Boab Metals launches a 5,000-metre drilling campaign at Sorby Hills targeting resource upgrades and silver expansion, alongside greenfield exploration at Manbarrum.
- Phase IX drilling to convert resources to reserves
- Focus on high-grade silver at Beta Deposit
- Exploration at Keep Target to expand mineralised zones
- Parallel greenfield drilling at Manbarrum zinc anomalies
- Assay results expected early Q4 2026
Phase IX Drilling Targets Silver Growth and Mine Life Extension
Boab Metals Limited (ASX:BML) has commenced its 2026 drilling campaign at the Sorby Hills Project, marking a critical step as the operation transitions from development to production. The Phase IX program aims to upgrade inferred resources to reserves, extend mine life, and unlock additional silver potential, with drilling scheduled to start on 22 May 2026.
This campaign includes approximately 45 drill holes for a total of 5,000 metres, focusing on infill drilling around the margins of known mineralisation and follow-up on high-priority silver targets such as the Beta Deposit and the Keep Target. The program is designed to support both near-term mine optimisation and longer-term growth opportunities, with assay results anticipated in early Q4 2026.
The Sorby Hills Project recently secured a substantial A$236 million syndicated debt facility and final regulatory approvals, underpinning construction and production plans for first concentrate in H2 2027. This financing milestone provides a solid foundation for the drilling efforts aimed at resource growth and operational optimisation A$236 million syndicated debt.
Beta Deposit: Unlocking High-Grade Silver Potential
The Beta Deposit stands out as a key focus area, hosting some of the highest silver grades in the Sorby Hills system with a current inferred resource of 3.3 million tonnes at 61 grams per tonne silver, 4.6% lead, and 0.4% zinc. Previous development plans excluded Beta due to environmental approvals prioritising other deposits, but Boab now sees it as a relatively low-risk opportunity to materially extend mine life and increase silver exposure.
The upcoming drilling campaign aims to improve confidence in Beta’s geological continuity and grade distribution, potentially paving the way for its incorporation into future mine schedules. This emphasis on silver-rich zones aligns with Boab’s broader strategy to enhance the project’s precious metals profile beyond lead and zinc.
Expanding the Frontier with Keep Target and Regional Exploration
Boab is also advancing exploration at the Keep Target, located about 2km south of the current Sorby Hills reserve base. This zinc-lead-silver prospect has shown encouraging signs in previous drilling rounds, validating Boab’s geological models and highlighting the Burt Range Basin’s potential for new base metal discoveries.
The Phase IX campaign will be the third drilling phase at Keep, aiming to test the scale and continuity of mineralisation. Continued success here could establish a new mineralised corridor outside the existing resource base, significantly enhancing the project’s long-term outlook.
Alongside near-pit drilling, the program includes regional exploration initiatives based on reinterpretation of historical data and recent geophysical surveys, reflecting a comprehensive approach to resource expansion.
Parallel Greenfield Exploration at Manbarrum
Complementing activities at Sorby Hills, Boab is set to commence greenfield drilling at the 100%-owned Manbarrum Project, about 25km east. This program targets historical zinc-soil anomalies that remain largely untested, aiming to define new resources and broaden the company’s base metal footprint in the Bonaparte Gulf Basin.
Manbarrum’s exploration is timely as Boab progresses Sorby Hills toward production, potentially providing a pipeline of future projects to sustain growth beyond the initial mine life.
Boab’s Managing Director Simon Noon highlighted the strategic importance of this drilling phase, noting the focus on extending and enhancing Sorby Hills’ long-term value through targeted resource conversion and discovery drilling. The company plans to update shareholders as results come in, offering a clear line of sight on how these efforts may reshape the project’s production profile Sorby Hills mining launch.
Bottom Line?
Boab’s Phase IX drilling will be a pivotal test of Sorby Hills’ potential to extend mine life and boost silver output, with assay results in late 2026 set to clarify the project’s growth trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will drilling at Beta Deposit convert inferred resources into mineable reserves?
- Can the Keep Target drilling uncover a new mineralised corridor beyond current boundaries?
- How will exploration results from Manbarrum influence Boab’s regional growth strategy?