Barton Gold Holdings (ASX:BGD) has secured South Australian government approval of the environmental scoping report for its Tunkillia gold project, setting the framework for environmental studies, modelling and community engagement ahead of development approvals, according to a Tuesday filing with the Australian bourse.

The approval advances the company toward securing a mining lease and entering an accelerated development pathway, per the filing.

The company is targeting updated Joint Ore Reserves Committee mineral resource estimates following around 58,000 meters of drilling, with plans to publish ore reserves and a pre-feasibility study for large-scale gold and silver production in the first quarter of 2027, the filing added.