Iltani Resources has unveiled striking high-grade silver-indium-lead-zinc intercepts from its latest drilling at the Orient Silver-Indium Project, reinforcing the scale and quality of Australia's largest known silver-indium deposit.
- Multiple wide high-grade silver-indium intercepts at Orient East
- Drillhole ORR164 delivers standout massive sulphide core grades
- 81 of 110 planned RC holes completed with assays ongoing
- Diamond drilling commenced for metallurgical core and ore sorting
- Orient Project holds 62.5 Mt at 81.5 g/t silver equivalent resource
High-Grade Intercepts Highlight Orient East Potential
Iltani Resources Limited (ASX:ILT) has reported a fresh batch of assay results from its ongoing drilling campaign at the Orient Silver-Indium Project in North Queensland, revealing multiple high-grade silver-lead-zinc-indium intercepts that underscore the project's robust mineralisation.
The standout results come from drillhole ORR164 at Orient East, which intercepted two broad zones of silver-rich mineralisation. The upper zone delivered 28 metres at 95 g/t silver, 7 g/t indium, 2.1% lead, and 2.9% zinc, including a 4-metre core grading an extraordinary 323 g/t silver and 28 g/t indium with massive sulphides. Within this, a 1-metre slice hit a remarkable 398 g/t silver and 59 g/t indium, accompanied by substantial lead and zinc percentages, translating to 1,683 g/t silver equivalent.
The lower zone of ORR164 also impressed with 30 metres at 38 g/t silver and notable base metals, including a 1-metre high-grade core at 292 g/t silver and 8 g/t indium. These intercepts remain open down-dip, prompting plans for targeted follow-up drilling to test extensions.
Drilling Progress and Broader Project Context
To date, Iltani has completed 81 of the planned 110 reverse circulation holes, accumulating over 15,000 metres drilled across Orient East and West. The program aims to tighten drill spacing to 40 metres, improving resource confidence and supporting upcoming scoping and feasibility studies for potential open-pit mining.
Orient West drillholes ORR161 and ORR163 returned multiple intercepts of moderate-grade mineralisation, consistent with historical results. While not as spectacular as Orient East, these zones could become economically viable with ore sorting technology, a prospect bolstered by recent TOMRA test work showing promising grade upgrades and waste rejection.
In line with advancing metallurgical understanding, a diamond drill rig has commenced core drilling to supply larger diameter samples for detailed test work, including further TOMRA ore sorting trials. This step aims to refine beneficiation strategies and optimise processing pathways.
Resource and Exploration Targets Affirm Scale
The Orient Silver-Indium Project remains Australia's largest known deposit of its kind, with a current Mineral Resource Estimate of 62.5 million tonnes at 81.5 g/t silver equivalent. This includes 19.8 million tonnes at 98 g/t silver equivalent at Orient East and 42.7 million tonnes at 73.8 g/t at Orient West.
Beyond defined resources, Iltani holds a substantial Exploration Target of 35.9 to 43.3 million tonnes grading between 63.6 and 78.1 g/t silver equivalent, reflecting significant upside potential through ongoing drilling and geological modelling.
Managing Director Donald Garner emphasised the significance of the ORR164 results, noting the continuity of high-grade mineralisation along strike and at depth, which supports plans for resource upgrades and infill drilling to bridge Orient East and West zones.
Next Steps in Drilling and Development
The company plans to continue drilling to test eastern extents and down-dip extensions of mineralisation at Orient East, while also progressing infill and step-out drilling at Orient West and other regional targets within the Herberton Project area.
The diamond drill rig's core samples will enable more representative metallurgical test work, with ore sorting trials expected to inform future processing designs. This aligns with Iltani’s strategy to leverage beneficiation technologies to unlock value from both high-grade and medium-grade zones.
As assay results continue to flow over the coming months, the market will be watching how these developments translate into resource upgrades and project economics at a time when silver and critical minerals like indium are increasingly in demand for low-emission technologies.
Bottom Line?
Iltani’s latest drilling confirms high-grade continuity at Orient East, setting the stage for resource upgrades and metallurgical advances that could shape the project’s development trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing drilling refine the resource classification and support feasibility studies?
- What impact will expanded ore sorting capabilities have on the economic viability of medium-grade zones?
- Can further drilling close the gap between Orient East and West to form a contiguous high-grade resource?