Sun Silver Engages Ausenco to Drive Maverick Silver Scoping Study in Strong Silver Market
Sun Silver has engaged global engineering firm Ausenco to lead critical concept and scoping studies for its Maverick Silver Project in Nevada, aiming to underpin a maiden Scoping Study by late 2026. The move leverages Ausenco’s North American precious metals expertise and comes as silver prices hover near US$77 an ounce, bolstering project economics.
- Ausenco appointed as lead engineering consultant for Maverick Silver Project
- Concept and internal scoping studies underway to support H2 2026 Scoping Study
- Focus on heap leach process design, site infrastructure, and cost estimation
- Project hosts 347Moz silver and 2.25Moz gold in JORC Inferred Resource
- Strong silver prices enhance development prospects and timing
Ausenco Leads Engineering Push Ahead of Scoping Study
Sun Silver Limited (ASX:SS1) has taken a decisive step in advancing its flagship Maverick Silver Project by appointing Ausenco, a global engineering powerhouse, to spearhead concept and internal scoping studies. This engagement is designed to fast-track the technical groundwork needed for the company’s maiden Scoping Study and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), targeted for release in the second half of 2026.
Ausenco’s remit covers process design, site layouts, infrastructure planning, and cost estimation with a focus on evaluating a heap leach development pathway. This approach aligns with the strong silver price environment, currently around US$77 per ounce, which Sun Silver highlights as materially enhancing the project’s economics and development momentum.
Significant Resource and Strategic Location
The Maverick Silver Project, located in Nevada’s Elko County, holds a JORC Inferred Mineral Resource of 237 million tonnes grading 45.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.30 grams per tonne gold. This equates to 347 million ounces of silver and 2.25 million ounces of gold, or 539 million ounces of silver equivalent. The deposit remains open along strike and at depth, offering potential for further resource expansion.
Nevada’s standing as the world’s top mining jurisdiction according to the Fraser Institute adds strategic weight to the project’s location, which sits near Barrick’s Carlin Mine on the prolific Carlin Trend. Sun Silver’s recent drilling campaign has been ramped up to upgrade resource classification and expand high-grade zones, supporting the technical inputs needed for development studies and mine planning. This drilling push was documented in the company’s recent update on accelerated drilling to boost resource.
Ausenco’s Expertise and Collaborative Support
Ausenco brings a strong pedigree in precious metals project delivery, especially in North America, with experience spanning feasibility studies and EPC contracts for heap leach operations. Their multidisciplinary team includes specialists in heap and tank leach design, capital and operating cost modelling, and North American permitting, ensuring a comprehensive and execution-focused study.
Supporting Ausenco are Mine Build for mine planning, Independent Metallurgical Operations for metallurgical test work, and Sunstone Environmental for permitting and baseline environmental studies. This collaborative framework aims to deliver a robust foundation for Sun Silver’s development pathway, which also includes advancing mineral resource classification towards JORC Indicated status, expanding metallurgical understanding, and progressing environmental permitting.
Development Milestones Through 2027
Sun Silver is targeting a Scoping Study completion by H2 2026, followed by a Pre-Feasibility Study in Q2 2027. These milestones coincide with ongoing drilling, metallurgical testing, and mine planning efforts designed to refine the project’s technical and economic profile. The company’s recent metallurgical test results have demonstrated strong silver and gold recoveries supporting a heap leach processing route, reinforcing the technical assumptions underpinning the upcoming studies.
As Managing Director Andrew Dornan noted, Ausenco’s appointment is a "significant milestone" that leverages their global track record to provide confidence in the study outcomes. With silver prices maintaining strength, the timing appears favourable for advancing Maverick Silver through these critical development phases.
Bottom Line?
Sun Silver’s collaboration with Ausenco and ongoing technical progress set a clear path toward validating Maverick Silver’s development potential amid supportive silver prices.
Questions in the middle?
- How will updated metallurgical data impact the upcoming Scoping Study’s economic assumptions?
- What progress can be expected on permitting and environmental approvals through 2026?
- To what extent can resource expansion drilling improve the project’s classification and scale?
