Yoquivo Drilling Ramps Up Amid Uncertainty Over Resource Upgrade
Advance Metals has kicked off a fully funded diamond drilling campaign at its high-grade Yoquivo Silver-Gold Project in Mexico, aiming to expand and upgrade its resource base. The program targets extensions to existing mineralisation and new high-grade veins, with results expected to reshape the project's outlook by early 2026.
- 3,000 metres diamond drilling underway at Yoquivo, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Focus on extending high-grade Pertenencia resource with up to 570g/t silver equivalent
- Testing new regional vein targets with surface samples up to 1,594g/t AgEq
- Historic core resampling to support updated geological model and JORC resource upgrade
- Resource upgrade targeted for early 2026 to underpin growth strategy
Drilling Resumes at Yoquivo
Advance Metals Limited (ASX – AVM) has recommenced a significant diamond drilling program at its wholly owned Yoquivo Silver-Gold Project in Chihuahua, Mexico. This fully funded campaign marks a critical phase in the company’s exploration strategy, aiming to build on earlier successes and unlock further high-grade mineralisation.
The initial focus is on the Pertenencia area, where previous drilling intersected impressive silver-gold grades, including intervals such as 4.42 metres at 446g/t silver equivalent and a standout 1.11 metres at over 2,000g/t AgEq. These results have confirmed the potential for substantial resource extensions both laterally and at depth.
Expanding the Resource Footprint
The current drilling program plans to deliver at least 3,000 metres of diamond drilling, continuing into early 2026. Beyond targeting down-dip extensions beneath prior high-grade intercepts, Advance Metals is also testing several high-priority regional targets. Notably, newly discovered vein structures near the Dolar Vein system have returned surface rock chip samples with grades reaching 1,594g/t silver equivalent, underscoring the exploration upside across the broader project area.
Simultaneously, the company is undertaking extensive resampling of historic core from Pertenencia. Early assay results from this work have already confirmed additional high-grade mineralisation, with samples grading up to 848g/t AgEq. This combined approach of new drilling and core reassessment is designed to refine the geological model and support an upgraded JORC-compliant resource estimate.
Towards a JORC Resource Upgrade
The existing resource figures at Yoquivo are currently classified as Foreign Estimates and have not yet been converted to JORC-compliant Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves. The upcoming drilling and assay results will be pivotal in enabling this transition. Advance Metals targets releasing an updated JORC resource estimate in early 2026, which will be a key milestone in validating the project’s commercial potential and advancing its development pathway.
Dr Adam McKinnon, Managing Director and CEO, emphasised the significance of this phase – "Our recent drilling has reinforced Yoquivo’s status as a high-grade silver-gold project with considerable growth potential. The current program is fully funded and strategically designed to expand and upgrade our resource base, positioning us well for the next stage of development."
With the diamond rig now mobilised and drilling underway, the market will be watching closely for assay results and the forthcoming resource update, which could materially influence Advance Metals’ valuation and project trajectory.
Bottom Line?
Advance Metals’ drilling push at Yoquivo sets the stage for a resource upgrade that could redefine the project’s value proposition.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling confirm extensions that convert Foreign Estimates into JORC-compliant resources?
- How might the new high-grade regional vein discoveries impact the overall project scale and economics?
- What timeline and capital requirements will follow the resource upgrade towards potential development?
