Blackrock Drills 4.2m of 700 g/t AgEq (Including 0.3m of 3,182 g/t AgEq) and Reports Multiple +1 kg/t AgEq Intercepts at Tonopah West M&I Conversion Program Drilling Continues to Expand and Confirm Continuity of High-Grade Gold and Silver
Blackrock Drills 4.2m of 700 g/t AgEq
(Including 0.3m of 3,182 g/t AgEq) and Reports
Multiple +1 kg/t AgEq Intercepts at Tonopah
West
M&I Conversion Program Drilling Continues to Expand and
Confirm Continuity of High-Grade Gold and Silver
Mineralization in the Shallowest Portion of the M&I
Conversion Area
HIGHLIGHTS:
TXC25-138 returned multiple broad zones of high-grade silver and gold mineralization
spanning from 230.4 metres to 241.86 metres down hole, including:
4.24 metres grading 700 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) (Ag/Au ratio
90:1) (378.5 g/t silver (Ag) and 3.57 g/t gold (Au)) from 230 metres down hole,
including 0.31 metres grading 3,182 g/t AgEq (1,805.0 g/t Ag and 15.27 g/t Au); and
5.18 metres grading 556 gt/ AgEq (328.2 g/t Ag and 2.53 g/t Au) from 236.68 metres,
which included intervals of 3,340 g/t AgEq (1,987 g/t Ag and15.0 g/t Au) over 0.31
metres and 1,714 g/t AgEq (1,037.0 g/t Ag and 7.51 g/t Au) over 0.61 metres
respectively.
There are ten drillholes with pending assays from the M&I Conversion Program, and
seven drillholes are pending assays from the Resource Expansion program.
Modelling of the M&I Conversion Program drillholes is now underway, with an updated
mineral resource estimate on track for Q3, 2025.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 8, 2025) -
Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC)
(OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0)
("
Blackrock
" or the "
Company
") announces additional high-grade
silver and gold drill intercepts from the M&I Conversion Program (as defined herein) at its 100% owned
Tonopah West project ("
Tonopah West
") located in Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, United
States.
The Company is currently in the process of completing its in-fill drilling program at Tonopah West which
commenced in mid-July 2024 and consists of 62 drillholes within the shallow southern portion of the
Bermuda-Merten vein group ("
DPB South
") resource area (the "
M&I Conversion Area
") with a goal to
convert up to 1.0-million tonnes of material from inferred mineral resources to measured and indicated
mineral resources (the "
M&I Conversion Program
"). The M&I Conversion Area represents the initial
years of production based on the mine plan laid out in the Company's Preliminary Economic
Assessment on Tonopah West (see September 4, 2024 news release).
Andrew Pollard, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Additional results from
our M&I Conversion Program continue to validate our model, supporting mineral continuity as we track
and define the geometry of the high-grade shoots within the vein system. Today's results, coupled with
results previously announced from this same program, highlight that broader intercepts are associated
with higher-than-average grades which should be beneficial in delineating high-grade tonnes.
The broad
zones of high-grade mineralization encountered in drillhole TXC-138 are a standout for us, as at a
composite of 11.46 metres of 514 g/t AgEq (290 g/t Ag & 2.48 g/t Au), this is thickest (composite) zone
we've drilled throughout the district outside of the historic Victor mine.
As we await the final assays from
the M&I Conversion Program, modelling has begun for our upcoming mineral resource update on
Tonopah West, currently on track for Q3, 2025."
