Advance Metals has reported its strongest combined silver-gold-copper interval to date at the Gavilanes Project in Mexico, alongside multiple high-grade silver zones. The mineralised system remains open at depth and along strike, underpinning plans for a JORC resource upgrade in late 2026.
- GV-26-003 intersects 37.5m polymetallic zone with 83g/t silver, 0.8g/t gold, 0.6% copper
- Two shallow high-grade silver zones up to 569g/t silver in latest drill hole
- Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike, supporting potential scale-up
- Drilling ongoing with assays pending for GV-26-004 and step-out hole GV-26-005
- JORC Mineral Resource upgrade targeted for Q4 2026
Strongest Polymetallic Interval at Gavilanes to Date
Advance Metals Limited (ASX:AVM) has delivered its most significant polymetallic drill result yet at the 100%-owned Gavilanes Silver Project in Durango, Mexico. The third diamond hole, GV-26-003, intersected a broad 37.5-metre zone grading 83 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, 0.8 g/t gold, and 0.6% copper from 205.8 metres to the end of the hole. This interval also includes higher-grade subzones, such as 5.5 metres at 160 g/t silver, 2.3 g/t gold, and 1.5% copper, marking the strongest combined silver-gold-copper intersection reported at Gavilanes so far.
Above this polymetallic zone, GV-26-003 encountered two shallow high-grade silver intervals, including 15.6 metres at 309 g/t silver starting from 24 metres, with a standout 3.4 metres at 569 g/t silver. Another zone returned 6 metres at 204 g/t silver. These results confirm the presence of rich near-surface silver mineralisation at the southern end of the deposit.
Evidence of a Vertically Stacked Mineralising System
The drilling results reinforce Advance Metals’ interpretation of a vertically stacked epithermal system, with shallow silver-dominant mineralisation transitioning to copper-gold-rich zones at depth. This geological model draws parallels to the nearby world-class San Dimas mining district, though the company cautions that size, grade, or economic potential comparisons are not implied.
Importantly, GV-26-003 ended in mineralisation at 243.2 metres due to a small void, leaving the deep polymetallic zone open for further extension both along strike and at depth. This open-ended mineralisation provides a clear target for follow-up drilling, including the ongoing GV-26-005 hole, which is a significant southern step-out more than 120 metres from GV-26-003.
Building on Previous High-Grade Intersections
The latest hole builds on prior drilling at Gavilanes, notably GV-26-002, which intersected a broad 54.6-metre interval grading 0.6% copper and 22 g/t silver starting at 180 metres. Together, these holes suggest a polymetallic system with increasing base metal and gold content at depth, enhancing the prospect of a sizeable discovery.
Advance Metals’ initial drilling program, planned for 15 to 18 diamond holes totaling up to 4,500 metres, is focused on testing the Descubridora structure and expanding the footprint of high-grade mineralisation. Assays from GV-26-004, drilled approximately 50 metres south of GV-26-003, are pending and expected to shed further light on the system’s southern continuity.
Strategic Importance of Gavilanes and Next Steps
Gavilanes hosts a Foreign Estimate of 2.83 million tonnes at 246 g/t silver equivalent, containing 22.4 million ounces of silver equivalent, although this estimate is not JORC-compliant and requires further drilling and evaluation. The project’s proximity, just 23 kilometres east, to First Majestic Silver’s San Dimas Mine, a prolific silver-gold district with over 745 million ounces of silver produced historically, adds to its strategic appeal.
Advance Metals plans to integrate new drilling results and historical core sampling into an updated geological model, aiming for a JORC Mineral Resource upgrade targeted for Q4 2026. The company is also preparing to drill additional priority targets within the broader project area, including San Nicolas, El Nopal, and La Cruz/La Tuna.
Managing Director Dr Adam McKinnon described GV-26-003 as a "key result," highlighting the open-ended nature of the polymetallic zone and the potential for a large-scale system beneath the shallow silver zones. With ongoing assays and drilling, the next few months will be critical in defining the scale and continuity of mineralisation at Gavilanes.
Bottom Line?
Advance Metals’ latest drilling at Gavilanes uncovers its strongest polymetallic zone yet, but the system remains open and unquantified, setting the stage for a pivotal resource upgrade later this year.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming assays from GV-26-004 and GV-26-005 confirm the southern extension of the polymetallic system?
- How will the planned JORC Mineral Resource upgrade reshape the valuation and development prospects for Gavilanes?
- What is the potential scale and economic viability of the deeper copper-gold zones beneath the high-grade silver cap?