West Coast Silver Accelerates Aircore Drilling to Unlock Elizabeth Hill’s Silver Potential
West Coast Silver has launched a 2,500m aircore drilling campaign at its Elizabeth Hill Silver Project, aiming to expand high-grade silver zones near the historic mine and along the Munni Munni fault. This follows a recent diamond drilling phase that intersected visible native silver, with assay results pending.
- Completion of 1,015m Phase 2 diamond drilling intersecting visible native silver
- Commencement of ~2,500m aircore drilling targeting extensions and repeats of silver mineralisation
- New drone magnetics and geoscience data refining structural targets
- Elizabeth Hill’s historic production of ~1.2 million ounces at exceptionally high grades
- Ongoing assay processing and plans for follow-up RC and diamond drilling
Historic High-Grade Silver Meets Modern Exploration
West Coast Silver Limited (ASX, WCE) is intensifying its exploration efforts at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in Western Australia, a site renowned for its exceptionally high-grade silver mineralisation. The company recently completed a 1,015-metre diamond drilling program that intersected visible native silver, a promising sign that the historic mine’s rich veins may extend further. While assay results are still awaited, this milestone has set the stage for a substantial follow-up campaign.
Targeted Aircore Drilling to Expand Resource Footprint
Building on the diamond drilling success, West Coast Silver has initiated a ~2,500-metre aircore drilling program designed to test for extensions and repeats of the Elizabeth Hill silver system. This program focuses on near-mine targets north and south of the historic workings, as well as along the eastern margin of the Munni Munni fault, a key structural feature controlling mineralisation. Aircore drilling offers a rapid and cost-effective method to cover a broad area, enabling the company to pinpoint zones of anomalous silver for more detailed reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling.
Leveraging Advanced Geoscience Techniques
West Coast Silver’s exploration strategy is underpinned by the integration of cutting-edge drone magnetics, geochemistry, and transient electromagnetic (TEM) surveys. These datasets have sharpened the understanding of structural controls and stratigraphy around Elizabeth Hill, allowing for more precise targeting. Executive Director Bruce Garlick highlighted that the company now has a "clear structural picture" and a focused set of targets, which should accelerate the discovery of additional high-grade silver shoots proximal to existing infrastructure.
A Rich Legacy with Untapped Upside
Elizabeth Hill is one of Australia’s highest-grade historic silver mines, having produced approximately 1.2 million ounces of silver from just 16,830 tonnes of ore at an extraordinary average grade of 2,194 grams per tonne. Mining ceased in 2000 due to low silver prices rather than resource depletion, leaving significant upside potential. West Coast Silver now controls a contiguous 180 square kilometre land package encompassing key Munni Munni structures, positioning the company well to uncover further Elizabeth Hill-style deposits.
Next Steps and Market Implications
The company is currently processing samples from both the diamond and aircore drilling programs, with assay results expected to inform updated target rankings. Plans are underway for follow-up RC and diamond drilling to test the most promising anomalies. While West Coast Silver does not currently have an agreement in place for processing at the nearby Radio Hill facility, the proximity of this site offers a potential future processing option. Investors will be watching closely as assay results and subsequent drilling campaigns unfold, which could significantly enhance the project’s resource base and valuation.
Bottom Line?
As assay results emerge and follow-up drilling advances, West Coast Silver’s Elizabeth Hill project could redefine high-grade silver exploration in Western Australia.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the assay results reveal about the extent and grade of the newly intersected native silver?
- How quickly can West Coast Silver secure processing arrangements to support potential resource expansion?
- Will the integrated geoscience targeting translate into new high-grade discoveries beyond the historic mine footprint?
