Announcement PDF P: +61 8 6466 7500 E: info@ballardmining.com.au A: Level 2, 18 Richardson Street, West Perth WA 6005 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au ASX Announcement – 15th December 2025 Mt Ida Regional Exploration Update • High grade mineralisation identified at the PLUTO prospect o Located 6km north of Baldock with >1,000m prospective strike o 5 metres at 9.4 g/t gold from 46 metres in BMEX100 o 9 metres at 2.9 g/t gold from 40 metres in BMEX112 • Further assays confirm 900m long ASTRO-QUASAR trend immediately north of Baldock o 2 metres at 2.6 g/t gold from 13 metres in BMEX076 o 1 metre at 6.0 g/t gold from 51 metres in BMEX076 • Phase 2 drilling at NEPTUNE extends the mineralised zone o 2 metres at 7.0 g/t gold from 131 metres in BMEX159 o 2 metres at 4.0 g/t gold from 164 metres in BMEX149 • CY2026 focus is on Resource Growth Commenting on the results, Managing Director Paul Brennan said: “The Phase 1 regional exploration program has been very successful to date, with ongoing drilling indicating substantial gold mineralisation at identified prospects. Similar to Neptune, the Pluto and Astro-Quasar prospects were drill tested due to the presence of historical underground workings. We have 53 identified regional exploration prospects outside of Baldock which we will systematically work through over the course of CY2026. It has become evident that there are multiple parallel zones of mineralisation along both the Ballard Fault and the Baldock Thrust shear zones. This is a very fertile system and these early drill results are comparable to the initial exploration results received at Baldock which has subsequently grown from 141koz1 to a 930koz2 Resource. We remain on track to complete the infill drilling program at Baldock within the next two weeks. Looking ahead to CY2026 our focus will shift entirely to adding resources to support our targeted 8-10 year mine plan. We expect this to come from a combination of extensional drilling at Baldock and exploration success from the regional prospects”. 1 Refer ASX Announcement lodged by Delta Lithium on the 7 September 2021 for further information 2 Refer to the Ballard IPO Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 30 May 2025 (as amended by the Supplementary Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 17 June 2025) for further information on the MRE 2 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Ballard Mining (ASX:BM1) (“Ballard” or “the Company”) is pleased to provide an update on the regional exploration drilling program at its Mt Ida Gold Project, located 540km northeast of Perth in the Goldfields region of Western Australia (Figure 7). The Mt Ida Gold Project covers 26km of prospective greenstone belt, folded around the Copperfield Granite (Figure 1). Ballard is pursuing a dual stream Growth and Development Strategy. The Company’s ambition is to establish an initial 5 to 6 year mine life at Baldock, underpinned by a Maiden Ore Reserve of 400-500koz and visibility over an 8-10 year mine life with a continuation of the exploration success seen to date. Regional Exploration Update The Mt Ida regional exploration program has continued to drill test the prospective targets following the early success at the Neptune prospect3 . Initial Phase 1 regional exploration drilling has been completed at a further seven prospects. Four are located on the Baldock Thrust zone north of the Baldock Deposit at Astro-Quasar, Corvus, Pluto and Milky Way (Figure 1). The other three are located on the Ballard Fault zone at Neptune, Galaxy and Sandstone. A total of 92 holes were completed for 10,783 metres with significant gold mineralisation identified in 33 holes (Figures 2-6 and Appendix B). Widespread gold mineralisation has been identified at many prospects including Astro-Quasar, Pluto, and Neptune. To date the Phase 1 regional drilling program has successfully targeted historical underground workings as proof of