Iltani Resources (ASX:ILT) has commenced drilling multiple regional targets across its Herberton Project in North Queensland after completing planned drill holes at the Orient Silver-Indium Project.
The company says it has deployed a wheel-mounted reverse circulation (RC) rig to test three priority targets: Boonmoo Epithermal, Union Jack, and Boonmoo Bonanza.
Drilling is underway at the Boonmoo Epithermal gold-silver target, where five drill holes totalling 850m are planned.
The program will then move to the Union Jack silver-copper-lead-zinc-indium target for drill holes totalling 650m, followed by two holes for 500m at the Boonmoo Bonanza silver-copper-lead-zinc-indium target.
“The wheel-mounted RC rig has moved on to drilling a number of our exciting regional targets within the larger Herberton Project after completing the drill holes allocated to it at Orient East and West,” Managing Director Donald Garner says.
“Whilst the wheel-mounted RC rig is testing these targets, the tracked-mounted RC rig continues the Orient Silver-Indium drilling program, where so far in the 2026 field season, we have completed 71 drill holes for 13,923m drilled.”
Iltani has received assays for 18 drill holes and expects further results over the coming weeks, with laboratory turnaround times currently at approximately six weeks.
The Boonmoo Epithermal target was discovered during regional mapping in 2023, with initial sampling returning 7.85 grams per tonne gold (Au) and 2.17g/t silver (Ag).
At Union Jack, historical workings sampled by Iltani returned up to 2.3% copper (Cu), 39.5g/t Ag, 0.25g/t Au, and 25g/t indium (In).
The target was subsequently covered by a versatile time domain electromagnetic survey in 2025, which identified two priority plates for drill testing.
Meanwhile, the Boonmoo Bonanza target comprises historical workings associated with the Eccles Creek Fracture Zone. Iltani sampling returned up to 1.5% Cu, 6.3% lead (Pb), 1.6% zinc (Zn), and 455g/t Ag over a 1,200m structural zone.
Iltani has also applied for three exploration permits covering prospective ground within trucking distance of Orient.
The company is the priority applicant for EPM 29521, EPM 29522, and EPM 29524, which target gold, silver-base metals, and tungsten mineralisation. The applications are expected to be granted within six to 12 months.
“Iltani has been monitoring any ground that becomes available that is compatible with future plans for the Herberton Project, with application for prospective vacant ground a low-cost method to potentially add resources for a larger Herberton Project,” Garner says.
Orient hosts a mineral resource estimate of 34.2 million tonnes (Mt) @ 110.4g/t silver equivalent (AgEq), comprising 21.5Mt indicated and 12.7Mt inferred resources.
The deposit contains 121.4 million ounces of AgEq, including 579 tonnes of In, 252,000 tonnes of Pb, and 308,000 tonnes of Zn.
The company also maintains an exploration target of 15.4Mt to 18.8Mt @ 95–117g/t AgEq, which it aims to convert to mineral resources through continued drilling.
Iltani Resources is an explorer focused on base metals and critical minerals, with a portfolio of assets in Queensland and Tasmania.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Images: Iltani Resources
