Iltani Strikes High-Grade Silver-Indium in Diamond Drilling at Orient West
Iltani Resources Limited's (ASX: ILT) diamond drilling programme at its Orient West project has delivered exceptional high-grade silver-indium results, confirming the company's belief that Orient is Australia's largest and highest-grade known silver-indium deposit.
Diamond Drilling Delivers Outstanding Results
The company's recent diamond drilling programme at Orient West has intersected multiple zones of high-grade silver-indium-lead-zinc mineralisation, with standout results including:
ORD003:
- 5m @ 428.6 g/t Ag Eq. from 56m including
- 2.8m @ 737.3 g/t Ag Eq. from 57m including
- 0.83m @ 1838.4 g/t Ag Eq. (269.2 g/t Ag, 345.3 g/t In, 9.69% Pb & 21.17% Zn) from 58.4m
ORD002:
- 11.94m @ 160.8 g/t Ag Eq. from 137m including
- 4.34m @ 301.8 g/t Ag Eq. from 138.66m including
- 1.34m @ 809.2 g/t Ag Eq. (137.0 g/t Ag, 403.1 g/t In, 1.69% Pb & 8.42% Zn) from 138.66m
These results form part of Iltani's broader JORC Infill drilling programme targeting the Orient West High-Grade Core Area, an approximately 900m by 350m zone where multiple intersecting high-grade vein systems with associated low-grade stockwork mineralisation have been identified.
Understanding Indium: A Critical Battery Metal
Indium is a relatively rare metallic element that has become increasingly important in modern technology applications. It belongs to group 13 of the periodic table and has unique properties that make it valuable for several high-tech applications.
The primary commercial use of indium is in the production of indium tin oxide (ITO), a transparent conductive material essential for touchscreens, flat-panel displays (including LCD screens), and photovoltaic cells. ITO's combination of electrical conductivity and optical transparency makes it irreplaceable in these applications.
Beyond display technologies, indium serves several other important functions:
- Semiconductors: Used in semiconductor materials and components
- Solders and Alloys: Added to low-melting-point alloys to improve their properties
- Solar Technology: Critical component in certain thin-film solar cell technologies
- LEDs: Used in the production of light-emitting diodes
- Electronics: Component in various electronic devices and integrated circuits
With the global push toward renewable energy and electric vehicles, indium's importance in the technology supply chain continues to grow. Current pricing for indium sits around US$300-350/kg, with limited primary production globally, making high-grade indium deposits like Orient particularly valuable.
Massive Sulphide Veins Surrounded by Mineralised Breccia
The diamond drilling has provided valuable insights into the mineralisation style at Orient West. The core shows that massive sulphide veins (up to two metres wide) are typically surrounded by "Crackle Breccia" that extends several metres on either side of the primary veins.
This breccia hosts subtle veinlets of polymetallic sulphides between the breccia clasts, effectively creating broader zones of mineralisation with grades decreasing as distance from the main sulphide veins increases. This pattern explains the wide intersections of economic mineralisation encountered in previous RC drilling.
For example, the 11.94m intersection of 160.8 g/t Ag Eq. from 137m in ORD002 comprises 1.34m of massive sulphide assaying 809.2 g/t Ag Eq., with the surrounding 10.6m returning a respectable 80 g/t Ag Eq.
Path to Resource Definition
Managing Director Donald Garner commented: "Holes ORD002 and ORD003 have continued to deliver excellent results from our Orient West JORC Infill drilling programme and we continue to be excited by what we see, with results validating our belief that Orient is Australia's largest and highest-grade known silver-indium deposit."
The company has completed its Orient West JORC Infill RC drilling programme, with data now being used by independent mining consultants Mining One to estimate an initial Orient West JORC Resource. Completion is targeted by the end of July 2025, subject to receipt of all assays.
Additionally, Orient East JORC Infill RC drilling has been completed, with assay results pending for numerous RC drillholes and two diamond drillholes. The Orient East JORC Resource is expected in September 2025.
Exploration Target with Significant Scale
Iltani previously defined a JORC-compliant Exploration Target for Orient West of 74-100 Mt @ 55-65 g/t Ag Equivalent (using a 30 g/t Ag Eq. cutoff grade), inclusive of high-grade core material in multiple lenses of 20-24 Mt @ 110-120 g/t Ag Equivalent (using an 80 g/t Ag Eq. cutoff grade).
The company's strategy is focusing initially on defining a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate based on the higher-grade material within the 900m by 350m High Grade Core Area.
Upcoming Catalysts for Investors
Several near-term catalysts could drive Iltani's valuation in the coming months:
- Initial Orient West JORC Resource – targeted for end of July 2025
- Orient East JORC Resource – expected September 2025
- New drilling at geophysical targets – planned to commence in late July 2025
- Further resource expansion potential – with at least 1,500m of additional strike extent requiring investigation along the Orient West trend
The company has also received final VTEM Survey data, with geophysical consultant Mitre Geophysics commencing modelling to generate new targets starting with the Orient Area.
Why Investors Should Track Iltani Resources
Iltani Resources has positioned itself as a first-mover in the silver-indium space in Australia with its Orient project showing significant potential to become a globally significant deposit. With both silver and indium being critical for the energy transition, the company offers exposure to two metals with strong long-term demand fundamentals.
The upcoming resource estimates at both Orient West and Orient East represent major de-risking events that could drive significant revaluation. Additionally, the company's systematic approach to exploration and development suggests a clear pathway to advancing the project through feasibility studies if the resource estimates are positive.
For investors seeking exposure to critical minerals with a near-term catalyst-rich story, Iltani Resources presents a compelling opportunity as it progresses toward defining what could potentially be Australia's most significant silver-indium discovery.
Want to Invest in Australia's Largest Silver-Indium Opportunity?
Discover more about Iltani Resources and their exceptional high-grade silver-indium results at the Orient project. With JORC resources expected by July 2025 and multiple catalysts on the horizon, this ASX-listed company offers a unique investment opportunity in critical metals essential for the energy transition. Visit Iltani's website today to learn more about this compelling silver-indium story and stay updated on their progress towards developing what could be Australia's most significant silver-indium discovery.
