrades and mine life extensions.

In parallel, following the release of the definitive feasibility study in late June, Brightstar is advancing debt project financing workstreams and operational-readiness activities to enable final investment decision and mine development.

The company says this work on near-term production complements the ongoing exploration activities across Brightstar’s broader portfolio, including current exploration drilling at Yunndaga (Menzies) and Sandstone.

“These operational milestones are a credit to the capabilities of our development and operational teams and place Brightstar in a robust position to pursue further growth opportunities within and adjacent to our existing operations.

“The company remains focused on growing its production profile in line with our recently announced ‘TARGET200’ strategy, targeting over 200 000 oz/y within five years,” says Rich.