Western Ridge Resources’ latest sampling at Keystone in Nevada delivers strikingly high gold and silver grades, expanding the known mineralised system and validating key geophysical targets.
- Silver assays up to 941 g/t and gold to 44.4 g/t
- Peripheral stringer veins extend mineralisation beyond main lode
- Sampling supports geophysical targets and untested priority zones
- Project footprint expanded by 500% with district-scale potential
- Drilling campaign set for September 2026 to test extensions
Sampling Uncovers High-Grade Mineralisation Beyond Historic Mines
Western Ridge Resources Limited (ASX:WRX) has unveiled exceptional assay results from its Keystone Project in Nevada, with silver grades reaching 941 grams per tonne and gold hitting 44.4 grams per tonne in rock chip and dump samples. These findings highlight a mineralised system far more extensive than previously documented, with sampling from historic underground workings and drill pad faces confirming the presence of high-grade veins beyond the main Keystone lode.
Notably, the discovery of heavily mineralised stringer veins adjacent to the main lode suggests a peripheral halo of mineralisation that expands the target envelope substantially. This ‘halo’ was identified in drill pad cuttings prepared ahead of the company’s upcoming drilling campaign, indicating the hydrothermal system’s footprint extends into surrounding wallrock, a nuance missed by earlier exploration constrained by technology of the time.
Geophysical Targets Validated, Untested Prospects Remain
The sampling results also validate multiple priority targets flagged by airborne geophysical surveys conducted earlier this year. A grab sample from the Marble Rock area, coinciding with a geophysical anomaly, returned encouraging gold values of 4.1 g/t, underscoring the prospectivity of zones outside the historic mining footprint. Similarly, dump samples from newly acquired claims west of the original project boundary yielded gold assays as high as 80.3 g/t and 44.4 g/t, hinting at district-scale exploration upside across the expanded 599-acre project area.
This expansion, which quintupled Western Ridge’s landholding earlier this year, secures numerous historic workings and substantially broadens the regional footprint. The company’s Managing Director, Dr Matthew Cobb, emphasised the significance of these results, noting that the extensive mineralised system and multiple untested targets provide a strong platform for advancing exploration.
Preparations Underway for Maiden Drilling Campaign
Building on these promising sampling outcomes, Western Ridge is gearing up for its first drilling program at Keystone in over 80 years, scheduled to commence in September 2026. The campaign will deploy a 19-hole reverse circulation rig to test the strike extent, depth, and widths of the main lode and peripheral mineralised zones. The presence of high-grade silver and gold in surface samples, combined with geophysical data, sets a compelling stage for this maiden drilling effort.
With no modern drilling conducted at Keystone since the 1940s, this campaign represents a critical step in validating the scale and economic potential of the mineralised system. The company’s recent strategic land acquisitions and the identification of multiple drill-ready targets reflect a concerted push to unlock value from this historically underexplored district.
Historic Workings and Geological Setting Support Epithermal Model
Keystone’s geology is characterised by Triassic sediments intruded by Cretaceous granodiorite stocks, hosting epithermal-style silver-gold mineralisation within laminated quartz veins. Historic mining, primarily focused on a northerly striking main lode, extracted approximately 36,000 ounces of silver between 1937 and 1943, but left numerous subhorizontal and peripheral veins largely untested. The recent sampling program’s identification of these stringer veins and peripheral mineralisation aligns with this epithermal model, suggesting a more pervasive hydrothermal system.
Samples were analysed by ALS Laboratories in Reno using industry-standard four-acid digestion and fire assay techniques, ensuring reliable assay data. While the sampling is selective and early-stage, it provides a critical foundation for targeting and prioritising upcoming drill holes.
Bottom Line?
Western Ridge’s high-grade sampling results and expanded landholdings set the stage for a pivotal drilling campaign that could redefine Keystone’s potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the September drilling confirm continuity and scale of the peripheral stringer veins?
- How might the expanded mineralised envelope impact future resource estimates?
- What exploration strategy will Western Ridge pursue to test the numerous untested targets?