Table 1: Tonopah West Assay Intercepts using 150 g/t AgEq cut off
Drillhole
ID
Hole Type
Program
From
(m)
To (m)
Drill
Interval
(m)
Ag g/t
Au g/t
AgEq g/t
TXC25-125
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
327.97
329.31
1.34
118.21
1.336
238.73
Including
328.27
328.58
0.31
432.00
4.900
874.03
TXC25-126
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
319.61
320.22
0.61
247.80
2.554
478.20
Including
319.92
320.22
0.31
421.00
4.380
816.12
TXC25-127
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
230.22
230.73
0.52
66.14
0.964
153.10
TXC25-128
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
300.81
302.21
1.40
244.83
2.070
431.56
TXC25-128
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
348.14
348.75
0.61
300.50
3.030
573.84
TXC25-128
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
427.76
428.46
0.70
129.00
1.360
251.69
TXC25-129
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
307.24
308.15
0.91
155.50
1.322
274.76
TXC25-129
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
323.27
323.88
0.61
65.10
1.140
167.94
TXC25-129
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
344.94
345.55
0.61
237.00
2.520
464.33
TXC25-131
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
319.19
319.80
0.61
292.74
2.480
516.46
Including
319.49
319.80
0.31
584.00
4.940
1,029.64
TXC25-132
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
437.60
438.52
0.92
125.81
1.804
288.55
TXC25-138
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
213.30
213.82
0.52
111.00
0.945
196.25
TXC25-138
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
230.40
234.64
4.24
378.52
3.572
700.75
Including
232.72
233.02
0.31
1,805.00
15.267
3,182.24
TXC25-138
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
236.68
241.86
5.18
328.23
2.528
556.28
Including
238.35
238.66
0.31
1,987.00
15.000
3,340.15
Including
240.03
240.64
0.61
1,037.00
7.510
1,714.48
TXC25-140
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
295.96
296.51
0.55
78.09
1.180
184.54
TXC25-140
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
358.14
358.84
0.70
77.31
0.989
166.53
TXC25-140
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
362.90
363.81
0.91
335.63
3.803
678.70
Including
362.90
363.20
0.30
371.00
4.310
759.81
TXC25-140
RC/Core
M&I Conversion
378.11
380.09
1.98
95.98
1.215
205.59
Including
379.05
380.09
1.04
136.49
1.787
297.70
AgEq = Ag + Au*(Factor); where Factor = (Au Price/Ag Price)*(Au Recovery/Ag Recovery or
Factor=($1900/$23)*(95%/87%)=90.21; True thickness is 90 to 100% of interval thickness based on the modelled
vein geometries; Cut-off grade is 150 gpt AgEq; Reverse Circulation (RC)/Core = RC pre-collar with core tail.
As is evident from Table 1, the highest-grade results are associated with thicker intercepts of quartz vein
material. This is similar to previous results seen from the M&I Conversion Program where broader
intercepts were encountered, such as: TXC24-095 which returned 5.03 metres of 774.5 g/t AgEq (461.5
g/t Ag and 3.47 g/t Au),
1
TXC24-119 which returned 4.69 metres of 714 g/t AgEq (379.0 g/t Ag and 3.72
g/t Au),
2
and TXC24-122 which cut 5.21 metres of 563 g/t AgEq (3.02 g/t Au and 292 g/t Ag)
3
.This
combination of high grade and thickness should have a positive impact on the proposed development of
the M&I Conversion Area and the scheduled mineral resource update. Modelling of the M&I Conversion
Program drillholes has started and an updated mineral resource estimate on Tonopah West is currently
scheduled for Q3 2025.
The geometry of the high-grade silver and gold is sizable with high-grade shoots plunging to the
northwest within the M&I Conversion Area.
These shoots are open to the northwest, east and open down
plunge.
TXC25-138 shows high-grade shoots have thicker vein intercepts along the axis of the shoot and
multiple high-grade intercepts are being returned under the M&I Conversion Program. Allowing for the 3
metres of internal waste, TXC25-138 would have a drill interval of 11.46 metres grading 290.2 g/t Ag
and 2.48 g/t Au or 514.3 g/t AgEq.
The thickness of this mineralized shoot is approaching those seen in
the historic mining at the Victor and Ohio mines where the Victor vein area was 24 metres thick and the
Ohio vein area was 15 metres thick
4
.
