#Gold Mining #New Zealand #OceanaGold #Wharekirauponga #Waihi

OceanaGold Unveils New High-Grade Mining Zone at Wharekirauponga

OceanaGold Corporation, a leading intermediate gold and copper producer, has recently revealed significant findings from its exploration at the Wharekirauponga site, located just north of its existing Waihi operation in New Zealand. The company announced the results from six drill holes as part of its ongoing efforts to explore and convert resources, indicating that a high-grade zone has emerged in the southern part of the deposit.

Key Highlights from the Drilling Results

The newly defined high-grade zone occurs outside of the Mineral Reserves and closer to the planned underground access, thus presenting an advantageous position for future resource exploitation. Among the notable results are drill interceptions that showcase impressive grades:

• - 14.9 meters at 16.3 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold from a depth of 466.5 meters (WKP144B)
• - 5.4 meters at 25.8 g/t of gold from 483.4 meters (WKP144A)
• - 5.5 meters at 24.1 g/t of gold from 623.6 meters (WKP124N)

These findings push the boundaries of the resource model and suggest that the southern extent of the EG Vein continues to be highly promising. In addition to this emerging zone, the results support increased confidence in the current resource framework, showing continuity in mineralization.

Further Exploration Plans

OceanaGold's President and CEO, Gerard Bond, expressed optimism regarding these drill results. He emphasized that the indications of this new high-grade zone are critical as they sit on the periphery of the inferred mineral resource, potentially enhancing overall company value. The current drilling campaign is set against an active backdrop, featuring three drill rigs in operation and plans to increase to five in the second quarter of 2026 as new platforms come online.

The Wharekirauponga site has already shown substantial potential, with prior drill results suggesting an extensible vein structure and emerging grades. The focus for the near future will be to continue to identify additional resource growth and expand on the findings that have already been reported.

Technical Overview and QA/QC

OceanaGold is methodically advancing its drilling approach to ensure safety and precision in its operations. The drilling results have undergone rigorous quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) processes, assuring that the data reflects the highest level of accuracy and reliability. This includes standard practices such as using certified reference materials and multiple assay methods by independent laboratories to verify results.

Conclusion

The developments at the Wharekirauponga site mark a significant milestone for OceanaGold, with implications not only for its resource estimates but also for future operational strategies. The company remains committed to responsibly maximizing its resource potential while delivering robust returns to its shareholders. As OceanaGold seeks to increase its drilling activity further this year, the prospect of uncovering more high-grade areas remains a key objective.

In summary, OceanaGold is positioned strongly in the market, buoyed by these new findings, while continuing to cultivate opportunities for growth and exploration in the vibrant New Zealand mining landscape.