Iltani Resources (ASX: ILT) has unveiled a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Orient East silver–indium deposit in north Queensland, expanding the company’s total Orient project inventory to 62.5 million tonnes grading 81.5 grams per tonne silver equivalent (Ag Eq) at a 30g/t cut-off.
The new Orient East resource adds a higher-grade core of 12.6Mt at 128g/t Ag Eq, building on the previously declared Orient West estimate and confirming Orient as one of Australia’s largest known silver–indium systems.
All resource areas remain open along strike and at depth, with follow-up drilling underway to test new electromagnetic anomalies and convert additional exploration targets into resources.
Exploration Targets and Growth Pipeline
Iltani has defined an updated Orient East exploration target of 6.5–7.9Mt at 120–147g/t Ag Eq (using a 60 g/t cut-off) and 10.9–13.3Mt at 88–108g/t Ag Eq (30 g/t cut-off).
When combined with the Orient West target, the company now estimates the total Orient exploration potential at up to 43.3Mt grading between 64 and 78g/t Ag Eq.
Iltani is still to drill test a substantial portion of the Orient East target including the North Vein zone, which returned intercepts of 2m at 244g/t Ag Eq and 4m at 584g/t Ag Eq from separate holes along an 800m strike.
Recent diamond and reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Orient East produced the project’s highest grades to date, highlighted by 3.4m at 1,171g/t Ag Eq from 72.4m including 1m at 2,141.9g/t Ag Eq in one hole.
Significant intersections at Orient West, such as 5m at 428.6g/t Ag Eq from 56m and 7m at 144.4g/t Ag Eq from 155m underscore the continuity of high-grade mineralisation within multiple vein systems.
‘Large-Scale, Multi-Deposit System’
“This is a fantastic result for Iltani, establishing Orient as a large-scale, multi-deposit silver–indium system with substantial growth potential,” managing director Donald Garner said.
“There remains significant scope to materially increase the resource through drilling, as both the Orient East and West systems are open in all directions.”
Iltani has completed processing and modelling of data from the helicopter-borne versatile time domain electromagnetic survey funded by a $230,375 Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) grant from the Queensland government.
The survey identified 16 high-priority anomalies, including 13 within the immediate Orient–Deadman Creek area, also modelling more than 50 individual conductive plates for assessment.
The company has initiated a two-stage follow-up program comprising nine RC holes to test shallow plates and surface electromagnetic surveys to define deeper targets ahead of drilling.
Strong Funding and Financial Position
Iltani secured an $8 million funding package in October from the Queensland Investment Corporation’s Critical Minerals and Battery Technology Fund, which will include $2m via placement and $6m in up-front, non-dilutive royalty-based financing tied to future product sales.
As at 30 September 2025, the company held $1.65m, with post-quarter receipts to include the CEI grant payment—a strong balance sheet that will allow Iltani to accelerate exploration, commence permitting, and advance toward development of the Orient project.
With both Orient East and West delivering substantial resources and extensive exploration upside, Iltani is now positioned to transition from exploration to early-stage development planning.
The company intends to complete further metallurgical test work based on historical results confirming the production of high-quality lead–silver and zinc–indium concentrates.
Mr Garner said the company’s immediate focus will be on converting exploration targets into additional resources while advancing environmental and permitting studies to underpin the project’s pathway to production.