concept. It has become evident that there are multiple parallel zones of mineralisation along both the Ballard Fault and the Baldock Thrust shear zones. These early drill results are similar to the initial exploration results received at Baldock which have subsequently grown into substantial resources. This provides significant encouragement for the follow-up Phase 2 drilling program which will be further informed by upcoming contemporary geophysics and geochemistry studies in addition to the recent structural review completed by highly regarded structural geologist Dr Sarah Jones. Mineralisation typically occurs in east or west dipping shear zones within a silica-biotite-pyrite- altered anorthosite and/or basaltic amphibolite which are interpreted to be the same host rock and mineralising system as the Baldock Gold Deposit (Figure 1). Significant results are outlined in Appendix B. 3 Refer ASX Announcement lodged by Ballard Mining on the 15 September 2025 for further information 3 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Figure 1 – Regional Exploration Prospects referred to in this announcement highlighted yellow with Baldock highlighted as a reference point 4 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au High grade mineralisation identified at the Pluto Prospect The Pluto Prospect is located 6km north of Baldock on a parallel trend to the Baldock deposit and along strike to the north of the Bombay gold deposit (MRE of 33koz4 ) (Figure 1). Initial drilling has identified a mineralised contact between a mafic amphibolite and a gabbro with a potential strike extent of over 1,000 metres (Figure 2). The prospect also sits within a large, demagnetized zone indicative of major alteration which contains a coincident regional gold in soil anomaly. Very little historical drilling has occurred either along strike or cross strike and there is potential for repeated mineralisation on parallel structures like those identified at Baldock further south. Better results include 9 metres at 2.9 g/t gold and 5 metres at 9.4 g/t gold (Figure 2 and 3). Figure 2 – Plan view of the Pluto prospect showing assay intervals (> 0.5 g/t gold), collar locations, and cross sections locations at major results. 4 Refer to the Ballard IPO Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 30 May 2025 (as amended by the Supplementary Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 17 June 2025) for further information on the MRE 5 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Figure 3 - Pluto cross sections showing recent drill intersections 6 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Further assay results confirm the 900-metre-long Astro-Quasar trend Drilling has identified additional gold mineralisation along the Astro-Quasar prospect (Figure 4) confirming a continuously mineralised 900-metre-long trend. The prospects are open to the south and north for 1,100 metres and 700 metres respectively. New drill results include 2 metres at 2.6 g/t gold, 1 metre at 6 g/t gold and 1 metre at 2.1 g/t gold. Mineralisation typically occurs in amphibolitic adjacent to the contact with the Copperfield granite and occurs as disseminated sulphides in a biotite-silica-albite +/- quartz alteration zone. The current interpretation is that the trend is the northern extension of the 1,100-metre- long Dickson mineralised trend which occurs immediately south and is also on the granite contact (Figure 1). The new results complete Phase 1 drilling and confirm that the prospect is highly mineralised. Phase 2 drilling will be conducted early in CY2026 with the objective of defining a maiden inferred mineral resource. 7 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Figure 4 – Astro-Quasar prospect showing mineralisation and drill hole locations along a 900 metre trend. 