Diablo Resources (ASX:DBO) has completed earthworks at its Star Range Project in Utah, US, ahead of a five‑hole diamond drilling program targeting ‘high‑grade’ silver and antimony mineralisation.
Earthworks has completed vehicular access to priority drill sites and laydown areas at the North Star prospect, where surface sampling returned grades up to 3,043 grams per tonne silver.
The initial program comprises five diamond holes totalling approximately 1,000m. The program aims to evaluate the subsurface scale, continuity, and geometry of the mineralised breccia‑vein system at depth.
In parallel, the company has acquired an 80% interest in 101 unpatented claims at the Horn Silver Project and holds an exclusive option over 101 patented claims, with exercise on schedule for completion in September.
The historic Horn Silver Mine produced approximately 17 million ounces of silver at an average grade of 604g/t from around 1 million tonnes between the late 1800s and the 1950s.
Reconnaissance work has commenced across the unpatented claims, with field teams undertaking geological mapping and validation of historical workings.
CEO Lyle Thorne says the completion of earthworks at Star Range and progress at Horn Silver mark important steps in advancing the company’s district‑scale critical minerals strategy in Utah.
“We now have drill-ready access at Star Range and a clear pathway to define our maiden drill program at Horn Silver as initial reconnaissance and data integration continue,” Thorne adds.
Drilling at North Star will provide the first subsurface geological information below ‘high‑grade’ silver rock samples and geophysical anomalies.
Regional exploration will continue across targets, including South Star and East Star, and gold anomalism within the Utah Trust Lands Administration (TLA) lease.
Diablo Resources is a West Perth‑based explorer advancing a portfolio of US‑focused gold and copper projects, including the King Solomon, Devil’s Canyon, and Phoenix Copper projects, alongside its Utah silver‑antimony assets.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Diablo Resources
