Advance Metals has reported significant broad, high-grade silver and gold intersections at its Yoquivo Project in Mexico, setting the stage for a major resource upgrade and a potential shift to scalable mining methods.
- Broad high-grade silver-gold intersections at central Pertenencia zone
- Key drill hole YQ-26-018 confirms bulk-tonnage potential
- Expansion of mineralisation at Esperanza and San Francisco prospects
- Resource upgrade with JORC Mineral Resource Estimate expected within a month
- Potential shift from narrow vein underground to bulk tonnage open-pit mining
Strong Drill Results Signal Resource Upside
Advance Metals Limited (ASX:AVM) has delivered a compelling update from its Yoquivo Silver-Gold Project in Chihuahua, Mexico, revealing broad and high-grade silver and gold mineralisation across multiple prospects. The standout result comes from drill hole YQ-26-018 in the central Pertenencia zone, which intersected 67.88 metres grading 134 grams per tonne silver equivalent (AgEq), including a high-grade core of nearly 24 metres at 257 g/t AgEq. This intersection was drilled in an opposing direction to previous holes, confirming the continuity and scale of mineralisation in multiple orientations.
These results build on prior historic core resampling that identified extensive moderate-grade zones, suggesting the potential for a bulk-tonnage deposit rather than solely a narrow vein underground target. The company’s technical team is now reassessing development scenarios that could incorporate both underground and open-pit mining approaches, reflecting the evolving understanding of the deposit’s geometry and grade distribution.
Expanding Footprint Beyond Pertenencia
Beyond Pertenencia, recent drilling has significantly expanded mineralisation at the Esperanza Prospect, located 2.7 kilometres west, effectively doubling the strike length of known silver-gold mineralisation. Notable intersections include 10.4 metres at 102 g/t AgEq and narrower high-grade zones exceeding 200 g/t AgEq. Similarly, the San Francisco Prospect, about 700 metres west of Pertenencia, returned encouraging silver-gold grades, including a narrow but exceptionally high-grade 0.3 metre interval grading 727 g/t AgEq.
These extensions highlight the regional potential of the Yoquivo Project and underscore the company’s ongoing drilling campaign aimed at both resource extension and exploration of new targets within the project area.
Resource Upgrade and Development Outlook
Advance Metals anticipates releasing an updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate within the next month. This update will incorporate the latest drilling data and evaluate a range of cut-off grades and mining scenarios, including bulk tonnage open-pit potential alongside high-grade underground resources. The original resource estimates were based on a narrow vein underground model with a 200 g/t AgEq cut-off, but prevailing higher precious metal prices and new geological insights support a broader reassessment.
Managing Director and CEO Dr Adam McKinnon described the results as a potential inflection point for Yoquivo, emphasizing the strengthened confidence in the scale and continuity of mineralisation. He noted that the project is rapidly evolving into a scalable silver-gold development opportunity with multiple growth pathways.
Project Tenure and Ongoing Exploration
The Yoquivo Project comprises several tenements held 100% by Advance Metals through its Mexican subsidiary, all in good standing with secure access agreements. The company continues to conduct diamond drilling across multiple prospects, with assays pending for several holes. Regional exploration is also ongoing to identify additional vein systems and expand the project’s resource base.
While true widths of mineralised zones remain to be fully defined, the consistent high-grade intersections and broad zones of mineralisation provide a strong foundation for the upcoming resource upgrade and future development planning.
Bottom Line?
Advance Metals’ latest drilling results at Yoquivo mark a pivotal step toward unlocking a scalable silver-gold resource with multiple mining options.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming JORC resource update quantify the bulk tonnage potential versus high-grade underground zones?
- What are the implications of the expanded Esperanza and San Francisco prospects for overall project economics?
- How might evolving metal prices influence cut-off grades and mining method decisions at Yoquivo?