Iltani Resources Strikes High-Grade Silver and Indium in Latest Orient Drilling
Iltani Resources (ASX: ILT) has reported impressive high-grade silver and indium results from its latest drilling program at the Orient West project in North Queensland, confirming its status as potentially Australia's largest and highest-grade silver-indium deposit.
Exceptional High-Grade Results Highlight Resource Potential
The latest assay results from drillholes ORR069 to ORR072 reveal substantial mineralisation across the Orient West JORC Infill drilling program, with multiple thick, high-grade zones encountered. The most significant finding was drillhole ORR070, which delivered one of the thickest zones of mineralisation to date at Orient West with 76m @ 118.5 g/t Ag Eq. from 24m downhole, including several higher-grade sections:
- 11m @ 255.7 g/t Ag Eq. from 49m including 2m @ 418.1 g/t Ag Eq.
- 10m @ 220.3 g/t Ag Eq. from 64m including 2m @ 679.2 g/t Ag Eq.
- 10m @ 139.9 g/t Ag Eq. from 86m including 6m @ 162.5 g/t Ag Eq.
The results confirm continuous mineralisation over 100m down-dip that remains open at depth and along strike, demonstrating strong resource potential.
Indium Discovery Adds Significant Value
Perhaps most exciting is the intersection in ORR069 of exceptionally high-grade indium mineralisation:
- 8m @ 36.8 g/t Ag, 219.1 g/t In, 0.4% Pb & 3.2% Zn from 184m
- Including 1m @ 125.8 g/t Ag, 1272.1 g/t In, 1.0% Pb & 17.3% Zn from 185m
This high-grade indium mineralisation extends continuously for 700m along strike through the High-Grade Core Area and remains open, supporting Iltani's claim that Orient is Australia's largest and highest-grade silver-indium deposit.
Understanding Indium: A Critical Technology Metal
Indium is a vital metal for modern technology, primarily used in the production of indium tin oxide (ITO), which is essential for touchscreens, flat-panel displays, and solar panels. It's also used in semiconductor materials, solders, and alloys for specialized applications.
The metal is relatively rare, with few dedicated mining operations worldwide. It's typically recovered as a by-product from zinc processing, making high-grade silver at Iltani Resources discoveries like Orient particularly valuable. Current global indium prices hover around US$300-350 per kilogram, and demand is expected to increase with growing technology applications.
Pathway to JORC Resource
Iltani is executing a well-defined strategy to establish an initial JORC-compliant Mineral Resource at Orient West. The company previously defined a JORC-compliant Exploration Target of 74-100 Mt @ 55-65 g/t Ag Equivalent, including a high-grade core of 20-24 Mt @ 110-120 g/t Ag Equivalent.
The current drilling program targets a 900m by 350m high-grade core area with the goal of demonstrating mineralisation continuity to at least 200m depth. With multiple broad zones of shallow mineralisation, the project appears to have strong potential for an open-pit operation, with deeper zones potentially suitable for underground mining.
Upcoming Catalysts
Investors should watch for:
- Ongoing drill results – Iltani has completed additional holes (ORR073 & ORR075 to ORR078) with assays expected in 4-6 weeks
- Initial JORC resource estimate for Orient East and West
- Further exploration of the 1,500m strike extent along Orient West trend and other untested targets at Orient North, Orient South, and Deadman Creek
Why Investors Should Take Notice
Iltani Resources is positioning itself as a significant player in the critical minerals space with several compelling investment highlights:
- High-grade, near-surface mineralisation potentially amenable to low-cost open-pit mining
- Dual commodity exposure to both precious metals (silver) and critical technology metals (indium)
- Substantial exploration upside with multiple untested targets and open mineralisation
- Favourable mining jurisdiction in Queensland, Australia
- Clear path to JORC resource with drilling results consistently exceeding expectations
For investors seeking exposure to both silver and critical minerals, Iltani Resources offers a unique opportunity at a relatively early stage, with potential for significant growth as the Orient project advances toward resource definition and development.
Want to Invest in Australia's Largest Silver-Indium Opportunity?
Don't miss your chance to be part of Iltani Resources' exciting journey as they develop what could be Australia's largest and highest-grade silver-indium deposit. With exceptional drill results including 76m @ 118.5 g/t Ag Eq. and remarkable indium values up to 1272.1 g/t, Orient West represents a compelling investment opportunity in both precious and critical technology metals. To learn more about Iltani's JORC resource development plans and upcoming catalysts, visit their website today.
