West Coast Silver (ASX:WCE) has reported diamond drilling results from the Elizabeth Hill Silver Project in Western Australia, with standout intersections returning 38.3m @ 878 grams per tonne silver (Ag) from just 3.7m downhole.
The company has received final assay results from three diamond holes completed in July 2026, concluding the H1 drilling program.
The results extend mineralisation beyond the current mineral resource estimate (MRE) and confirm ‘high-grade’ zones both within and outside the existing resource envelope.
Hole 26WCDD037 delivered the program’s most significant results, intersecting 38.3m @ 878g/t Ag from 3.7m, including 22.3m @ 1,495g/t Ag from 19.7m, which contained a 1.4m interval grading 23,360g/t Ag from 29m.
The hole also returned 13.5m @ 2,253g/t Ag from 45m, including 9.15m @ 3,318g/t silver from 47.85m.
Hole 26WCDD038 intersected a broad zone of 63m @ 53g/t Ag from 2m, including 31.3m @ 92g/t Ag from 26.7m, with narrower intervals of 0.43m @ 845g/t Ag and 1m @ 1,060g/t Ag.
Finally, hole 26WCDD039 returned 20.15m @ 53g/t Ag from 15m, including 14.8m @ 61g/t Ag from 16.2m.
CEO Sergei Smolonogov says the results have ‘exceeded expectations’ by extending mineralisation beyond the current MRE.
“Changing the drilling orientation from west-to-east and collaring holes west of the historic Elizabeth Hill underground workings has highlighted mineralisation that had not been extensively tested by previous drilling,” Smolonogov notes.
“This opens a new near-surface area of mineralisation extending westward into the granite and will be assessed for its contribution to the planned mineral resource update.”
The program infilled part of the near-surface Inferred portion of the April 2026 MRE, which contains 141,000 tonnes @ 617g/t Ag for 2.8 million ounces (Moz). All three holes encountered significant mineralisation extending west of the current MRE block model, highlighting potential for resource growth.
An updated JORC 2012 MRE is planned for the December quarter 2026, incorporating the new results through potential additions to mineralised volume and changes to estimated silver grades.
The Elizabeth Hill Silver Project sits on a granted mining lease 12km from the Radio Hill processing facility, with a memorandum of understanding in place to evaluate processing options.
Historical production recovered 1.2Moz Ag from 16,830 tonnes of ore at a head grade of 2,194g/t Ag.
West Coast Silver is an Australian silver explorer and developer advancing a portfolio of projects across Western Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: West Coast Silver
