Western Ridge Resources has begun earthworks at its Keystone Project in Nevada, setting the stage for its first modern drilling campaign in over 80 years. The fully funded 19-hole program aims to extend historic high-grade silver veins and explore newly identified flat-lying vein systems.
- Earthworks started at Keystone Project
- Fully funded 19-hole maiden drilling planned
- Targets extensions of historic high-grade silver veins
- Historical production exceeded 1,000 g/t silver
- Drilling to begin late May 2026
Earthworks Mark New Chapter at Keystone
Western Ridge Resources (ASX:WRX) has kicked off earthworks at its flagship Keystone Project in Northern Nevada, initiating the first modern exploration campaign at the site since mining ceased in 1943. The company has contracted Legarza Exploration to build nine drill pads, paving the way for a fully funded 19-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program targeting extensions of the historic high-grade silver veins.
The Keystone Mine’s legacy includes approximately 36,000 ounces of silver extracted from just 1,700 tonnes of ore, with run-of-mine grades surpassing 1,000 grams per tonne (g/t) silver. This historical richness underpins Western Ridge’s optimism for discovering further mineralisation beyond the shallow 30-metre depth reached by past mining operations.
Drilling Program Targets Untapped Vein Extensions
The upcoming drilling, expected to start in late May, will specifically test both strike and dip extensions of the main Keystone vein, as well as a flat-lying vein system identified during the final stages of historic mining. These targets remain largely untested, offering potential for significant new discoveries within the polymetallic system.
Western Ridge’s Managing Director Dr Matthew Cobb emphasised the significance of this campaign: "Historic mine development only reached a depth of 30 metres below surface and was confined to a relatively small portion of the vein system at the Project. The Keystone mineralised system remains broadly untested, with both the main vein and the relatively more recently identified flat vein system not yet closed off either along strike, or down dip."
This drilling initiative follows regulatory approval and aligns with the company’s strategy to systematically unlock value from its portfolio of critical metals projects. The program’s 1,380 metres of RC drilling will provide the first modern data set to assess the project's true potential.
Broader Exploration Ambitions Beyond Maiden Drilling
While the current focus is on the Keystone vein extensions, Western Ridge sees this maiden drilling as a springboard for a broader exploration campaign across multiple high-priority targets identified through recent aeromagnetic surveys and geological mapping. These preliminary targets suggest a polymetallic system with potential beyond silver, including lead, zinc, and gold.
The company’s approach builds on the momentum from the fully funded 19-hole drilling program announced earlier this year and the regulatory greenlight for drilling secured in March, marking key steps in advancing the Keystone Project from historical relic to modern exploration frontier.
Bottom Line?
The Keystone drilling campaign will be a critical test of Western Ridge’s ability to extend historic high-grade silver mineralisation, with results likely to shape the company’s next exploration moves.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling confirm extensions of the high-grade silver veins?
- How might the flat-lying vein system contribute to overall resource potential?
- What other targets at Keystone could emerge as priorities following initial results?