Iltani Resources has announced its maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate for the Orient West Silver-Indium deposit, revealing a significant 21.6 million tonnes at 100.5 g/t silver equivalent. This milestone confirms the project as Australia's largest known silver-indium resource and sets the stage for further expansion.
- Maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 21.6 Mt @ 100.5 g/t Ag Eq
- 18.7 million ounces of contained silver at 60 g/t Ag Eq cut-off
- 56% of resource classified as Indicated category
- Larger lower-grade resource of 42.7 Mt @ 73.8 g/t Ag Eq also reported
- Orient East maiden resource targeted for September 2025
A Landmark Resource for Iltani
Iltani Resources Limited (ASX – ILT) has delivered a significant milestone with the announcement of its maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for the Orient West Silver-Indium deposit in Northern Queensland. The resource totals 21.6 million tonnes grading 100.5 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent, containing 18.7 million ounces of silver at a 60 g/t silver equivalent cut-off grade. This positions the Orient Silver-Indium Project as Australia’s largest known silver-indium resource, a notable achievement for a company listed only two years ago.
Resource Quality and Classification
More than half of the resource tonnage (56%) falls within the Indicated category, reflecting a solid confidence level in the geological continuity and grade distribution. The resource estimate was independently prepared by Mining One Pty Ltd, lending credibility to the findings. In addition to the higher-grade core, Iltani reported a broader, lower-grade resource of 42.7 million tonnes at 73.8 g/t silver equivalent, containing 27 million ounces of silver at a 30 g/t cut-off. This layered resource profile offers flexibility for future mine planning and development.
Exploration Targets and Future Growth
The current MRE covers the high-grade core area of Orient West, while an adjacent extension to the northwest remains classified as an Exploration Target. Early drilling along this extension has intersected mineralisation, and multiple VTEM geophysical anomalies suggest further upside potential. Iltani is actively pursuing expansion with plans to complete a maiden JORC resource for the Orient East deposit by September 2025. This will enable a comprehensive global resource estimate for the entire Orient Silver-Indium Project.
Mining and Metallurgical Outlook
The resource is reported within an optimised pit shell, assuming conventional open pit mining methods. Historical metallurgical test work indicates the feasibility of producing high-quality lead-silver and zinc-indium concentrates, supporting the economic viability of the project. Iltani plans to undertake further metallurgical testing to explore the recovery potential of antimony and tin, which are currently excluded from the metal equivalent calculations but may add value if payable concentrates can be produced.
Strategic Implications
With the maiden resource now established, Iltani is well positioned to advance the project through further drilling, resource expansion, and metallurgical validation. The company’s focus on critical minerals aligns with broader market demand for materials essential to low-emission technologies. The upcoming Orient East resource estimate and ongoing exploration activities will be key catalysts to watch in the coming months.
Bottom Line?
Iltani’s maiden resource cements Orient West as a major silver-indium asset, but the real story will unfold as Orient East’s resource and further extensions come into focus.
Questions in the middle?
- How will metallurgical test results for antimony and tin impact the overall project economics?
- What are the timelines and expected scale for drilling to convert Exploration Targets into resources?
- How might commodity price fluctuations affect the viability of mining lower-grade portions of the resource?