A newly released exploration target has been hailed as a very strong indication that Iltani Resources’ Orient project is Australia’s largest silver-indium-lead-zinc deposit and on track to being a large silver deposit.

Iltani managing director Donald Garner made the comment as the company announced the exploration target for the Orient East deposit within that North Queensland project.

Estimated by Mining One Consultants, the target stands at 25-35Mt at 77–95g/t silver equivalent (at a 30g/t Ag Eq. cut-off grade)

Related: More high-grade hits at Orient for Iltani Resources

“This exploration target is the second defined for the Orient project, in addition to the Orient West exploration target, and gives a total Orient exploration target of 99 to 135Mt at 61 to 73g/t Ag Eq. with a high-grade core of 32 to 42Mt at 110 to 124g/t Ag Eq,” Mr Garner said.

“Mining One also estimated a more discrete high-grade exploration target for Orient East of 3.5 to 4.0Mt at 280–340g/t Ag Eq. inclusive of high-grade core of 1.1 to 1.4Mt at 430–520g/t Ag Eq.

“We believe that Orient West will also be able to add to this higher-grade mineralisation and are looking forward to seeing the results from the drilling planned to commence in March.”

Mr Garner said the results set up some strong deliverables for the coming 2025 Orient exploration program.

Iltani’s focus will be to:

• Complete the JORC inferred resource drill out program at Orient West and Orient East
• Continue to explore the Orient system, targeting extensions to known mineralisation plus test new areas (Orient North and South)
• Target the area between Orient West and East – over 2sq km undercover, with only one drillhole to date (ORR025) in this area, which intersected silver-lead-zinc-indium mineralisation
• Target the high-grade mineralisation at Orient West and East to better understand the potential to support a deeper resource

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