8 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Figure 5 – Long section showing Astro-Quasar and Pluto prospects on the Baldock Thrust Further Neptune Assays received The Neptune trend is located on the Ballard Fault, approximately 7km from Baldock. Mineralisation occurs in east dipping shear zones within a silica-biotite-pyrite altered anorthosite which is interpreted to be the same host rock and mineralising system as the Baldock Gold Deposit but on the opposite side of the Copperfield Granite intrusion (Figure 1). Significant new results include (Figure 6 ): • 2 metres at 7.0 g/t gold from 131 metres in BMEX159 • 2 metres at 4.0 g/t gold from 164 metres in BMEX149 • 3 metres at 1.5 g/t gold from 15 metres in BMEX147 • 1 metre at 2.3 g/t gold from 41 metres in BMEX147 Following on from previous results5 of: • 23 metres at 1.8 g/t gold from 21 metres in IDRD410 • 7 metres at 5.8 g/t gold from 113 metres in IDRD417 • 7 metres at 1.7 g/t gold from 48 metres in IDRD408 • 3 metres at 1.7 g/t gold from 9 metres in IDRD409 The Phase 2 drilling at Neptune continues to extend the known mineralisation along 500 metres of strike and at depth and once all assay results are received, initial geological modelling will be conducted to help define the resource definition drilling plan. 5 Refer ASX Announcement lodged by Ballard Mining on the 15 September 2025 for further information 9 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Figure 6 – Plan view of the Neptune prospect on the first vertical derivative magnetic image showing better mineralised intervals, new (yellow) and current (white) (> 0.5 g/t gold). 10 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Project Background The Mt Ida Gold Project hosts a JORC 2012-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate totalling 10.3 million tonnes @ 3.3 g/t Au for 1.1 million ounces6 of contained gold. The Baldock deposit, which hosts 930koz @ 4.1 g/t6 forms the basis for initial development opportunities at Mt Ida. Figure 7 - Ballard’s Mt Ida Gold Project, located in Western Australia’s Goldfield Region A regional exploration drill program is underway across the Project, targeting highly prospective and underexplored zonesalong the26kmstrikeofboththeBaldock Thrustand theBallard Fault. The Project includes six granted mining leases and is fully permitted for mining including an approved Mining Proposal, Mine Closure Plan and Native Vegetation Clearing Permit. Mining approvals are in place for both open pit and underground mining at the Baldock deposit. A Works Approval for up to 2.0 Mtpa Processing and Tails Storage Facility has been received as well as a granted 3.7 GL/yr water abstraction license. -END- 6 Refer to the Ballard IPO Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 30 May 2025 (as amended by the Supplementary Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 17 June 2025) for further information on the MRE 11 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au This release is authorised by the Board of Directors of Ballard Mining Limited. For further information visit our website at ballardmining.com.au or contact: PAUL BRENNAN Managing Director info@ballardmining.com.au About Ballard Mining Ballard Mining Limited (ASX: BM1) is an exploration and development company focused on advancing its Mt Ida asset towards production. With current JORC compliant resources of 10.3Mt @ 3.3 g/t Au, strong balance sheet and an experienced team driving the project development, Ballard is pursuing a growth and development strategy. The Mt Ida Project has high grade gold resources with 93% located on granted mining leases. The main Baldock area has received full open cut and underground mining approvals with a Works Approval for a 2.0 Mtpa Processing Plant and Tailings Storage Facility. Ballard is rapidly advancing the Mt Ida Project through a dual stream plan to increase confidence in the current MRE and increase the global resource inventory via an aggressive exploration program. All modifying factors will be advanced simultaneously. Competent Person's Statement