Boab drilling reveals new growth beyond Sorby Hills pit designs
Boab Metals has reported high-grade silver-lead intercepts outside the current Sorby Hills FEED Study pit designs, led by 12.62 metres at 204g/t silver equivalent. The results have pushed the company to extend its growth drilling program as it assesses potential resource, reserve and mine-life additions.
- 12.62m at 204g/t AgEq from 23m at Omega Central
- Mineralisation extended beyond current pit designs at Omega and B deposits
- 47 holes completed across 5,880m, including 15% extra drilling
- Further assays expected in Q4 2026
- Drilling underway at the Keep Zinc target
Boab Metals Limited (ASX:BML) has found substantial silver-lead mineralisation outside the current pit designs at its Sorby Hills project, with the strongest result delivering 12.62 metres at 204g/t silver equivalent, 121g/t silver and 7.65% lead from 23 metres at Omega Central.
The result from hole SHSD_207 was one of several notable intercepts returned from the company’s Phase IX growth drilling program. Other highlights included 3.26 metres at 187g/t silver equivalent and 12.66% lead at the B Deposit, 3 metres at 152g/t silver equivalent and 11.45% lead at Omega South, and 7.05 metres at 133g/t silver equivalent and 5.79% lead at Omega Central.
Phase IX Drilling Moves Beyond Original Plan
Boab completed 47 sonic and diamond core holes for approximately 5,880 metres, including seven additional holes covering about 930 metres. That took the program roughly 15% beyond its original planned metreage, after geological observations prompted further drilling aimed at reserve growth, mine-life extensions and greater exposure to silver-rich mineralisation.
At the B Deposit, drilling tested both the up-dip and down-dip margins of the current FEED Study pit shell. Boab said SHSD_233 extended mineralisation up-dip, while SHSD_203 and SHSD_204 confirmed and extended the mineralised zone at depth. At Omega, wide and high-grade results from holes including SHSD_190, SHSD_195, SHSD_207, SHSD_211 and SHSD_214 will be assessed through a future Mineral Resource estimate and pit optimisation.
Pending Assays Hold the Next Data Point
The drilling campaign has not yet finished. Three additional holes at Norton North intersected significant mineralisation within the targeted interval, but assays are still pending. All nine planned holes at Beta have also been completed, although geological interpretation there remains preliminary and the company is still compiling the data.
Boab has now begun three deep holes, totalling about 1,200 metres, at the early-stage Keep Zinc target south of Central Omega. Further work is also planned at the company’s Manbarrum project, 25 kilometres east of Sorby Hills. Additional Sorby Hills assays are expected during the fourth quarter of 2026.
The results are encouraging, but they are not yet an increase in Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves, nor do they change the mine plan or production guidance. Boab says the economic impact of the extensions will require further assays, geological interpretation, resource estimation and pit optimisation. Its silver-equivalent figures also exclude zinc and rely on stated lead and silver price, recovery and payability assumptions, without smelter penalties or charges.
Bottom Line?
The drilling has opened a credible growth pathway beyond the current pits, but the investment case now depends on whether pending assays can be converted into defined tonnes, reserves and mine-plan changes.
Questions in the middle?
- How much of the mineralisation outside the pit designs can ultimately be converted into Ore Reserves?
- Will the pending Norton and Beta assays confirm continuity across the broader growth targets?
- Can future pit optimisation support additional silver production without disrupting the construction timetable?
