HomeMiningAUSTRALIAN CRITICAL MINERALS (ASX:ACM)

Drill Permits Secured but Non-JORC Resource Retraction Raises Questions for ACM

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Australian Critical Minerals Ltd has updated its Flint Gold-Silver Project presentation, confirming drill readiness with permits and funding secured for an initial diamond drilling program in Peru’s prolific epithermal belt.

  • Flint Project located in a +50 Moz epithermal gold-silver metallogenic belt in Peru
  • NSAMT geophysics identifies a 4km strike length high-sulphidation epithermal system
  • Initial diamond drilling program of 4 holes for approximately 1850m planned for Q1 2026
  • Updated investor presentation includes refined resource figures and geophysical data
  • Non-JORC resource previously disclosed has been retracted to comply with ASX rules

Context and Location

Australian Critical Minerals Ltd (ASX – ACM) has provided a comprehensive update on its Flint Gold-Silver Project, situated 80 kilometres east of Trujillo in northern Peru. This project lies within one of the world’s most prolific epithermal metallogenic belts, boasting a gold inventory and production history exceeding 50 million ounces. The region’s pedigree is underscored by nearby tier-one deposits, making Flint a compelling exploration target.

Geophysical Advances and Target Definition

Recent geophysical work, notably a Natural Source Audio-frequency Magnetotelluric (NSAMT) survey, has delineated a large, continuous resistive body interpreted as the silicified core of a high-sulphidation epithermal (HSE) system. This resistive anomaly extends over a strike length of approximately 4 kilometres and shows strong vertical continuity from 100 to 300 metres depth. These findings align closely with historic surface geochemistry and alteration mapping, reinforcing the prospectivity of the system.

The integration of historic induced polarisation (IP) data and surface rock chip geochemistry has further refined multiple high-priority drill targets. The geochemical halo includes highly anomalous pathfinder elements such as arsenic and tellurium, which are characteristic of HSE gold-silver deposits. This multi-disciplinary approach has significantly expanded the exploration footprint beyond previous limits.

Drill Readiness and Planned Program

Australian Critical Minerals has secured all necessary regulatory approvals and surface access agreements to commence drilling on the northern portion of the Flint Project. The initial drill program is planned to consist of four diamond drill holes totaling approximately 1850 metres, targeting the core resistive zones identified by NSAMT geophysics. The drill pads have been strategically positioned to maximise the likelihood of intersecting mineralised structures.

Executive Chairman Dean de Largie emphasised the significance of the project’s location within a highly endowed epithermal gold-silver province and the robustness of the geophysical and geochemical data supporting the drill targets. The company is poised to begin drilling activities in the current quarter, marking a critical step from exploration to potential resource definition.

Compliance and Disclosure Updates

Alongside the technical updates, ACM has revised its investor presentation to include more recent resource figures from the +50 Moz Epithermal Belt and detailed references to major deposits in the region. Importantly, the company has retracted a previously disclosed non-JORC resource estimate to comply with ASX Listing Rule 5.12, advising investors not to rely on that information for investment decisions. No new material information beyond these updates has been introduced.

Outlook

The Flint Project remains at an early exploration stage but benefits from a strong geological framework and a methodical approach to target generation. The upcoming drilling campaign will be closely watched by investors and industry observers as it will provide the first direct subsurface test of this large, compelling epithermal system.

Bottom Line?

With drilling imminent, Australian Critical Minerals is set to unlock the potential of its Flint Gold-Silver Project in a world-class epithermal belt.

Questions in the middle?

  • What will the initial drill results reveal about the scale and grade of mineralisation at Flint?
  • How will the retraction of the non-JORC resource estimate affect investor confidence and valuation?
  • What are the prospects for expanding drilling beyond the northern targets once environmental approvals are finalised?