Information in this announcement that relates to exploration results is based upon work undertaken by Mr Todd Hibberd, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM). Mr. Hibberd has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a ‘Competent Person’ as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’ (“JORC Code”). Mr. Hibberd consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. Past Exploration results and Mineral Resource Estimates reported in this announcement have been previously prepared and disclosed by Ballard in accordance with the JORC Code in its Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 30 May 2025 (as amended by the Supplementary Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 17 June 2025) (the Prospectus). The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the Prospectus. The Company confirms that the form and content in which the Competent Person's findings are presented here have not been materially modified from the Prospectus, and all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning Mineral Resource Estimates in the Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. Refer to the Prospectus for further information. Disclaimer This release may include forward-looking and aspirational statements. These statements are based on Ballard management’s expectations and beliefs concerning future events as of the time of the release of this announcement. Forward-looking and aspirational statements are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are outside the control of Ballard, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Ballard makes no undertaking to subsequently update or revise the forward looking or aspirational statements made in this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, except as required by applicable laws and the ASX Listing Rules. 12 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Appendix A: April 20257 Mineral Resource Estimate 7 Refer to the Ballard IPO Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 30 May 2025 (as amended by the Supplementary Prospectus lodged with ASIC and dated 17 June 2025) for further information on the MRE Tonnes Grade Ounces Tonnes Grade Ounces Tonnes Grade Ounces (000s) g/t Au (000s) (000s) g/t Au (000s) (000s) g/t Au (000s) Baldock 2,600 4.5 365 1,570 3.6 200 4,120 4.2 563 Kestrel - - - 940 1.6 48 940 1.6 48 Golden Vale - - - 496 1.7 27 496 1.7 27 Bombay 711 1.3 30 711 1.3 30 West Knell 238 3.3 25 238 3.3 25 Jupiter 50 1.7 3 50 1.7 3 Mt Ida Tailings - - - 500 0.5 8 500 0.5 8 Baldock 242 4.8 37 2,610 4.0 338 2,850 4.0 368 Kestrel - - - 80 1.8 5 80 1.8 5 Bombay 30 3.0 3 30 3.0 3 West Knell 192 2.4 15 192 2.4 15 Jupiter 90 2.7 8 90 2.7 8 Baldock 2,840 4.5 402 4,220 3.9 532 7,000 4.1 930 Kestrel - - 1,000 1.7 53 1,000 1.7 53 Golden Vale - - - 496 1.7 27 496 1.7 27 Bombay 740 1.4 33 740 1.4 33 West Knell 420 2.9 40 420 2.9 40 Jupiter 140 2.3 11 140 2.3 11 Mt Ida Tailings 500 0.5 8 500 0.5 8 Total 2,840 4.5 402 7,500 3.0 699 10,310 3.3 1,102 Total Open cut Au 0.5 g/t Underground Au 1.5 g/t All Cut off Deposit Indicated Inferred 13 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Appendix B: Recent Project Data Appendix B1: Recent Significant Intercepts reported in this announcement * Blank Cu values indicate that Cu assays have not yet been received Hole ID From To Length Gold g/t Copper ppm BMEX073 22 24 2 0.79 515 BMEX074 32 33 1 0.58 364 BMEX076 13 15 2 2.6 799 and 51 52 1 5.99 505 and 77 78 1 2.08 734 BMEX079 58 61 3 1.35 383 BMEX080 78 79 1 1.96 271 and 104 105 1 0.77 103 BMEX081 8 9 1 1.45 285 BMEX083 64 65 1 0.62 218 BMEX084 94 96 2 1.74 3275 BMEX085 67 68 1 0.77 263 BMEX091 124 125 1 0.5 209 BMEX097 109 111 2 0.75 3330 BMEX098 51 52 1 0.62 70 BMEX099 44 45 1 2.16 91 and 68 69 1 0.6 108 and 88 89 1 1.47 172 BMEX100 46 51 5 9.37 210 BMEX101 60 61 1 0.93 141 82 83 1 0.95 4200 BMEX110 82 84 2 0.73 131 BMEX112 40 49 9 2.9 275.3 BMEX113 71 74 3 1.01 71 BMEX125 