Sky Metals Doubles Drilling at Tallebung, Uncovers High-Grade Tin Extensions
Sky Metals reports promising high-grade tin results from the first three holes of its expanded drilling program at the Tallebung Tin Project, prompting a significant increase in drilling activity to further grow the resource.
- High-grade tin intersected in initial three RC drill holes
- New southern extension to the existing mineral resource confirmed
- Drilling program expanded by approximately 80 additional holes
- Ore sorting testwork shows potential for significant tin grade upgrades
- Metallurgical program advancing to optimize tin concentrate production
Early Drilling Success at Tallebung
Sky Metals Ltd (ASX: SKY) has kicked off its large-scale Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at the Tallebung Tin Project in central New South Wales with encouraging results. The first three holes of the campaign have intersected shallow, high-grade tin mineralisation, confirming and extending a newly discovered zone south of the current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE).
Notable intercepts include 6 metres at 1.01% tin from 52 metres depth, highlighted by a 2-metre section grading 2.54% tin, and other significant intervals ranging from 0.33% to 1.10% tin. These results not only validate the presence of high-grade tin but also expand the footprint of the deposit in a strategically important direction.
Program Expansion and Strategic Focus
Buoyed by these early successes, Sky Metals has more than doubled the size of its drilling program, adding approximately 80 new holes to the initial plan. This expansion aims to further delineate and infill the resource, particularly targeting shallow extensions that could be mined early to accelerate capital payback.
Managing Director Oliver Davies emphasised the value of these intercepts, noting the tin grades translate into high economic significance given tin’s premium pricing relative to copper. The focus on shallow, high-grade zones aligns with the company’s strategy to develop a near-term, open-pit operation with rapid project payback.
Ore Sorting and Metallurgical Advances
Complementing the drilling progress, Sky Metals is advancing metallurgical testwork, including ore sorting variability studies that have demonstrated the potential to upgrade tin grades significantly, up to 4.6 times in some samples with near-complete recovery. This technology could reduce processing costs and improve concentrate quality, enhancing the project’s commercial viability.
The company is also progressing bulk sample metallurgical programs to optimize the process flowsheet and produce marketable tin concentrates, a critical step towards securing off-take agreements and financing.
Tallebung’s Strategic Importance
The Tallebung Tin Project is positioned as a technology-enabled, near-term development opportunity in a region with a rich history of tin mining. Tin’s critical role in electronics, semiconductors, and renewable energy technologies underscores the strategic value of Sky Metals’ resource expansion efforts.
With over 100 holes now permitted and drilling well underway, the company is poised to deliver a steady stream of assay results in the coming months, potentially reshaping the scale and confidence of the Tallebung resource.
Bottom Line?
Sky Metals’ aggressive drilling expansion and metallurgical progress at Tallebung signal a pivotal phase in unlocking this high-grade tin project’s full potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming assay results from the expanded drilling program impact the overall resource size and classification?
- What are the timelines and expected outcomes for the bulk sample metallurgical program and off-take negotiations?
- How might native title agreements and land access arrangements influence project development schedules?
