Orient Project Surges Ahead with Completed Drilling and VTEM Survey
Iltani Resources Herberton Project has announced significant operational progress at its Herberton Project, with the Orient West JORC Infill Drilling program now complete and drilling already underway at Orient East. The company has also finished an important helicopter-borne electromagnetic survey that could significantly expand the project's potential.
Drilling Milestones Deliver Strong Results at Orient West
The recently completed Orient West program comprised 34 RC holes totalling 8,321 metres and 2 diamond drill holes totalling 450.5 metres. Assays have been received for holes ORR062 to ORR077, with results pending for holes ORR078 to ORR095.
The drilling campaign has successfully confirmed continuity of the modelled mineralisation zones, with particularly impressive results from the High Grade Core Area:
- Hole ORR075: 64m @ 123.6 g/t Ag Eq. from just 4m depth, including 16m @ 240.5 g/t Ag Eq.
- Hole ORR070: 76m @ 118.5 g/t Ag Eq. from 24m depth, including multiple high-grade zones
These broad, high-grade silver-lead-zinc-indium intersections at shallow depths highlight the open-pit potential of the Orient West mineralised zone. Importantly, the drilling has also intersected significant sulphide at vertical depths greater than 250m, confirming down-dip continuity to at least 305m depth.
"The team at Orient have been very busy, successfully completing the Orient West JORC Resource Infill drilling program and moving the drill rig to Orient East to start the Orient East JORC Resource Infill drilling program," commented Managing Director Donald Garner.
Orient East Drilling Campaign Kicks Off
With the RC rig now repositioned at Orient East, Iltani Resources Herberton Project has commenced a new infill drilling program consisting of 25 RC holes for a planned 5,120 metres. This campaign is expected to take approximately 6 weeks to complete.
Additionally, the diamond drill rig has already completed 2 holes at Orient East (totalling 486.5m) before being demobilised from site. Core from these holes is currently being processed and will soon be dispatched for assay.
VTEM Survey Completed – Results Coming Soon
The Herberton Project helicopter-borne VTEM (Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic) survey has been completed, covering a total of 520 line kilometres – exceeding the original design of 474 line kilometres. Data processing is expected to take 4-6 weeks.
This survey is particularly significant for mapping the lateral extents of the Orient System, potentially enabling Iltani to:
- Better understand and target extensions at Deadman Creek, Orient North, Orient South, and the area between Orient West and East
- Discover additional shallow high-grade mineralisation
- Generate new anomalies within the Boonmoo Sag Caldera
"Being able to target the lateral extents of the Orient System should enable us to add additional shallow high-grade mineralisation to the mineralisation already defined at Orient East and West, positively impacting the overall Orient investment case," Garner noted.
Understanding VTEM Surveys: A Powerful Exploration Tool
Versatile Time Domain Electromagnetic (VTEM) surveys are advanced geophysical methods used to identify conductive mineral deposits beneath the surface. These airborne surveys work by generating electromagnetic fields and measuring how they interact with subsurface materials.
For investors, VTEM surveys are particularly valuable because they:
- Allow exploration of large areas quickly and cost-effectively
- Can detect conductive bodies (like sulphide deposits) hundreds of metres below the surface
- Help companies prioritise drilling targets, reducing exploration costs
- Often identify extensions of known deposits that weren't previously visible
At Herberton, the VTEM survey was flown at a tight 100m line spacing over the Orient Project Area, providing high-resolution data that could substantially expand the known resource.
Orient: Australia's Largest Silver-Indium Discovery
Orient represents Australia's largest silver-indium discovery, with Iltani having defined a substantial Exploration Target:
| Area | Tonnage (Mt) | Silver Equivalent (g/t) | Silver (g/t) | Indium (g/t) | Lead (%) | Zinc (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orient East | 12-18 | 110-130 | 32-39 | 7-9 | 0.8-1.0 | 0.9-1.1 |
| Orient West | 20-24 | 110-120 | 28-35 | 20-24 | 0.7-0.8 | 0.9-1.1 |
| Total | 32-42 | 110-124 | 30-37 | 15-18 | 0.7-0.9 | 0.9-1.1 |
At 80 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off grade
Investment Thesis: Why Iltani Resources Warrants Attention
Iltani Resources Herberton Project is advancing Australia's largest silver-indium discovery through a methodical exploration program designed to convert its substantial Exploration Target into a formal JORC Resource. Several factors make this company particularly noteworthy:
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Critical Mineral Focus: Indium is classified as a critical mineral due to its essential role in semiconductor manufacturing, touch screens, and solar panels. The project's dual silver-indium potential provides exposure to both precious metals and technology-driven commodities.
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Excellent Infrastructure: The Herberton Project benefits from its location approximately 20km west of the historic mining town of Herberton in Northern Queensland, with good access to infrastructure.
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Proven Metallurgy: Preliminary metallurgical test work has already confirmed the production potential for silver and indium, with strong recoveries incorporated into the company's silver equivalent calculations.
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Near-Term Catalysts: A steady flow of results is expected over the coming months, including:
- Pending assays from holes ORR078 to ORR095 at Orient West
- Results from completed diamond drilling
- New results from the Orient East drilling program
- VTEM survey results and subsequent target generation
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Open System with Expansion Potential: The mineralisation remains open in multiple directions, and the VTEM survey could significantly expand the project's footprint.
As Iltani Resources Herberton Project continues to advance its systematic exploration program at the Herberton Project, investors can expect regular news flow in the coming months that could substantially de-risk and enhance the project's value proposition.
Ready to Capitalise on Australia's Largest Silver-Indium Discovery?
For investors seeking exposure to critical minerals with strong growth potential, Iltani Resources' Herberton Project represents a compelling opportunity. With drilling success at Orient West, operations commencing at Orient East, and promising VTEM survey results on the horizon, now is the ideal time to learn more about this emerging silver-indium story. Visit Iltani Resources' website for detailed investor information and to stay updated on upcoming assay results that could significantly enhance the project's value.
