Argent Minerals has reported significant exploration progress in New South Wales, unveiling a new high-grade silver lode at Kempfield and visible gold at both Kempfield and Trunkey Creek, while preparing for further drilling campaigns.
- New high-grade silver lode confirmed at Kempfield NW Zone
- Visible gold discovered at Kempfield Lode 100 and Trunkey Creek
- 2026 drilling campaign targets multiple zones to expand resources
- Managing Director Pedro Kastellorizos to step down in June 2026
- Cash reserves stand at A$3.76 million with ongoing exploration spend
New Silver Lode Discovery Strengthens Kempfield Potential
Argent Minerals (ASX:ARD) has unveiled a new high-grade silver lode at its flagship Kempfield Project in New South Wales, confirming a significant along-strike extension from the known Lode 300 zone. The standout intercept from drillhole AKRC312 featured 61 metres at 63.24 g/t silver equivalent from surface, including higher-grade intervals up to 192.67 g/t Ag Eq. This mineralisation remains open in multiple directions, underscoring the potential for resource growth within the polymetallic system.
The discovery complements recent strong silver-base metal results from Lode 100, where drillhole AKDD212 intersected 133.1 metres at 72.4 g/t silver equivalent starting near surface. Notably, this hole also delivered visible gold at 193.8 metres, assaying 0.2 metres at 140.5 g/t gold, deepening the known mineralisation by 80 vertical metres. These findings highlight Kempfield’s robust polymetallic character and continuity across its various lodes. The mineralisation is hosted in interbedded sandstone and siltstone units consistent with the broader volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) system. The resource remains open along strike and at depth, offering multiple avenues for expansion and development.
Visible Gold Discovery Boosts Trunkey Creek Prospects
Nearby, Argent’s Trunkey Creek Gold Project continues to emerge as a promising gold target. Rock chip sampling in early 2026 returned highly anomalous gold grades up to 73.3 g/t from quartz veins associated with historical workings. Follow-up mapping and sampling confirmed visible gold at both Trunkey Creek and Kempfield, lending strong support to the company’s interpretation of a structurally controlled orogenic gold system in the district.
The Trunkey Creek gold corridor now extends approximately 4.7 kilometres in strike, with multiple high-priority targets identified for upcoming drilling. Argent plans to initiate a maiden reverse circulation drilling program to test these zones, integrating geochemical, structural, and geophysical data to refine targeting. This complements the polymetallic silver focus at Kempfield and broadens Argent’s exploration pipeline across multiple commodities and deposit styles.
2026 Drilling Campaign and Resource Expansion Strategy
Argent’s 2026 exploration program at Kempfield is ambitious, targeting several zones including Lodes 100, 200, 300, the VTEM geophysical anomalies, and the Gap Prospect corridor. The company aims to test extensions to known mineralisation and infill sparse drilling areas to improve geological confidence ahead of potential development pathways. These include near-surface starter production scenarios and metallurgical studies to optimise recoveries of silver, gold, lead, and zinc.
The company’s Managing Director Pedro Kastellorizos highlighted the quarter’s results as validation of the project’s scale and multi-commodity potential. He noted that the combination of high-grade silver and visible gold intersections across Kempfield and Trunkey Creek demonstrates Argent’s capability to generate value across its portfolio. The company remains well positioned for continued news flow as drilling advances through 2026.
Leadership Transition and Financial Position
In a notable corporate update, Argent announced that Kastellorizos will step down as Managing Director and CEO on 15 June 2026, after providing more than two months’ notice. He will continue to support the company as a technical consultant. The board is actively managing the leadership transition while maintaining exploration momentum at Kempfield and Trunkey Creek.
Financially, Argent closed the quarter with A$3.757 million in cash reserves, following exploration expenditure of approximately A$535,000 focused primarily in New South Wales. The company also received nearly A$200,000 from option conversions during the period, providing some capital flexibility. No mining production occurred in the quarter, consistent with the company’s development stage.
Argent’s exploration success builds on a series of recent high-impact announcements, including the 133m high-grade silver-gold intercept and the visible gold discovery boost earlier this year, reinforcing the company’s emerging position in NSW’s prolific Lachlan Fold Belt.
Bottom Line?
Argent Minerals is carving out a compelling polymetallic story with new high-grade discoveries and visible gold that could transform Kempfield and Trunkey Creek, but the impending CEO exit adds a layer of uncertainty as drilling ramps up.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Argent’s board manage the leadership transition without disrupting exploration momentum?
- Can the 2026 drilling campaign deliver a resource upgrade that justifies advancing Kempfield towards development?
- What impact will the visible gold discoveries have on Argent’s valuation and project economics?