Barton Gold has expanded its Tolmer silver discovery in South Australia, delivering multiple high-grade silver and gold assay results from a recent 3,677m drilling program. The western silver zone now stretches over 500 metres, while the eastern gold zone shows broad, high-grade gold mineralisation. Metallurgical testwork is set to begin, aiming to clarify recoverability and support resource modelling.
- Western silver zone extended beyond 500m strike
- Multiple assays exceed 2,000 gram-metres silver with gold credits
- Eastern gold zone shows broad shallow high-grade gold intervals
- Metallurgical testwork to commence on composite samples
- Plans underway for Tunkillia silver resource update and feasibility study
Tolmer Silver Discovery Expands with High-Grade Hits
Barton Gold Holdings (ASX:BGD) has delivered a fresh wave of high-grade assay results from its Tolmer silver discovery within the Tarcoola Gold Project in South Australia. A recent 3,677-metre reverse circulation drilling campaign has extended the western silver zone strike length to over 500 metres, confirming the area’s shallow, high-grade nature. Notably, multiple intervals have exceeded 2,000 gram-metres (g-m) of silver, often accompanied by significant gold credits.
The standout assays include 10 metres at 399 g/t silver and 0.55 g/t gold from 56 metres depth in hole TBM0258, which contains a narrower 4-metre interval grading 954 g/t silver and 1.23 g/t gold. Similarly, hole TBM0259 returned 16 metres at 493 g/t silver and 0.66 g/t gold, including a 3-metre section with 1,706 g/t silver and 2.20 g/t gold. These results reinforce the shallow, high-grade character first highlighted by an earlier intersection of 6 metres at 4,747 g/t silver from 46 metres depth, which produced trial concentrates grading over 100,000 g/t silver (approximately 10% silver).
Broad Gold Mineralisation Emerges Alongside Silver
Alongside the western silver zone, Barton’s drilling has also infilled and extended the eastern gold zone, revealing broad, shallow high-grade gold mineralisation. Highlights include 16 metres at 3.74 g/t gold and 15.1 g/t silver from 57 metres (TBM0289) and 8 metres at 9.34 g/t gold and 13.6 g/t silver from 90 metres (TBM0290), demonstrating potential for significant gold resources adjacent to the silver mineralisation.
These complementary zones suggest a complex mineral system with distinct but overlapping silver- and gold-dominant horizons. The western zone hosts an upper horizon rich in silver with limited gold, and a lower horizon at the oxide-fresh rock boundary containing both metals in broad intervals. The eastern zone is characterised by gold as the dominant metal, with mineralisation extending to depths beyond 200 metres.
Metallurgical Testwork and Geological Modelling to Follow
Barton plans to accelerate metallurgical testwork on composite samples drawn from the latest drilling to assess recoverability and concentrate quality. Early petrological and structural analyses are underway to better understand mineralisation controls and support geological modelling.
Managing Director Alexander Scanlon emphasised the discovery’s potential for a low-cost, high-margin operation given its shallow profile and exceptional silver grades. He also highlighted plans to update the 3.1 million ounce Tunkillia silver resource, where extensive drilling has been completed to underpin a Pre-Feasibility Study and Mining Lease application. This positions Barton’s Tolmer and Tunkillia assets as key pillars in its South Australian precious metals strategy, either as complementary to regional gold holdings or as standalone projects.
Context Within Barton’s Broader Development Pipeline
The Tolmer drilling success dovetails with Barton’s broader efforts to advance its South Australian portfolio, which includes the 2.2 million ounce gold and 3.1 million ounce silver JORC Mineral Resources across multiple projects. The company recently completed a 39,000-metre drilling phase at Tunkillia aimed at resource upgrades and feasibility milestones, with results suggesting robust economics and potential for early production ramp-up.
As Barton moves toward detailed feasibility and financing discussions, the metallurgical outcomes from Tolmer will be pivotal in confirming the project’s economic viability and guiding follow-up drilling and mining method design. The interplay between high-grade silver and gold mineralisation across Tolmer’s zones adds a layer of complexity and opportunity that warrants close attention.
Bottom Line?
Tolmer’s expanding high-grade silver and gold zones set the stage for critical metallurgical insights that will shape Barton Gold’s next development steps.
Questions in the middle?
- How will metallurgical testwork results influence Tolmer’s processing strategy and project economics?
- What is the potential scale and grade continuity of Tolmer’s extended silver and gold zones beyond current drilling?
- How might updates to the Tunkillia silver resource alter Barton Gold’s regional development priorities?