Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) announced that field crews are mobilizing to its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project in north-central Yukon to commence the first phase of drilling targeting the project's 3D induced polarization (IP) chargeability anomalies. The first drill holes will test the Central Zone, the approximately 2 km corridor between the West and East Zone deposits, with drilling expected to start within about 10 days.
The program is designed to test whether mineralization extends beyond the currently defined zones. The company's drill contractor is mobilizing to site to complete equipment inventory and finalize site readiness. These holes will be the first to directly test priority 3D IP chargeability anomalies identified in a recent survey, particularly in the Lower Central Zone and New Mountain Top areas, where interpreted anomalies are several times larger in areal extent than the chargeability response over the defined West Zone mineralization.
The company intends to complete as many holes as site and weather conditions allow before the field season concludes in mid-September 2026, anticipated to be one to two holes. These holes are the first phase of a planned multi-phase drill program built around the 3D IP targeting model. Phase 1 begins this summer, pauses over winter, and is planned to resume and expand in spring and summer 2027. During the winter break, the company plans to mobilize equipment over the seasonal winter road to establish camp infrastructure and an airstrip, positioning the project for an expanded exploration program in subsequent phases.
The upcoming holes will be the first to directly test the chargeability anomalies interpreted from the 3D IP survey. As previously disclosed, the survey identified a chargeability response coincident with low resistivity over the West Zone, which the company uses as a calibration reference. Multiple significantly larger, untested anomalies have been identified, notably in the Lower Central Zone and New Mountain Top areas. Both anomalies extend to the edges of the surveyed grid, and the company has not surveyed beyond current coverage. A chargeability high coincident with low resistivity is the criterion used to rank drill targets, as that combination may indicate sulphide mineralization.
Prior review of inversion data indicated that historical drilling in the Central Zone appears to have been positioned between two distinct chargeability anomalies rather than directly testing the strongest responses. The company's interpretation is that these observations warrant drill testing for possible extensions of mineralization between the West Zone and the East Zone. Continuity of mineralization between the zones will be tested by this drilling campaign.
“Blende is not a greenfield story. We already hold one of the larger known carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead resources in Western Canada, and our objective now is to test whether that resource can be expanded,” said Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO. “Our 3D IP survey identified chargeability anomalies, coincident with low resistivity, that cover a larger area than the chargeability response over the West Zone that anchors our existing resource, and this program puts a drill directly into those targets for the first time. We aim to mobilize equipment over the winter road this winter to build camp and airstrip infrastructure through the coming spring and summer to support a substantially larger, sustained program across a district-scale property. This program is directed at testing for extensions to the existing mineral resource, and there is no certainty that it will result in any increase to that resource.”
The phased approach matches seasonal realities while building toward scale. Phase 1 commences summer 2026, with initial holes expected within about 10 days, drilling as many as conditions permit (anticipated one to two holes) before the season ends in mid-September. Drilling resumes and expands in spring and summer 2027. Winter mobilization uses the seasonal winter road to move equipment for camp and airstrip establishment. The camp and airstrip are intended to provide the logistical foundation for a larger, more sustained exploration program, improving access, capacity, and operating windows in later phases.
The Blende Project has been described as hosting the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon (M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin, Economic Geology, 1995). That characterization reflects information available at the date of publication. A mineral resource estimate prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff was disclosed in a news release dated May 20, 2021. The estimate was prepared by Sue Bird, P.Eng., of Moose Mountain Technical Services, an independent Qualified Person. The estimate uses metal prices from that time (silver at US$26/oz, zinc at US$1.30/lb, lead at US$1.00/lb) and has not been updated. Historical exploration defined East and West Zones, two primary mineralized zones located approximately two kilometers apart.
The scientific and technical information has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sarah Palmer, P.Geo., an independent consultant and Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Blende Silver Corp. is a Vancouver-based junior resource company focused on silver-zinc-lead exploration and development at its flagship Blende Project. The property covers 5,345 hectares, is winter road accessible, and is located approximately 63 km northeast of Keno Hill, Yukon. The property lies within the Keno Hill silver district, one of Canada's highest-grade historic silver-producing districts, currently being advanced by Hecla Mining Company. Mineralization at Keno Hill is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the project. The property has undergone more than $9.2 million in past exploration, including 25,195 meters of drilling in 132 drill holes, though these figures are historical and not independently verified.