51 52 1 0.87 233 and 73 75 2 0.76 545 BMEX126 85 89 4 1.33 153 and 92 93 1 0.58 1540 BMEX127 73 74 1 0.77 1820 and 89 90 1 1.41 384 BMEX128 93 94 1 0.85 222 BMEX130 98 99 1 0.52 308 BMEX132 47 48 1 1.56 232 BMEX133 48 49 1 0.5 11 and 114 115 1 0.6 14 BMEX134 78 79 1 0.75 109 and 102 103 1 1.5 199 14 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Hole ID From To Length Gold g/t Copper ppm BMEX142 0 1 1 1.72 64 BMEX144 22 23 1 0.5 67 and 59 61 2 0.67 65 and 68 69 1 0.62 91 BMEX147 15 18 3 1.47 140 and 41 42 1 2.26 852 and 47 49 2 0.87 360 BMEX148 128 129 1 0.51 181 BMEX149 164 166 2 3.98 1575 BMEX151 141 143 2 0.77 1488 and 188 190 2 0.72 463 BMEX158 8 12 4 0.81 1230 BMEX159 131 133 2 7.04 1266 BMEX075 NSI BMEX082 NSI BMEX086 NSI BMEX087 NSI BMEX088 NSI BMEX089 NSI BMEX090 NSI BMEX092 NSI BMEX093 NSI BMEX094 NSI BMEX095 NSI BMEX096 NSI BMEX102 NSI BMEX103 NSI BMEX104 NSI BMEX105 NSI BMEX106 NSI BMEX107 NSI BMEX108 NSI BMEX109 NSI BMEX111 NSI BMEX114 NSI BMEX115 NSI BMEX116 NSI BMEX117 NSI BMEX118 NSI BMEX119 NSI BMEX120 NSI 15 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Hole ID From To Length Gold g/t Copper ppm BMEX121 NSI BMEX122 NSI BMEX123 NSI BMEX124 NSI BMEX129 NSI BMEX131 NSI BMEX135 NSI BMEX136 NSI BMEX137 NSI BMEX138 NSI BMEX139 NSI BMEX140 NSI BMEX141 NSI BMEX143 NSI BMEX145 NSI BMEX146 NSI BMEX150 NSI BMEX152 NSI BMEX153 NSI BMEX154 NSI BMEX155 NSI BMEX156 NSI BMEX157 NSI BMEX160 NSI BMEX161 NSI BMEX162 NSI *NSI = No significant intersection 16 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Appendix B2: Collar Information for holes reported in this announcement Hole ID Depth East North RL Azi Dip BMEX073 89 251,288 6,781,471 457 54 - 61 BMEX074 95 251,154 6,781,645 455 52 - 61 BMEX075 83 251,135 6,781,681 455 54 - 61 BMEX076 161 251,102 6,781,657 456 52 - 60 BMEX079 119 251,036 6,781,811 455 55 - 62 BMEX080 173 251,006 6,781,782 455 54 - 60 BMEX081 125 250,974 6,781,909 455 54 - 59 BMEX082 179 250,941 6,781,887 456 54 - 61 BMEX083 89 248,586 6,784,484 445 91 - 60 BMEX084 125 248,560 6,784,483 445 91 - 60 BMEX085 131 248,655 6,784,555 444 91 - 60 BMEX086 83 248,561 6,784,555 445 90 - 61 BMEX087 95 248,511 6,784,792 448 89 - 61 BMEX088 125 248,485 6,784,795 447 91 - 60 BMEX089 137 253,991 6,777,496 478 63 - 61 BMEX090 155 253,811 6,777,354 481 55 - 61 BMEX091 191 254,007 6,777,371 478 55 - 60 BMEX092 155 253,870 6,777,286 479 51 - 60 BMEX093 173 254,028 6,777,256 478 55 - 60 BMEX094 131 248,458 6,784,887 443 88 - 60 BMEX095 138 248,418 6,784,882 442 90 - 60 BMEX096 131 248,474 6,784,831 445 88 - 59 BMEX097 131 248,401 6,784,953 441 88 - 60 BMEX098 125 248,997 6,784,961 445 59 - 60 BMEX099 155 247,975 6,784,946 445 59 - 60 BMEX100 101 247,990 6,784,994 445 59 - 60 BMEX101 145 247,955 6,784,974 444 57 - 60 BMEX102 65 248,049 6,784,903 444 63 - 60 BMEX103 131 248,025 6,784,866 444 69 - 60 BMEX104 89 247,959 6,785,062 444 59 - 60 BMEX105 143 247,917 6,785,057 444 60 - 61 BMEX106 83 247,916 6,785,136 442 59 - 60 BMEX107 143 247,881 6,785,116 442 60 - 60 BMEX108 83 247,880 6,785,208 441 60 - 60 BMEX109 155 247,845 6,785,188 441 56 - 60 BMEX110 95 247,845 6,785,280 440 57 - 60 BMEX111 143 247,810 6,785,260 440 61 - 61 BMEX112 77 247,852 6,785,360 439 91 - 60 BMEX113 125 247,812 6,785,360 439 96 - 60 BMEX114 60 247,197 6,787,181 433 69 - 60 BMEX115 90 247,168 6,787,172 433 68 - 60 17 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Hole ID Depth East North RL Azi Dip BMEX116 60 247,231 6,787,274 433 249 - 60 BMEX117 120 247,182 6,787,340 433 71 - 61 BMEX118 132 247,137 6,787,323 433 71 - 60 BMEX119 102 247,246 6,787,448 432 251 - 60 BMEX120 120 247,194 6,787,428 432 71 - 60 BMEX121 101 247,146 6,787,411 432 73 - 60 BMEX122 95 247,244 6,787,363 432 250 - 60 BMEX122 95 247,246 6,787,359 432 250 - 60 BMEX123 76 247,183 6,787,256 432 72 - 60 BMEX124 101 247,148 6,787,250 432 72 - 60 BMEX125 95 251,504 6,781,094 457 50 - 59 BMEX126 119 251,472 6,781,076 458 53 - 62 BMEX127 95 