Unico Silver Limited, a key player in mineral exploration, has garnered attention following its recent drilling activities at the Joaquin Project in Santa Cruz, Argentina. The company has successfully conducted assays on 31 drill holes, covering a total of 4,782 meters, as part of its ongoing efforts to identify valuable mineral resources.
The latest results from the La Negra SE site have proven to be particularly promising, confirming a significant spread of oxide silver-gold mineralization over an 850-meter strike and a vertical reach of 175 meters.
This positive trend has heightened interest among stakeholders regarding the project’s future potential.
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Key assay results from La Negra SE
Among the notable results from the recent drilling campaign, several discoveries stand out due to their high grades and significant lengths. For instance, drill hole JDD0113-25 yielded an impressive 107 meters with an equivalent silver grade of 165 grams per tonne (gpt), starting from a depth of 18 meters. This section includes a remarkable interval of 55.6 meters averaging 245 gpt silver equivalent, beginning at 67.9 meters depth.
Further notable intersections
Another noteworthy result came from drill hole JDD0118-25, reporting 74 meters at 134 gpt silver equivalent from a depth of 6 meters, including an exceptional 35.6 meters at 207 gpt starting from 38.4 meters. Additionally, drill hole JDD0108-25 revealed 81 meters at 107 gpt, incorporating an impressive 15 meters at 183 gpt from a depth of 62 meters.
Other significant findings include JDD0112-25 with 46.2 meters at 117 gpt and JDD0111-25, which showed 58 meters at 100 gpt. These results not only emphasize the quality of the mineralization but also suggest favorable conditions for bulk open-pit mining, with true thicknesses ranging between 15 and 75 meters.
Future steps and ongoing developments
Unico Silver’s drilling activities are set to continue. Resuming on January 5, the company is deploying three diamond rigs alongside one Reverse Circulation (RC) rig to accelerate the drilling process. The focus at La Negra SE is on infill drilling, aimed at establishing a high-confidence Indicated Resource. Currently, only eight holes remain to complete this phase of the operation.
Given the promising assay results, Unico Silver plans to proceed directly to a Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) level Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) that will encompass La Negra, La Negra SE, and La Morocha. Infill drilling at La Morocha SE is scheduled to commence in February, enhancing the potential for resource expansion and mining feasibility studies.
Environmental and geotechnical assessments
Throughout December, the company executed several PFS workstreams, which included baseline environmental studies, geotechnical drilling involving nine holes, and comminution drilling with three holes. The samples collected have been sent to Nevada for ore hardness testing, a crucial step in assessing the viability of mining operations.
Additionally, regional exploration efforts have yielded valuable insights, notably the identification of the “La Rubia” silver anomaly, a significant geochemical feature measuring 650 meters by 150 meters with concentrations exceeding 2,500 parts per billion (ppb). This finding reinforces the potential for further discoveries in the area surrounding La Morocha.
According to Unico Silver’s Managing Director, Todd Williams, these ongoing advancements highlight the project’s viability for conventional open-pit development. Williams stated, “The infill drilling at La Negra SE has been instrumental in revealing extensive zones of oxide silver-gold mineralization with exceptional continuity across the entire strike length. These findings strongly support our strategy to move forward with the Mineral Resource Estimate.”
The latest results from the La Negra SE site have proven to be particularly promising, confirming a significant spread of oxide silver-gold mineralization over an 850-meter strike and a vertical reach of 175 meters. This positive trend has heightened interest among stakeholders regarding the project’s future potential.0