West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) has revealed substantial extensions to its Elizabeth Hill silver deposit, with diamond drilling intersecting wide, near-surface zones of silver mineralisation beyond the current resource estimate. These results underpin plans for a resource update and scoping study later this year.
- Diamond drilling hits 67.1m at 19 g/t Ag from surface
- Significant silver zones extend beyond April 2026 resource model
- New high-grade deep silver zone remains open east and south
- Final assays expected end of August to feed resource update
- Further drilling and geophysics planned for regional target testing
Broad Near-Surface Silver Zone Extended Beyond Current Resource
West Coast Silver has delivered a compelling set of diamond drilling results at its Elizabeth Hill project, confirming and expanding a broad near-surface silver mineralisation footprint beyond its April 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). The standout intercept came from hole 26WCDD036, which returned 67.1 metres at 19 grams per tonne (g/t) silver from surface, including higher-grade internal zones such as 12.3m at 22 g/t and 10.9m at 24 g/t. Another hole, 26WCDD035, intersected 48.5m at 19 g/t silver from just 1.5 metres downhole, reinforcing the continuity of this extensive silver zone.
These wide zones are hosted within intensely silica-altered granite and quartz-carbonate veins along the Munni Munni Fault Zone (MMFZ), a key structural corridor controlling mineralisation. The drilling program has both infilled and extended mineralisation to the north and west of the existing MRE block model, highlighting significant potential to add volume and contained metal to the resource base.
New Deep Silver Zone Bracketed but Remains Open
At depth, the diamond hole 26WCDD030 targeted a newly interpreted high-grade silver zone beneath historical underground workings, known as Elizabeth Hill Deeps. Although this hole returned only minor silver mineralisation, it effectively bracketed the northern limit of the deep zone. The Deeps zone itself is a sub-horizontal, silver-mineralised trend approximately 140 to 150 metres below surface, open to the east and south, and situated along a complex granite-ultramafic contact offset from the main MMFZ.
The structural complexity revealed by drilling, including a subvertical fault splay east of the Deeps zone, is under active investigation to better understand controls on mineralisation and to guide future targeting. This structural insight may prove critical in unlocking further high-grade silver at depth.
Resource Update and Scoping Study on Track for Q4 2026
West Coast Silver expects to receive final assay results from the remaining diamond holes (26WCDD037-39) by the end of August, which will feed into an updated JORC 2012-compliant MRE scheduled for release in the fourth quarter. Concurrently, a scoping study will commence to evaluate the project’s economic potential based on the expanded resource.
The company plans to continue drilling in the second half of 2026, focusing on step-out and infill holes to improve resource confidence and further define the new high-grade zones. Complementary surface and downhole geophysical surveys are also planned to generate new targets along the MMFZ and at regional prospects such as Maitland and Elizabeth Hill South, aiming to capitalise on the district-scale potential of the consolidated 180 square kilometre tenement package.
Elizabeth Hill’s Legacy and Growth Prospects
Elizabeth Hill is among Australia’s highest-grade silver projects, historically producing 1.2 million ounces of silver at an extraordinary head grade of 2,194 g/t before mining ceased in 2000 due to low silver prices. The current drilling campaign builds on this legacy, revealing a broader footprint of low to moderate grade silver mineralisation surrounding the high-grade cores, which could translate into a larger, more mineable resource.
With proximity to the Radio Hill processing facility and a growing understanding of the structural controls on mineralisation, West Coast Silver is positioning Elizabeth Hill for a potential mining restart. The recent consolidation of surrounding land packages enhances the chance of discovering additional Elizabeth Hill-style deposits along the Munni Munni Fault and parallel structures.
Executive Director Sergei Smolonogov emphasised that the drilling results confirm the extension of silver mineralisation beyond historical workings and the existing resource, noting the importance of the structural model in guiding future exploration. The company is poised to deliver further results and updates that will clarify the project’s scale and economic viability.
Bottom Line?
West Coast Silver’s latest drilling at Elizabeth Hill confirms significant near-surface silver extensions and a promising deep high-grade zone, setting the stage for a resource upgrade and economic assessment in late 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming assays from the final diamond holes reinforce the scale of the near-surface silver zone?
- How will the structural complexities at depth influence targeting and resource growth potential?
- Can regional exploration along the Munni Munni Fault uncover additional Elizabeth Hill-style deposits?