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Critical Minerals Surge: Can Diablo’s Star Range Deliver Amid Rising Market Expectations?

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Diablo Resources has confirmed multiple high-grade silver, gold, copper, and antimony systems at its Star Range Project in Utah, setting the stage for its maiden drilling campaign.

  • High-grade assays up to 880 g/t silver, 9.3 g/t gold, 7.4% copper, and 0.6% antimony
  • North Star Prospect mineralisation extends over 3,000m and remains open along strike
  • New prospects East Star, West Star, and Silver Gulch identified with significant mineralisation
  • Drill permitting underway alongside airborne magnetic survey interpretation
  • Project located in tier-1 mining jurisdiction with strong infrastructure and historical mines nearby

Exploration Breakthrough at Star Range

Diablo Resources Limited (ASX, DBO) has delivered a compelling update from its 100% owned Star Range Project in southwestern Utah, USA. Recent reconnaissance rock sampling has confirmed the presence of multiple polymetallic mineral systems, boasting impressive grades of silver, gold, copper, and antimony. These results not only extend known mineralised trends but also reveal new target zones, reinforcing the project's critical minerals potential.

The standout North Star Prospect has been delineated over a strike length exceeding 3,000 metres, with surface assays returning up to 880 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, 9.3 g/t gold, 2.6% copper, and 0.6% antimony. This extensive mineralised corridor remains open along strike, presenting a highly attractive priority target for Diablo’s imminent drilling program.

Emerging Prospects and Strategic Location

Beyond North Star, the company has identified several new prospects, including East Star, West Star, and Silver Gulch, each exhibiting significant mineralisation. East Star, for example, features skarn-style mineralisation with peak copper grades reaching 7.4%, alongside silver and gold values that underscore its potential. West Star and Silver Gulch also contribute to the growing portfolio of polymetallic zones, none of which have yet been drilled.

Strategically, the Star Range Project benefits from its location in a tier-1 mining jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure. Proximity to historical operations such as the Horn Silver Mine and the Milford Copper Mine provides access to established transport, power, and a skilled workforce, factors that could accelerate project development.

Advancing Toward Drilling

Diablo is progressing steadily toward its maiden drilling campaign, with drill permitting applications already underway. The company is also finalising the interpretation of airborne magnetic survey data, which will help refine structural and mineralisation controls to optimise drill targeting. Integration of geophysical data with surface geochemistry and geological mapping is ongoing, aimed at updating the project-wide geological model and prioritising targets based on scale and grade continuity.

Market conditions add further impetus to the project’s advancement. Silver prices surged over 185% in 2025, driven by supply concerns and robust industrial demand, while copper has climbed more than 40%, reflecting its critical role in renewable energy technologies. Antimony, a less commonly spotlighted critical mineral, has also reached record prices amid tightening supply.

Outlook and Next Steps

With exploration results confirming multiple high-grade mineralised systems and the groundwork for drilling well advanced, Diablo Resources is positioning Star Range as a significant critical minerals asset in the US. The coming months will be pivotal as the company moves from surface sampling to drilling, testing the scale and continuity of these promising mineral zones.

Bottom Line?

Diablo’s Star Range is poised to transition from promising surface results to drill-defined resources, with market dynamics favouring critical minerals.

Questions in the middle?

  • When will Diablo commence and report results from its maiden drilling program at Star Range?
  • How extensive and continuous are the high-grade mineralised zones at depth beyond surface sampling?
  • What potential does the project have to evolve into a significant producer amid rising critical mineral demand?