A deep diamond drill hole at Iltani Resources’ Orient project in northern Queensland has intersected 420 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq).
Targeting the down dip extension of the Orient West silver-lead-zinc-indium vein system, drill hole ORD001 returned 6m at 189g/t AgEq from 207.8m, including 2m at 420g/t AgEq.
This was 270m down dip of a high-grade hit at ORR029, which is interpreted as the same vein. Iltani believes this highlights the potential to delineate a high-grade underground resource at Orient West.
“Our recent deep diamond hole (ORD001) at (the) Orient silver-indium project was designed as a ‘wildcat’ hole to test a deeper magnetic anomaly at Orient West,” Itani managing director Donald Garner said.
“The upper part of the hole was a resounding success, hitting a down dip extension of the Orient West vein system.”
The deep drillhole was coupled with downhole and fixed-loop electromagnetic surveys (DHEM and FLEM), which revealed strong electromagnetic (EM) responses from the Orient West vein system.
Two primary conductors were defined, representing the sulphide-rich vein system’s upper and lower parts. The upper conductor, linked to the high-grade vein system intersected in ORD001, presents a high-priority target for future drilling.
The lower conductor, with a strike extent of at least 400m, also offers potential for exploration.
“The DHEM/FLEM survey confirmed that the vein system produces a very strong EM response,” Garner said.
“These conductors represent high-priority drill targets, and we plan to use EM to better target the high-grade vein systems at Orient.
“I acknowledge the support of the QLD Government in drilling this hole, with grant funding received through round eight of the Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) under the Queensland Department of Resources’ Industry Development Plan.”
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