Striking Silver: West Coast Silver Uncovers Exceptional High-Grade Results at Elizabeth Hill
West Coast Silver Limited (ASX: WCE) has reported exceptional high-grade silver intercepts from its maiden diamond drill program at the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in Western Australia's Pilbara region. The latest assay results showcase remarkable silver grades, including an impressive 13 meters at 1,615 g/t silver with a stunning 2-meter section grading 10,049 g/t silver. As West Coast Silver explores Elizabeth Hill, investors are taking notice of the potential this project holds for significant returns.
Record-Breaking Silver Grades Highlight Project Potential
The company's latest drilling results from holes 25WCDD011 and 25WCDD012 have delivered outstanding silver intercepts from near-surface depths. The most impressive results came from hole 25WCDD011, which intersected:
- 17 meters at 858 g/t Ag from just 5 meters depth, including 2 meters at 6,349 g/t Ag
- 10 meters at 850 g/t Ag from 47 meters, including 3 meters at 2,593 g/t Ag
- 13 meters at 1,615 g/t Ag from 62 meters, including 2 meters at 10,049 g/t Ag
These exceptional grades demonstrate the high-grade nature of the Elizabeth Hill deposit, with visible native silver identified in the core samples. The results build confidence in the silver discovery exploration Elizabeth Hill potential as the company continues its evaluation work.
Hole 25WCDD012 also returned significant silver intercepts, including 6 meters at 317 g/t Ag from 10 meters depth and 14 meters at 162 g/t Ag from 18 meters.
Gold Discovery Adds New Dimension
In an exciting development, the drilling program has also uncovered significant gold mineralisation. Hole 25WCDD011 intersected 11.1 g/t gold over 1 meter from 51 meters depth, highlighting the multi-metal potential of the Elizabeth Hill project.
"We are extremely pleased with the delivery of more outstanding results from our maiden drill program at Elizabeth Hill. We have intersected more high-grade silver from surface and with grades up to 10,049 g/t we are now very confident in the near-surface potential at Elizabeth Hill. What is even more encouraging is the intersection of high-grade gold up to 11.1 g/t in hole 25CWDD011," commented Executive Chairman Bruce Garlick.
Understanding Native Silver: Why It Matters to Investors
Native silver, which was identified in drill hole 25WCDD011, is particularly significant for the project economics. Native silver refers to the element in its pure metallic form rather than being bound in other minerals. This is important because:
- Processing Advantages: Native silver can be recovered using simpler, low-cost gravity separation techniques rather than complex chemical processes
- Higher Recovery Rates: Pure metallic silver typically yields higher recovery rates during processing
- Lower Processing Costs: The presence of native silver may allow for simplified processing methods, potentially reducing capital and operating costs
The company has noted that this discovery has initiated investigations into the viability of using simplistic gravity separation processes to recover free silver, which could significantly reduce processing costs. Furthermore, recent high-grade silver Elizabeth Hill discovery reports have reinforced the economic potential of the project.
The Elizabeth Hill Project: A Proven High-Grade Producer
Elizabeth Hill has a demonstrated history as one of Australia's high-grade silver projects:
- Previous production of 1.2 million ounces of silver from just 16,830 tonnes of ore
- Exceptional historical head grade of 2,194 g/t (70.5 oz/t) silver
- Previous mining ceased in 2000 due to low silver prices (US$5/oz)
- Used simple gravity separation techniques to recover native silver
The project is situated in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction on an existing mining lease, with potential processing options at the nearby Radio Hill site, approximately 25km to the north. The Elizabeth Hill silver project Errawarra acquisition history adds further credibility to the asset's potential.
Strategic Land Position and Growth Potential
West Coast Silver has consolidated the surrounding land packages into a single contiguous 180km² package, providing significant exploration and growth potential both near-mine and regionally. The land package encompasses a significant portion of the Munni Munni fault system, which is considered prospective for additional Elizabeth Hill-style silver deposits.
Upcoming Catalysts and Work Programs
The company has outlined several key upcoming works and catalysts:
- Remaining Assay Results: Results from six outstanding drill holes expected within 4-6 weeks
- Resource Estimation: Work toward establishing a near-surface resource
- Exploration Work: Continued drilling and exploration to expand the mineralised footprint
- Metallurgical Testing: Investigations into gravity recovery options for processing
Recent silver strikes high grade discovery at Elizabeth Hill have only increased expectations for the upcoming results.
Why Investors Should Watch West Coast Silver
West Coast Silver represents an attractive investment opportunity for several compelling reasons:
- Exceptional Grades: The reported silver grades (up to 10,049 g/t) are among the highest in the industry
- Near-Surface Mineralisation: The high-grade intercepts start from just 5 meters below surface, suggesting potential for low-strip ratio mining
- Processing Advantages: The presence of native silver may allow for simple, low-cost processing
- Exploration Upside: The consolidated 180km² land package offers significant exploration potential
- Multi-Metal Potential: The discovery of high-grade gold adds another potential value driver
- Historical Success: The project has already demonstrated economic extraction with its previous mining history
With silver prices currently trading significantly higher than when the original mine ceased operations in 2000, and a renewed global focus on precious metals, West Coast Silver is well-positioned to capitalise on its high-grade Elizabeth Hill asset. Additionally, recent Errawarra high-grade silver Elizabeth Hill discovery reports demonstrate the consistent quality of mineralisation in the area.
As the company continues to receive additional assay results and advances toward resource definition, investors should monitor developments closely for what could become one of Australia's premier high-grade silver projects as West Coast Silver explores Elizabeth Hill further.
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