Maritana Minerals announced on 8 September 2026 that Encore Minerals has made a positive final investment decision on the Windarra Tailings Project, about 18 kilometres north-west of Laverton in Western Australia.
Project moves into development
Encore has exercised its option to proceed to the development period under its agreement with Maritana’s wholly owned subsidiary Poseidon Nickel, Mining and Process Solutions and Encore Resources, part of the Draslovka group.
The project covers retreatment of gold tailings at Windarra and Lancefield, which is about 17 kilometres from Windarra. Encore will be responsible for funding, developing, operating, closing and rehabilitating the operation.
Development is planned around Draslovka’s proprietary glycine leaching technology, including the GlyCat and GlyLeach processes. Nickel tailings from the central dam may be considered later if market conditions improve and the parties agree terms.
Updated feasibility work
Encore has provided an updated definitive feasibility study which Maritana said confirms the technical and economic viability of gold recovery. A 2021 study outlined an ore reserve of about 5.5 million tonnes containing approximately 150,000 ounces of gold, with potential production of 53,500 to 55,200 ounces over an initial 45-month period.
The start of the development period triggered a non-refundable $400,000 payment to Poseidon. Maritana is also entitled to staged cash payments, a 3 per cent net smelter return royalty on Windarra production and a 1.5 per cent royalty on Lancefield production.
Next steps
The parties will now progress the full-form agreement and development planning. Encore has up to two years from the final investment decision to proceed through the development period.
The decision creates a defined pathway towards construction and operation of a tailings-reprocessing project in the northern Goldfields, although no workforce numbers or start date were disclosed.
Source: Maritana Minerals Limited, “Encore Makes Final Investment Decision on the Windarra Tailings Project”, 8 September 2026.