Forgent Deploys Drill Rig to Peak Hills Gold-Copper Project
1h ago|4 min readStandard
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
forgentgold-exploration
Fazen Markets Editorial Desk
Collective editorial team · methodology
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Forgent Ltd. has mobilized a major drill rig to its flagship Peak Hills gold-copper project. The company announced the deployment on June 19, 2026, initiating a 15,000-meter reverse circulation and diamond drilling program. The campaign will test a high-grade epithermal gold system with a exploration target exceeding 1.5 million gold-equivalent ounces. This marks the most significant on-ground activity since Forgent consolidated the project's tenure in late 2025.
The mobilization occurs amidst a sustained rally in gold prices, which have held above $2,300 per ounce for the past quarter. Copper demand is simultaneously being driven by the global energy transition, with prices stabilizing near $9,800 per tonne. Forgent’s decision to accelerate exploration follows a successful A$25 million capital raise completed in May 2026. That funding provided the necessary liquidity to launch an aggressive drilling schedule without immediate dilutionary pressure.
Junior mining equities have outperformed the broader materials sector year-to-date. The S&P/ASX Small Resources Index has gained 14% compared to the S&P/ASX 200’s 6% rise. The last major gold discovery in the region was Newcrest’s Havieron find in 2018, which eventually led to a multi-billion dollar acquisition by Newmont. Exploration success at Peak Hills could position Forgent as a similarly attractive takeover target for mid-tier producers seeking to replenish reserves.
The initial drilling program is budgeted at A$8.5 million. Forgent’s current market capitalization stands at approximately A$180 million. The company reported a cash position of A$28 million following its recent capital raising initiative. Peak Hills hosts a JORC Exploration Target of 60-80 million tonnes at 0.8-1.2 grams per tonne gold and 0.2-0.4% copper.
This translates to a potential 1.5 to 3.0 million ounce gold-equivalent resource. Historic drilling at the project intercepted notable mineralization, including 32 meters at 4.1 g/t gold from 112 meters depth. Forgent’s planned 15,000-meter program significantly exceeds the total meterage drilled at the site over the previous decade. Peer company Celsius Resources, exploring a similar geological setting, trades at an enterprise value per resource ounce that is 40% higher than Forgent’s implied valuation.
| Metric | Forgent Ltd. | Peer Average |
|---|---|---|
| EV/Resource Ounce (AuEq) | ~A$120 | ~A$170 |
| Cash Burn Rate (months) | ~18 | ~12 |
| Drill Program Scale (meters) | 15,000 | 8,000 |
Successful drill results would directly benefit Forgent’s equity value and likely catalyze a re-rate towards peer valuation multiples. A 30% upward adjustment would imply a share price increase of approximately A$0.15. Contractors servicing the drill program, such as Boart Longyear and Imdex, stand to see incremental revenue gains from the sustained activity. The Australian mining services sector has seen revenue growth of 12% year-on-year.
A significant discovery could intensify merger and acquisition activity within the Australian gold sector. Mid-tier producers like Evolution Mining and Northern Star Resources are actively seeking Tier-1 jurisdiction assets to offset production declines. The primary risk to the thesis is exploration failure. The geological model, while promising, is untested at depth, and initial assays may not meet market expectations. Hedge funds have begun accumulating small positions in junior gold explorers, with net long interest rising 5% over the last month.
The first assay results from the Peak Hills program are anticipated by late August 2026. These initial data points will be the critical catalyst for near-term share price movement. Market participants should monitor the gold-copper ratio, which currently sits at 0.23, for shifts in the relative value of the project’s composite metals.
Key technical levels for Forgent’s share price include resistance at A$0.85, a level it has tested twice in the past year. Support is established at A$0.65, near the price of its recent capital raising. The next major company catalyst is the scheduled quarterly activities report due on July 31, 2026, which will detail drilling progress. A break above A$0.85 on high volume would indicate strong institutional conviction in the exploration story.
Retail investors gain leveraged exposure to commodity prices through junior explorers like Forgent. A successful drill result can lead to disproportionate share price gains compared to the move in underlying gold or copper prices. This high-risk, high-reward profile is tempered by the binary nature of exploration outcomes. Dilution risk is currently low given the company's strong cash balance.
The Peak Hills project shares geological similarities with the Telfer and Tanami goldfields, which are multi-million ounce mining camps. Its exploration target scale places it in the upper quartile of Australian gold projects currently undergoing active drilling. The key differentiator is the copper credit, which improves potential project economics by providing a by-product that lowers the effective cost of gold production.
Independent analysis suggests that only one in every 3,000 initial exploration projects leads to a commercially viable mine. However, for advanced projects like Peak Hills with established mineralization and historical drilling, the probability of defining an economic resource improves significantly. For projects at this stage, the rate of progression to a minable resource is approximately one in ten.
Forgent’s drilling campaign is a high-impact event that will determine its viability as a mid-tier development company.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. CFD trading carries high risk of capital loss.
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