251,558 6,780,978 458 53 - 61 BMEX128 119 251,510 6,780,945 458 54 - 60 BMEX129 119 258,460 6,775,344 464 277 - 61 BMEX130 137 258,396 6,775,357 464 58 - 70 BMEX131 101 258,457 6,775,385 465 267 - 56 BMEX132 101 258,470 6,775,424 465 268 - 55 BMEX133 125 259,906 6,776,951 462 87 - 71 BMEX134 179 259,884 6,776,854 465 87 - 70 BMEX135 89 259,807 6,776,526 457 67 - 56 BMEX136 95 259,792 6,776,554 457 70 - 56 BMEX137 83 259,783 6,776,589 458 69 - 54 BMEX138 89 259,832 6,776,619 458 252 - 55 BMEX139 89 259,862 6,776,575 457 251 - 55 BMEX140 83 259,865 6,776,538 456 251 - 55 BMEX141 107 260,051 6,776,959 460 81 - 55 BMEX142 101 260,031 6,776,962 461 82 - 54 BMEX143 101 260,044 6,776,999 458 79 - 55 BMEX144 101 260,020 6,776,995 460 81 - 55 BMEX145 77 257,845 6,780,738 450 225 - 60 BMEX146 59 257,861 6,780,709 447 230 - 60 BMEX147 125 257,892 6,780,735 446 231 - 60 BMEX148 167 257,923 6,780,761 446 230 - 60 BMEX149 209 257,927 6,780,810 446 229 - 60 BMEX150 143 257,904 6,780,845 448 231 - 60 BMEX151 221 257,927 6,780,868 447 230 - 60 BMEX152 149 257,855 6,780,909 450 230 - 60 BMEX153 65 257,764 6,780,888 457 229 - 60 BMEX154 101 257,794 6,780,914 454 229 - 60 BMEX155 77 257,825 6,780,940 452 228 - 60 BMEX156 65 257,707 6,780,893 459 232 - 61 BMEX157 29 257,743 6,780,916 456 230 - 61 18 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Hole ID Depth East North RL Azi Dip BMEX158 83 257,774 6,780,956 454 228 - 60 BMEX159 209 257,743 6,781,182 458 229 - 60 BMEX160 137 257,678 6,781,068 459 229 - 60 BMEX161 119 257,691 6,781,036 456 228 - 60 BMEX162 131 257,722 6,781,062 454 227 - 60 19 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Appendix C: JORC Code, 2012 Edition The following table provides a summary of important assessment and reporting criteria used for the reporting of the Mt Ida Lithium Project Mineral Resource in accordance with the Table 1 checklist in The Australasian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (The JORC Code, 2012 Edition) on an ‘if not, why not’ basis. JORC Table 1: Section 1: Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria Explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where ‘industry standard’ work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay’). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information • Gold sampling activities carried out by Ballard Mining at the Mt Ida Project include reverse circulation (RC)and diamond (DD) drilling. • RC samples were collected from a static cone splitter mounted directly below the cyclone on the rig; DD sampling was carried out to lithological/alteration domain with lengths between 0.3-1.1m • Limited historical data has been supplied, historic sampling has been carried out by Delta Lithium, Hammill Resources, International Goldfields, La Mancha Resources, Eastern Goldfields and Ora Banda Mining, Hawk Resources and has included RC, DD, rotary air blast (RAB) drilling, rock chip and soil sampling. • Sampling of historic RC has been carried out via riffle split for 1m sampling, and scoop or spear sampling for 4m composites, historic RAB drilling was sampled via spear into 4m composites • Historic core has been cut and sampled to geological intervals • These methods of sampling are considered to be appropriate for this style of exploration • No records are available on the exact methodology of historic rock chip / grab /soil sampling • It is assumed that these were collected and assayed using industry standard practices 20 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Criteria Explanation Commentary Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face- sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). • RC Drilling has been carried out by Orlando Drilling, Frontline Drilling, TopDrill & PXD, RC drilling utilised an Explorac 220RC rig, T66 Schramm RC Rig with a 143 mm face sampling hammer bit, DD drilling was completed by a truck mounted Sandvik DE820 and a KWL 1500 and has been