Iltani Resources Expands Orient Silver-Indium Mineralisation Ahead of Planned Resource Update

Iltani Resources (ASX: ILT) has extended silver-indium mineralisation across Orient East, Orient West, and Vein One at its Orient silver-indium project in North Queensland as it moves towards an updated resource and scoping work.

Assays from nine reverse circulation drill holes showed continued grade and width continuity within the existing resource areas while returning mineralisation along extensions and targets outside the current resource footprint.

A standout Orient East result returned 71 metres at 81 grams per tonne silver equivalent from 133m, including 34m at 129g/t and a high-grade 3m interval at 435g/t.

All four RC holes reported from Orient East intersected silver-lead-zinc-indium mineralisation, supporting Iltani’s view that the latest drilling is demonstrating continuity at grades and widths comparable with or better than adjacent sections.

Iltani expects the initial 110-hole drilling program to be completed in September, with an updated mineral resource estimate planned for the fourth quarter of 2026 ahead of the Orient scoping study expected in early 2027.

Ongoing Infill Program

The infill program is moving the core zone towards 40m section spacing, which Iltani expects will be sufficient to upgrade part of the mineralisation to the Indicated resource category and support scoping studies.

Once the Orient East resource drilling is complete, the area will have been tested at 40m spacing across a 520m strike extent and 450m down dip, equivalent to about 190m of vertical depth.

At Orient West, four holes targeting the northeast extension of the current resource intersected multiple zones of mineralisation, including a broad 48m interval at 69g/t silver equivalent from 16m in an area that had previously received minimal drilling, leaving about 700m of strike along the trend and historical workings as a focus for further drilling.

“We continue to see great assay results from the infill drilling (designed to increase the Orient Mineral Resource confidence level plus increase the grade and tonnes),” managing director Donald Garner said.

“Now we are starting to see strong results from drilling […] designed to materially grow the mineral resource.”

Vein One Growth Potential

Less than 150m north of Orient East, Vein One extends for more than 750m along an east-west strike defined by historical workings and remains outside the current Orient mineral resource.

Drilling there returned a 24m interval at 68g/t silver equivalent from 106m, materially wider than previous intersections that were generally between 2m and 4m, strengthening the case for the structure to contribute additional tonnage.

The current Orient MRE stands at 62.5 million tonnes at 81.5g/t silver equivalent, comprising both Indicated and Inferred material, while the new drilling is intended to increase confidence in existing areas and extend the resource.

The track-mounted RC rig is drilling the 99th hole of the initial program, with completion expected within two to three weeks and assay turnaround currently running at about one to two months.

Iltani may add further holes once the initial program is complete and plans additional drilling before the wet season to follow up mineralisation identified outside the existing resource areas.