Figure 1: Tonopah West project showing NI43-101 resource location and expansion potential
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/251267_df9b5b7fb4827b2a_001full.jpg
Drillholes TXC25-133, -134, -135, and TXC25-136 returned silver and gold assays below the cutoff
grade for Table 1.
The drillholes returned silver equivalent grades ranging between 100 and 144 g/t
AgEq with silver values ranging between 6 to 71 g/t and gold values between 0.51 and 1.34 g/t.
There
are ten drillholes (TXC25-137, -139, -141, -142, and TXC25-146 to -TXC25-151) with pending assays
from the M&I Conversion Program.
In addition, seven drillholes are pending assays from the Company's
exploration drill program that is targeting expansion potential across a one kilometre trend of vein
corridor linking the Denver-Paymaster and Bermuda-Merten vein groups and the Northwest step out
resource area at Tonopah West (the "
Resource Expansion Program
") (see February 24, 2025 news
release).
Figure 2 is a plan map showing the location of all the drillholes in the M&I Conversion Program and
highlighting those reported in this news release.
Figure 2: Drillhole location map of the M&I Conversion Program showing drillholes reported in this
news release.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/251267_df9b5b7fb4827b2a_002full.jpg
Table 2: Tonopah West Drillhole Location Coordinates (based on GPS readings in the field, Datum
UTM, NAD 1927, Zone 11)
Hole ID
Area
Type
UTM_NAD27
East
UTM_NAD27
North
Elevation
(m)
Depth
(ft)
Depth
(m)
Azimuth
Dip
TXC25-125
DPB South
RC/Core
477803.70
4213416.77
1772.86
1177.0
358.7
180
-55
TXC25-126
DPB South
RC/Core
477804.02
4213508.86
1767.74
1377.0
419.7
180
-55
TXC25-127
DPB South
RC/Core
477777.73
4213417.95
1771.99
1002.0
305.4
180
-62
TXC25-128
DPB South
RC/Core
477748.86
4213697.90
1767.22
1559.0
475.2
180
-55
TXC25-129
DPB South
RC/Core
477792.34
4213590.24
1769.09
1398.0
426.1
180
-60
TXC25-130
DPB South
RC/Core
477813.05
4213696.50
1768.97
1332.0
406.0
180
-55
TXC25-131
DPB South
RC/Core
477774.72
4213512.62
1767.17
1312.0
399.9
180
-60
TXC25-132
DPB South
RC/Core
477738.29
4213429.15
1768.79
1532.0
467.0
180
-55
TXC25-133
DPB South
RC/Core
478534.92
4213166.73
1803.79
1160.0
353.6
180
-67
TXC25-134
DPB South
RC/Core
478382.37
4213223.62
1798.88
1256.5
383.0
180
-69
TXC25-135
DPB South
RC/Core
478196.91
4213351.05
1782.35
1002.0
305.4
180
-58
TXC25-136
DPB South
RC/Core
477845.60
4213690.57
1770.44
1470.0
448.1
180
-72
TXC25-137
DPB South
RC/Core
477930.70
4213330.78
1776.32
1028.0
313.3
180
-62
TXC25-138
DPB South
RC/Core
477930.70
4213330.04
1776.49
1050.0
320.0
180
-51
TXC25-139
DPB South
RC/Core
477980.65
4213246.52
1778.41
1061.0
323.4
180
-67
TXC25-140
DPB South
RC/Core
477834.09
4213503.16
1768.96
1646.0
501.7
180
-65
Quality Assurance/ Quality Control
All sampling is conducted under the supervision of the Company's project geologists, and a strict chain
of custody from the project to the sample preparation facility is implemented and monitored. The RC and
core samples are hauled from the project site to a secure and fenced facility in Tonopah, Nevada, where
they are loaded on to American Assay Laboratory's (AAL) flat-bed truck and delivered to AAL's facility in
Sparks, Nevada.
A sample submittal sheet is delivered to AAL personnel who organize and process the
sample intervals pursuant to the Company's instructions.
The RC samples are lined out at the lab and logged in to AAL's system.
