Bowdens Drill Hole BD25007 Yields 28,378 Gram Metres Silver Intercept

A New Benchmark at Bowdens

Silver Mines Limited has delivered a landmark result from its recent diamond drilling program at the Bowdens Silver Deposit in central New South Wales. Hole BD25007 returned an extraordinary 116 metres grading 245 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, alongside notable lead and zinc content. This intercept not only sets a new record for the deposit but also significantly outperforms the previous best intercept drilled in 2003.

The scale and grade of this intercept, equating to over 28,000 gram metres of silver, highlight the exceptional mineralisation potential that Bowdens continues to offer despite more than three decades of exploration and development. The result underscores the deposit’s status as Australia’s largest undeveloped silver resource and positions it strongly amid a global environment of record silver prices.

Strategic Drilling for Future Production

The recent drilling program, comprising thirteen diamond holes totaling over 2,200 metres, was primarily designed for geometallurgical and geotechnical sampling. Its goal was to support detailed mine design and production planning for the first decade of operations. Despite this focus, the program uncovered multiple high-grade zones, including other significant intercepts such as 34 metres at 339 g/t silver and 57 metres at 189 g/t silver in adjacent holes.

Importantly, some drill holes extended beneath the current open pit design, revealing mineralisation that could potentially expand the mine’s life or improve economics. These findings provide critical data for refining ore reserve estimates and optimizing processing strategies.

Validation and Future Prospects

Silver Mines’ Managing Director, Jo Battershill, expressed enthusiasm about the results, calling them a validation of the deposit’s quality and the technical team’s targeting efforts. With the company’s recent resource and ore reserve updates, along with an optimisation study released last year, these drilling results feed directly into advancing final mine designs and product specifications.

Looking ahead, Silver Mines plans to intensify drilling efforts in 2026, focusing on infill and extensions to high-grade mineralisation within Bowdens and on adjacent mineralised structures. This approach aims to unlock further value and potentially enhance the project’s scale and grade profile.

Bowdens in the Global Context

Situated 26 kilometres east of Mudgee, the Bowdens Silver Project benefits from excellent logistics and a tier-one jurisdiction, factors that add to its attractiveness. The deposit’s geological setting, characterised by epithermal silver and base metal mineralisation, offers multiple exploration targets within a large tenement package.

As silver prices remain elevated, Bowdens stands out as a compelling development opportunity on the ASX and globally. The recent drilling success reinforces Silver Mines’ position in the silver sector and sets the stage for further growth and potential commercial partnerships.