Heliostar Metals on Monday disclosed a standout result from its ongoing 15,000‑metre drilling campaign at the Ana Paula project in Guerrero, Mexico: an 88‑metre intersection grading 8.82 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. The company said the program’s primary objective is to convert inferred resources to higher‑confidence classifications to support the Feasibility Study and future mine design.

In a news release, Heliostar framed the intercept as evidence that targeted conversion drilling is intersecting robust, mineable mineralization. “Our comprehensive plan to de‑risk the deposit is ongoing and includes collecting additional technical data beyond assays that will help us design the mine,” the company said. “We are pushing hard toward this goal and, as such, have mobilized a third drill rig to the site in order to compress the timeline as much as possible. I see Ana Paula as a foundational asset of the high‑quality mid‑tier producer we are growing towards.”

The 88‑metre interval at 8.82 g/t is materially higher than grades typically associated with bulk open‑pit projects, where cutoffs often fall in the 0.5–2.0 g/t range depending on depth and metallurgy. High grades over substantial widths can improve project economics by increasing recovered ounces per tonne processed and reducing unit operating costs, assuming metallurgy and mining configuration are favorable.

Heliostar, which trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSXV: HSTR), OTCQX (HSTXF) and Frankfurt (RGG1), is positioning Ana Paula as the company’s cornerstone asset. The 15,000‑metre program is explicitly focused on upgrading inferred ounces and testing extensions to known mineralization — steps that can unlock a more bankable resource estimate and strengthen the case for project financing. Financial markets typically assign a premium when projects move from inferred to indicated or measured categories because that reduces geological risk and the likelihood of costly surprises during development.

The company did not immediately provide an updated resource estimate or a revised production schedule, but said the drilling results will feed into the ongoing Feasibility Study. Deliverables such as definitive metallurgical testing, geotechnical information, hydrological studies and optimized pit and processing designs remain essential for securing permits and attracting debt and equity partners. Faster conversion of resources can compress the path to a construction decision, but regulatory approvals, permitting timelines and community relations in Mexico will continue to shape the calendar.

Ana Paula sits in Guerrero, a region with a long history of precious metals production but varying logistical and social challenges, which investors closely monitor. Industry analysts note that converting geological success into a financed, permitted mine often requires aligning technical progress with clear stakeholder engagement and stable policy conditions.

With gold trading above long‑run average levels and investors receptive to high‑grade discoveries, Heliostar’s results may draw renewed market attention. For now, the company’s strategy — mobilizing a third rig and prioritizing data collection beyond assays — signals a push to de‑risk Ana Paula quickly and make it more attractive to lenders and partners as it seeks to evolve into a mid‑tier producer.