Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) has engaged Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Inc. (RMG) to conduct an integrated geological interpretation and targeting program at its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project in north-central Yukon, following compelling initial results from a 3D induced polarization (IP) survey.
The survey, completed over a portion of the property, was designed to calibrate the geophysical signature over the known West Zone mineralization and test for potential extensions across the property, including the approximately 2 km Central Zone gap between the West Zone and East Zone deposits. Key observations include a strong correlation between IP chargeability and known mineralization, providing a reliable benchmark, and identification of multiple significantly larger untested chargeability anomalies in the Lower Central Zone and New Mountain Top areas — several times larger than the West Zone response.
According to the company, historical drilling in the Central Zone appears to have been positioned between two distinct chargeability anomalies rather than testing the strongest responses, suggesting the potential for greater system scale and continuity than previously recognized. The anomalies also extend to the edges of the surveyed grid, indicating potential for greater extent beyond current coverage.
“Blende already hosts the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon (M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin, Economic Geology, 1995) with a substantial existing mineral resource,” said Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO. “The 3D IP survey appears to have delivered a clear calibration at the West Zone while revealing multiple untested chargeability anomalies in the Lower Central and New Mountain Top areas that are notably larger in scale than the West Zone response. This is a significant development that warrants expert interpretation.”
RMG will compile and integrate historical geological, geochemical, and drilling data with the new 3D IP results, including geophysical quality control, integrated 3D interpretation, and identification of high-priority targets. The work is expected to be completed within approximately eight weeks.
The Blende Project hosts a substantial mineral resource, with a 2021 estimate (at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff) outlining 3.2 million tonnes indicated at 394 g/t silver, 2.94% zinc, and 1.23% lead, and 2.3 million tonnes inferred at 335 g/t silver, 2.56% zinc, and 1.13% lead. The property covers 5,345 hectares and is located approximately 63 km northeast of Keno Hill, Yukon, within the historic Keno Hill silver district.
Next steps include using the integrated interpretation from RMG to guide future exploration programs and potentially updating the mineral resource estimate to reflect current commodity prices and new results. “We view this as a major step forward in unlocking the district-scale potential of the Blende Project,” Rees added.
