Sky Metals has revealed significant new tin mineralisation extensions at its Tallebung project in NSW, confirmed by recent drilling and surface sampling. The company is advancing a major resource update, signalling strong growth potential.
- Significant southeast extensions confirmed by drilling beneath soil anomalies
- New cassiterite-bearing rock chips found via LiDAR-identified historical workings
- Two RC rigs actively expanding high-grade tin-silver-tungsten zones
- Upcoming Mineral Resource Estimate to incorporate over 400 drill holes
- Project remains open in all directions with strong growth potential
Exploration Breakthrough at Tallebung
Sky Metals Limited (ASX – SKY) has announced a promising exploration update from its flagship Tallebung Tin Project in New South Wales. Recent drilling and surface sampling have uncovered significant extensions of tin mineralisation beyond the current resource boundaries, particularly to the south-east. These findings underscore the project's potential to evolve into a major near-term tin development opportunity.
The company’s extensional drilling intersected quartz-vein structures beneath a robust soil sampling anomaly, confirming the presence of mineralised zones that could represent repetitions of the known deposit. Complementing this, rock chip samples containing visible cassiterite were collected from newly identified historical workings, which were revealed through a 2024 airborne LiDAR survey. This innovative use of drone-based LiDAR technology has allowed Sky Metals to detect previously unmapped workings, reinforcing the prospectivity of the area.
Advancing Drilling and Resource Expansion
Currently, two Reverse Circulation (RC) drill rigs are operating on site, systematically expanding high-grade tin-silver-tungsten zones while completing in-fill drilling to support an imminent Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) update. This updated MRE is expected to incorporate data from more than 400 drill holes, a substantial increase from the 115 holes used in the existing resource model. Such a step-change in drilling density is anticipated to enhance both the scale and confidence of the resource estimate.
Sky Metals’ Managing Director and CEO, Oliver Davies, highlighted the significance of these developments, noting that the ongoing campaign is rapidly advancing the technical foundations necessary for mine planning and regulatory approvals. The expanding footprint of mineralisation, combined with the discovery of new surface anomalies and historical workings, points to a system that remains open in all directions, offering considerable upside potential.
Strategic Importance of Tallebung
The Tallebung Tin Project is strategically positioned to supply tin, a critical metal for semiconductor, electronics, and solar photovoltaic industries. The project benefits from shallow, open-pit accessible tin veins with high-grade cassiterite mineralisation, which lends itself to low-cost production methods including advanced ore sorting and gravity separation. The historical mining legacy and recent metallurgical test results further support the project's economic viability.
With the updated resource and mining studies on track for release in the first half of 2026, Sky Metals is poised to deliver a comprehensive evaluation that could underpin future development decisions. The company’s integration of modern exploration techniques, such as LiDAR and extensive soil sampling, alongside a robust drilling program, exemplifies a methodical approach to unlocking the full potential of the Tallebung deposit.
Bottom Line?
As Sky Metals pushes forward with its expanded drilling and resource update, the Tallebung project’s evolving scale could reshape tin supply prospects in Australia.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the laboratory assay results reveal about the grade and continuity of the new mineralised zones?
- How will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate impact the project’s valuation and development timeline?
- What are the next steps for securing mining approvals and potential capital investment?