Elemental Royalty Corporation (NASDAQ: ELE) (TSX: ELE) has noted the announcement by Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) of a 32% increase in Mineral Reserves at the Karlawinda Gold Project. Elemental holds an uncapped 2% net smelter return royalty on Karlawinda.
Karlawinda is a cornerstone asset for Elemental, contributing US$8.9 million in zero-cost revenue in 2025 prior to completion of the Karlawinda Mine Expansion Project, which is in its final stages of commissioning.
Highlights
- Significant increase in Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources: recent drilling at Karlawinda contributed to a 32% increase in the Probable Mineral Reserve estimate to 76.4 million tonnes at 0.6 g/t gold, containing 1.57 million ounces of gold
- Additionally, the Karlawinda Indicated Mineral Resource estimate increased by 30% to 124.9 million tonnes at 0.6 g/t gold, containing 2.38 million ounces of gold. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves
- Ongoing expansion: Capricorn’s expansion of the Karlawinda processing plant is nearing completion, with commissioning and transition to full operations expected during the third quarter of 2026
- Extended mine life: Capricorn reports that the increased Mineral Reserve supports an approximately 10-year mine life, based on expanded processing capacity of approximately 6.5 million tonnes per annum and anticipated annual gold production of approximately 150,000 ounces
- Conservative gold-price assumptions: Capricorn used variable gold prices of A$2,200 to A$2,600 per ounce for the Mineral Reserve estimate and a gold price of A$2,800 per ounce for the Mineral Resource estimate
- Increased value for Elemental: the reported mine-life extension and additional Mineral Resources increase Elemental’s exposure to Karlawinda without additional capital contributions from the Company
Elemental Chief Executive Officer, David M. Cole, commented: “We are pleased to note the substantial increase in Mineral Reserves reported by Capricorn, which further strengthens the long-term value of our 2% NSR royalty over Karlawinda. With Capricorn’s plant expansion nearing completion and annual production expected to increase to approximately 150,000 ounces, Karlawinda is positioned to remain a cornerstone asset in our portfolio and an important contributor to Elemental’s royalty revenue.
Capricorn’s management team has an excellent track record, and we look forward to following its progress towards commissioning.”
About Karlawinda
Karlawinda is a producing, open-pit gold mine located approximately 65 kilometres south-east of Newman in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and operated by Capricorn. Production commenced in June 2021, and Capricorn reports that the mine has produced approximately 564,000 ounces of gold since commissioning. Capricorn is currently completing an expansion designed to increase processing capacity to approximately 6.5 million tonnes per annum and annual gold production to approximately 150,000 ounces.
Recent drilling at Karlawinda, as reported by Capricorn in its announcement titled “Capricorn Gold Reserves Increase to 5.2 Million Ounces” dated July 27, 2026, contributed to an increase in the Probable Mineral Reserve estimate from 1.19 million ounces to 1.57 million ounces of gold, representing an increase of 32%. Capricorn reported that drilling targeted the conversion of Inferred Mineral Resources to Indicated Mineral Resources in areas down-dip of the 2024 reserve pit design, enabling conversion of a portion of the Mineral Resources to Probable Mineral Reserves. The updated Mineral Reserve estimate is based on 124.9 million tonnes at 0.6 g/t gold, containing 2.382 million ounces in the Indicated category, and 35.1 million tonnes at 0.5 g/t gold, containing 608,000 ounces in the Inferred category. Mineral Resources are inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
The updated Probable Mineral Reserve estimate incorporates depletion of approximately 103,000 ounces of gold from mining during the nine months ended March 31, 2026. After accounting for this depletion, the Probable Mineral Reserve increased from 1.19 million ounces to 1.57 million ounces of gold.
