Orient Silver-Lead-Zinc-Indium Deposit
Overview
Orient is an extensive precious metal-rich epithermal system with a likely intrusion (porphyry) at depth and has strong similarities to the large scale Bolivian Ag-Zn-Pb-In-Sn systems. Multiple high-grade zinc-lead-silver-indium veins and stockworks outcrop over at least a 6 km2 area, with zoned hydrothermal alteration (phyllic, argillic & propylitic) surrounding the mineralisation.
Iltani has delineated multiple target areas including Orient East, Orient West, Deadman Creek and Orient Deeps. Orient was mined from 1886 to 1924, with extensive (>200) historical workings that targeted high-grade direct shipping silver-lead oxide ore. The ore was hand-picked and sorted; only highest grade ore transported.
Orient is located on EPM 27223, wholly owned by Iltani Resources.
Orient System
Mineralisation at Orient consists of sulphide-rich (pyrrhotite-galena-sphalerite) vein systems with a high-grade core (of up to 10m thick) surrounded by extensive zones of lower-grade mineralisation (stockwork and alteration) hosted in rhyolites.
Since June 2023, Iltani has completed 33 RC holes and 1 Diamond Drill Hole at Orient (assays received)
- Orient West: 22 RC holes for 4,406m drilled
- Orient East: 10 RC holes for 1,098m drilled
- Geophysical Target: 1 RC hole for 252m drilled
- Deep Diamond Drillhole: 1 DDH for 794m drilled
Orient West
Orient West is a stacked vein system, with at least six vein systems identified to date outcropping along a ridge line. High-grade core (900m strike) within a larger (>2,000m) zone. Mineralisation is open along strike and at depth.
Drilling to date at Orient West has defined a material Exploration Target with a significant high-grade core.
| Global Exploration Target (30 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off grade) | High-Grade Core (80 g/t Ag Eq. cut-off grade) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | Minimum | Maximum | ||||
| Tonnes Range | Mt | 74 | 100 | Tonnes Range | Mt | 20 | 24 |
| Ag Eq. | g/t | 55 | 65 | Ag Eq. | g/t | 110 | 120 |
| Ag | g/t | 15 | 20 | Ag | g/t | 28 | 35 |
| In | g/t | 11 | 13 | In | g/t | 20 | 24 |
| Pb | % | 0.3 | 0.5 | Pb | % | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| Zn | % | 0.5 | 0.6 | Zn | % | 0.9 | 1.1 |
Iltani is focused on completing an infill drilling program at Orient West, focusing on the high-grade core to enable an initial JORC resource estimate to be completed. Iltani will also drill deeper holes into the system to better understand the UG potential.
Orient East
Iltani mapping, sampling and drilling has defined an area of multiple high-grade veins and lower grade stockwork mineralisation over an area of at least 500m x 500m. The high-grade veins have two dominant orientations (N-S and E-W). The mineralisation is open along strike and at depth.
Iltani plans to complete an Exploration Target estimate for Orient East, then follow up with infill drilling to define an initial JORC Resource.
Deadman Creek
Deadman Creek is located 2km to the N of Orient East and is a large zone (in excess of 2km x 1km) of extensive stockwork veining and is part of the Orient System. Iltani has completed initial mapping and sampling confirming the presence of silver-lead-zinc-indium mineralisation and the overall prospectivity of the target.
Historical Orient Metallurgical Test Work
Historical metallurgical test work has confirmed that is viable for Orient to produce two separate high quality concentrates, a zinc-indium-silver concentrate grading 47-48% Zn, 2,000 g/t In and 200 g/t Ag and a lead-silver concentrate grading approximately 48% Pb and 2,250 g/t Ag.
Iltani has made preliminary enquiries with potential offtake partners/concentrate traders, and these have confirmed that the zinc-indium-silver and lead-silver concentrates produced by Orient would be commercially highly attractive to multiple parties.