Tartana Minerals has made significant strides in expanding its silver exploration footprint with uncontested progress on EPM 27220, covering historic high-grade silver mines. The company also restates a robust Nightflower Exploration Target and plans extensive drilling in 2026.
- EPM 27220 application uncontested, advancing to Native Title process
- Historic high-grade silver mineralisation confirmed at Montalbion and Victoria Amalgamated mines
- Nightflower Silver project Exploration Target restated between 32 and 47 million ounces silver equivalent
- Over 10,000 metres of drilling planned in 2026 prioritising silver assets
- Data remodeling underway to meet JORC 2012 standards, highlighting polymetallic potential
Expanding Silver Horizons
Tartana Minerals Limited (ASX, TAT) is advancing its silver exploration portfolio with the uncontested progress of its Exploration Permit for Minerals (EPM) 27220. This tenement application covers the historically significant Montalbion and Victoria Amalgamated silver mines in Far North Queensland and is now moving into the Native Title advertising phase. The uncontested status marks a critical step forward, clearing a major hurdle in securing access to these promising sites.
The Montalbion mine, located on the Atherton Tablelands near Irvinebank, boasts a rich mining history dating back to the late 19th century. Historic records and recent sampling of waste dumps indicate the presence of high-grade silver mineralisation, supported by a complex geology featuring epithermal quartz-sulphide veins rich in silver, lead, zinc, and other metals. Similarly, the Victoria Amalgamated mine hosts polymetallic mineralisation including tin, which adds an attractive dimension to the ore composition.
Robust Nightflower Exploration Target
Alongside EPM 27220, Tartana’s Nightflower Silver project remains a cornerstone of its silver strategy. The company has restated its Exploration Target at Nightflower to between 2.75 million tonnes at 364 grams per tonne silver equivalent (Ag Eq) for 32 million ounces, and 5.36 million tonnes at 270 g/t Ag Eq for 47 million ounces. This target is based on a combination of historical drilling, rock chip sampling, and geophysical anomalies, although it remains conceptual pending further exploration.
The polymetallic nature of Nightflower, encompassing silver, lead, zinc, copper, gold, and antimony, positions it as a potentially significant deposit within the regional Mungana transfer zone. Tartana is designing a comprehensive drilling program to upgrade this Exploration Target, aiming to convert conceptual potential into a defined resource.
Looking Ahead, Drilling and Data Upgrades
In 2026, Tartana plans to undertake over 10,000 metres of drilling, prioritising its silver portfolio across Nightflower, Montalbion, and Victoria Amalgamated. This drilling campaign is expected to provide critical data to remodel historical drilling and sampling results to comply with the JORC 2012 reporting standards, enhancing the credibility and market appeal of its resource estimates.
The company’s approach reflects a methodical strategy to unlock value from its polymetallic assets, leveraging both historical data and modern exploration techniques. The inclusion of metals such as tin and antimony, alongside silver, lead, and zinc, could improve project economics, especially given recent favourable metal price trends.
Environmental and Regulatory Considerations
Tartana’s announcement also touches on environmental studies related to historic waste dumps at Montalbion, which, while primarily focused on acid mine drainage, have yielded encouraging geochemical results supporting the high-grade nature of the deposit. The progression through Native Title processes will be a key regulatory milestone, with potential implications for project timelines and community engagement.
Overall, Tartana Minerals is positioning itself to capitalise on a growing silver portfolio with significant exploration upside. The combination of uncontested tenement advancement, a substantial Exploration Target at Nightflower, and a planned aggressive drilling program signals a company gearing up for a pivotal phase of resource definition and potential development.
Bottom Line?
Tartana’s 2026 drilling campaign and tenement progress set the stage for a defining year in its silver exploration journey.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the Native Title process impact the timing of EPM 27220 grant and subsequent drilling?
- What updates will the 2026 drilling program provide on the size and grade of the Nightflower and Montalbion deposits?
- How might fluctuating metal prices, especially for silver and antimony, influence the economic viability of these projects?