The core samples are cut using
core saws and personnel at AAL's facility in Sparks, Nevada according to the Company's instructions
delivered with each core hole.
All samples are dried, crushed to 85% passing 10 mesh (2mm) and a 250-gram sub-sample split is
collected and pulverized to 200 mesh (74 micron) in a ring and puck pulverizer.
Then the pulverized
material is digested and analyzed for gold using fire assay fusion and an Induced Coupled Plasma (ICP)
finish on a 30-gram assay split (FA-PB30-ICP). Silver is determined using five-acid digestion and ICP
analysis (ICP-5AM48).
Over limits for gold and silver are determined using a gravimetric finish
(GRAVAU30 and GRAVAG30).
Data verification of the assay and analytical results are completed to
ensure accurate and verifiable results. Blackrock personnel insert a blind prep blank, lab blank or a
certified reference material approximately every 15th to 20th sample.
Qualified Persons
Blackrock's exploration activities at Tonopah West are conducted and supervised by Mr. William
Howald, Executive Chairman of Blackrock. Mr. William Howald, AIPG Certified Professional Geologist
#11041, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 -
Standards of Disclosure
for Mineral Projects
. Mr. Howald has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.
About Blackrock Silver Corp.
Backed by gold and silver ounces in the ground, Blackrock is a junior precious metal focused exploration
and development company driven to add shareholder value. Anchored by a seasoned Board of
Directors, the Company is focused on its 100% controlled Nevada portfolio of properties consisting of
low-sulphidation, epithermal gold and silver mineralization located along the established Northern
Nevada Rift in north-central Nevada and the Walker Lane trend in western Nevada.
Additional information on Blackrock Silver Corp. can be found on its website at
www.blackrocksilver.com
and by reviewing its profile on SEDAR at
www.sedarplus.ca
.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Information
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively,
"
forward-looking statements
") within the meaning of Canadian and United States securities
legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements,
other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. Forward-Looking statements in
this news release relate to, among other things: the Company's strategic plans; the timing of completion
of the Company's drill programs at Tonopah West and the anticipated objectives and results therefrom;
the incorporation of the results from the M&I Conversion Program in an updated mineral resource
estimate on Tonopah West and the anticipated timing of release thereof; the Company's de-risking
initiatives at Tonopah West; estimates of mineral resource quantities and qualities; estimates of
mineralization from drilling; geological information projected from sampling results; and the potential
quantities and grades of the target zones.
These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and
are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the
Company, are inherently subject to significant operational, business, economic and regulatory
uncertainties and contingencies. These assumptions include, among other things: conditions in general
economic and financial markets; accuracy of assay results; geological interpretations from drilling
results, timing and amount of capital expenditures; performance of available laboratory and other related
services; future operating costs; the historical basis for current estimates of potential quantities and
grades of target zones; the availability of skilled labour and no labour related disruptions at any of the
Company's operations; no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled activities; all necessary
permits, licenses and regulatory approvals for operations are received in a timely manner; the ability to
secure and maintain title and ownership to properties and the surface rights necessary for operations;
and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The foregoing list of
assumptions is not exhaustive.
The Company cautions the reader that forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from
those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements contained in this news release and the
Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such
factors include, without limitation: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration
activities and development of mineral properties; the interpretation and uncertainties of drilling results
and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles;
environmental and other regulatory risks; project costs overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses;
availability of funds; failure to delineate potential quantities and grades of the target zones based on
historical data; general market and industry conditions; and those factors identified under the caption
"Risks Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form.
Forward-Looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's
management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such
statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and,
as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which
speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and
opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
For Further Information, Contact:
Andrew Pollard
President and Chief Executive Officer
(604) 817-6044
1
See November 21, 2024 news release.
2
See January 16, 2025 news release.
3
See February 20, 2025 news release.
4
All historic production information from Nevada Bureau of Mines & Geology, Bulletin 51 and Bulletin 92.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/251267