Pantera Minerals has kicked off its first-ever diamond drilling campaign at the Gillham Project in Arkansas, aiming to confirm high-grade antimony and silver mineralisation beneath historic mines.
- Maiden 1,500m diamond drilling underway at Gillham Project
- Targets high-grade antimony and silver beneath historic mines
- 10-hole program expected to complete in six weeks
- Surface sampling showed up to 19.2% antimony and 63.8 g/t silver
- Gillham central to Pantera's US critical minerals strategy
First Modern Drill Campaign Targets High-Grade Antimony and Silver
Pantera Minerals (ASX:PFE) has commenced its maiden diamond drilling program at the 100% owned Gillham Project in southwest Arkansas, marking a significant step from surface exploration to direct subsurface testing. The 1,500-metre campaign, starting 18 August 2026 and expected to run for about six weeks, will test mineralisation beneath historic workings at the Davis, Stewart, and May mines.
This drilling program is the first modern subsurface test of the Gillham district, which hosts more than 18 historical antimony and silver mines. It aims to verify whether the high-grade mineralisation identified at surface, highlighted by rock chip samples grading up to 19.2% antimony and 63.8 grams per tonne silver, extends at depth. Soil geochemistry has outlined coherent antimony anomalies stretching over several hundred metres, underpinning the drill targets.
Priority Targets at Historic Mines with Polymetallic Potential
The maiden drilling focuses on three priority prospects. Stewart and May mines, historically known for stibnite production, returned 2026 rock chip results including 19.2% Sb, 12.25 g/t Ag, and significant lead and zinc grades, reinforcing their status as key targets. Soil anomalies along these trends extend up to 500 metres, suggesting sizeable mineralised structures.
The Davis Mine, the largest historic operation in the area with extensive underground development, is targeted for its polymetallic potential. Recent rock chip samples confirmed notable base metal and silver mineralisation, including up to 4.79% lead and 20.5 g/t silver. The drilling here will provide the first modern subsurface insight into the geological and structural controls of mineralisation beneath the old workings.
Strategic Importance within Pantera’s US Critical Minerals Focus
Gillham is a cornerstone of Pantera’s strategy to build exposure to critical minerals in the United States. Antimony, designated a critical mineral by the US government, is vital across industrial, defence, and energy sectors. Pantera is leveraging modern exploration techniques in this historically mined but underexplored district to unlock new geological data and growth opportunities.
Results from the drilling campaign will be incorporated into Pantera’s geological model to refine understanding and prioritise follow-up and step-out drilling across the broader 5,000-acre Gillham Project. The company also continues to assess complementary US critical minerals projects aligned with its technical expertise and strategic goals.
Next Steps and Market Anticipation
Core samples will be logged and assayed progressively, with results released as they become available. These findings will be critical to evaluating the continuity and orientation of mineralisation, informing future drilling decisions. The maiden drilling represents a pivotal moment for Gillham, transitioning Pantera from promising surface indications to tangible subsurface data.
Bottom Line?
As Pantera drills deeper into Gillham’s historic mines, assay results over the next six weeks will be crucial to validating the project's potential as a US antimony and silver source.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the maiden drilling confirm significant mineralisation continuity at depth beneath historic workings?
- How might assay results influence Pantera’s prioritisation of follow-up drilling and resource definition?
- Could Gillham’s polymetallic potential attract further strategic partnerships or investment?