ACDC Metals is set to launch its maiden drilling campaign at the Mount Jackson Project in Nevada, targeting key gold-silver zones with a 2,500-metre reverse circulation program starting in Q4 2026. A geophysical survey will precede drilling to sharpen targets and reduce costs.
- Maiden 2,500-metre drilling program contracted for Q4 2026
- CSAMT geophysical survey to refine drill targets begins September
- Drilling to test extensions at Pegasus Zone and first-ever 3 Shaft Zone holes
- Environmental permitting underway with Bureau of Land Management
- Existing infrastructure expected to lower site preparation costs
Maiden Drilling Program Locked In at Mount Jackson
ACDC Metals (ASX:ADC) has secured a contract with FTE Drilling USA Inc to undertake its inaugural reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Mount Jackson Gold-Silver Project in Nevada. The program, aiming to drill approximately 2,500 metres across about 15 holes, is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending environmental permits and site preparations.
The drilling will focus on extending known mineralisation at the Pegasus Zone, where recent rock chip assays returned up to 2.35 g/t gold, and will also conduct maiden drilling at the 3 Shaft Zone, an area with historical mining activity but no prior drilling. Here, surface samples have revealed copper grades as high as 14.9% and silver at 17.7 ppm, presenting an enticing opportunity for discovery.
Geophysical Survey to Sharpen Drill Targets
Before drilling begins, a Controlled Source Audio Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) survey, managed by KLM Geoscience, will roll out in September across the Pegasus and 3 Shaft zones. This 12-line-kilometre survey is designed to refine the drill targets initially identified through an aeromagnetic and radiometric survey earlier this year, improving the precision of the upcoming drilling campaign.
ACDC Metals CEO Tom Davidson emphasised the importance of this step, noting that the CSAMT results will help prioritise targets and build on historical data. The company’s approach reflects a methodical progression from surface sampling to geophysics and then drilling, aiming to validate and expand the known mineralisation footprint.
Permitting and Cost Efficiency Through Existing Infrastructure
Environmental permitting with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is actively underway. The Mount Jackson site benefits from existing access roads and previously cleared drill pads, which are expected to reduce the scope of site works, lower bond and reclamation costs, and accelerate the timeline for drilling commencement.
These logistical advantages could prove significant in managing the overall budget and operational risks associated with exploration in the Walker Lane mineral belt, a prolific region known for gold and silver production.
Strategic Significance of the Walker Lane Project
The Mount Jackson Project sits within the Walker Lane, a major mineralised corridor in Nevada with a rich history of precious metals mining and ongoing exploration. ACDC Metals’ maiden drill program here marks a critical milestone in advancing its US portfolio, complementing its rare earths and mineral sands development efforts in Australia.
Given the historical shallow drilling largely ended in mineralisation, the upcoming deeper RC drilling offers a chance to confirm extensions and potentially unlock new zones. The 3 Shaft Zone, in particular, remains an untested frontier with promising surface geochemistry.
Bottom Line?
The success of the CSAMT survey and timely permitting will be pivotal in determining whether Mount Jackson’s maiden drilling can deliver the step-change in mineralisation ACDC Metals is targeting.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the CSAMT survey reveal new structural controls that significantly alter drill plans?
- How will permitting timelines with the BLM impact the planned Q4 2026 drilling start?
- Can maiden drilling at the 3 Shaft Zone confirm the high-grade copper and silver surface anomalies?