a combination of PQ2, HQ2 and NQ2 diameter. • Diamond tails average 200-300m depth • Historic drilling has been completed by various companies including Kennedy Drilling, Wallis Drilling, Ausdrill and unnamed contractors • Historic DD drilling was NQ sized core • It is assumed industry standard drilling methods and equipment were utilised for all historic drilling Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. • Sample condition is recorded for every RC drill metre including noting the presence of water or minimal sample return, inspections of rigs were carried out daily • Recovery on diamond core is recorded by measuring the core metre by metre • Limited sample recovery and condition information has been supplied or found for historic drilling Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. • Quantitative and qualitative geological logging of drillholes adheres to company policy and includes lithology, mineralogy, alteration, veining and weathering • Diamond core logging records lithology, mineralogy, alteration, weathering, veining, RQD, SG and structural data • All RC chip trays, and drill core are photographed in full • A complete quantitative and qualitative logging suite was supplied for historic drilling including lithology, alteration, mineralogy, veining and weathering • It is unknown if all historic core was oriented, limited geotechnical logging has been supplied • No historic core or chip photography has been supplied • Historic comments on logging are very useful in to verify geological details between lithologies. • Logging is of a level suitable to support Mineral resource estimates and subsequent mining studies 21 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Criteria Explanation Commentary Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. • DD sampling is undertaken by lithological/alteration domain to a maximum of 1.1m and a minimum of 0.3m. Core is cut in half with one half sent to the lab and one half retained in the core tray • Occasional wet RC samples are encountered; extra cleaning of the splitter was carried out afterward • Should over 6 samples in a row be wet, the hole will be abandoned if it is aimed to be used in an MRE, with the intention of Diamond tailing it to retain sample quality. • RC and DD samples have been analysed for Au by 50g fire assay in the past by ALS, Nagrom, NAL and SGS, and via photon assay by ALS • Samples analysed by via fire assay at ALS, Nagrom, NAL and SGS were dried, crushed and pulverised to 80% passing 75 microns before undergoing a selected peroxide fusion digest or 4 acid digest with ICPMS finish or fire assay with ICPMS finish • Samples are now analysed via photon assay at ALS are dried and crushed to 3mm with 500g of material utilised for the analysis • An ICP finish is completed post-Photon to determine values of other analytes ie Cu, As, S etc) • Ballard have recently amended the Photon methodology to carry out analysis on Pulverised material rather than crushed material, studies suggest the results are comparable. • RC duplicate field samples were carried out at a rate of 1:20 and were sampled directly from the splitter on the rig. These were submitted for the same assay process as the primary samples and the laboratory are unaware of such submissions • The sampling methodology allows for select manual duplicates of known graded zones to improve QAQC • Historic chip sampling methods include single metre riffle split and 4m composites that were either scoop or spear sampled, while historic core was cut onsite and half core sampled • Historic samples were analysed at LLAS, Genalysis and unspecified laboratories • Historic Au analysis techniques generally included crushing, splitting if required, and pulverisation, with aqua regia or fire assay with AAS finish used to determine concentration 22 ASX: BM1 ballardmining.com.au Criteria Explanation Commentary Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is cons