The Conversation (0)
Eastern Metals Limited (ASX: EMS) (“Eastern Metals” or “the Company”) is pleased to report final assay results from recent reconnaissance drilling at its 100%-owned Cobar Project in NSW.
- Final assay results received from reconnaissance drilling at the newly defined Windmill Dam target and the advanced Evergreen prospect within the 100%-owned Cobar Project in NSW.
- Results from Windmill Dam show broad intercepts of Cu mineralisation, with assays from hole WDRCDD001 including:
- 20m @ 0.3% Cu from 186m; and
- 30m @ 0.15% Cu from 271m.
- Assay results from hole BRD022 at Evergreen have extended the strike extent of known mineralisation by a further 50m to the NNW:
- 2.4m @ 0.6g/t Au, 5g/t Ag, 1.9% Pb and 3.7% Zn from 163.6m, including 0.5m grading at 1.47g/t Au from 164.5m.
- Latest results follow previously reported assays from the new Kelpie Hill target, where hole KHRC001 intersected significant high-grade gold plus base metal mineralisation:
- 7m @ 4.3g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb from 50m and 1m @ 4.17g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag from 82m.
- Induced Polarisation (IP) survey due to commence over the Cobar Project in the coming weeks. Results from the IP survey will help define and prioritise targets for immediate, follow-up drill testing.
The Company has completed drilling at its two newly defined targets, Kelpie Hill and Windmill Dam, and at the more advanced Evergreen prospect (refer to Figure 1). Assay results are reported in this announcement for two (2) holes completed at Windmill Dam (WDRCDD001) and Evergreen (BRD022). Assay results for Kelpie Hill were reported in the announcement dated 23 October 2024 where KHRC001 returned 7m @ 4.3g/t Au.
Hole WDRCDD001 at Windmill Dam returned broad intercepts of copper mineralisation in both the Clements and Preston formations, with 20m @ 0.3% Cu from 186m and 30m @ 0.15% Cu from 271m along with silver, lead, zinc and gold suggesting intrusion-related mineralisation.
Assay results from hole BRD022 at Evergreen returned 2.4m @ 0.6g/t Au, 5g/t Ag, 1.9% Pb and 3.7% Zn from 163.6m, including 0.5m grading at 1.47g/t Au from 164.5m. Refer to Table 1 for a summary of significant intercepts.
The Company is finalising the design of an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey, which is due to commence in the coming weeks. Results from the IP survey will help define and prioritise targets for follow-up drill testing.
Eastern Metals’ Chief Executive Officer Ley Kingdom said: “The broad intercepts of copper mineralisation at Windmill Dam provide an enticing target for follow-up exploration, suggesting the potential for an intrusion-related mineral system. Drilling has also successfully extended the mineralised footprint at the Evergreen prospect by 50m to the north-northwest.
We are now completing planning for an IP survey across the Cobar Project area to help define and prioritise targets for follow-up drilling. This will include Windmill Dam and Evergreen, as well as the high-priority Kelpie Hill target where recent drilling returned high-grade intercepts of up to 7m @ 4.3g/t Au.”
Figure 1: Location of EL6321 (Browns Reef) and the Kelpie Hill, Windmill Dam & Evergreen prospects.
Key Points
- Assays results have been received for one drillhole at the newly identified target, Windmill Dam, and one drill-hole at the advanced Evergreen prospect within the 100% owned Cobar Project in NSW.
- Drilling at Windmill Dam intersected two broad low grade copper zones of 20m @ 0.3% Cu from 186m and 30m @ 0.15% Cu from 271m down-hole.
- Alteration assemblages intersected downhole within WDRCDD001 include chlorite-carbonate and phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) alteration with significant breccia associations, and stringer style vein fill and fracture-controlled chalcopyrite and Pb-Zn mineralisation. These suggest the presence of an intrusion-related heat, fluid and metal source, a mineralisation style that has not previously been described at Browns Reef despite the presence of rhyolites observed in diamond core (e.g. BRD013).
- An Induced Polarisation survey will be undertaken in the coming weeks to identify targets for further drilling.
- BRD022 extended the strike of known mineralisation at the advanced Evergreen prospect 50m to the NNW, intersecting base and precious metal mineralisation for 2.4m @ 0.6g/t Au, 5g/t Ag, 1.9% Pb, 3.7% Zn from 163.6m, including 0.5m grading at 1.47g/t Au from 164.5m.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Eastern Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
EMS:AU
Eastern Metals Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects
GET YOUR FREE INVESTOR KIT
Eastern Metals
Investor Insight
Eastern Metals is a base and precious metals explorer with a high-quality asset portfolio located in some of Australia’s best known mineral provinces.
Eastern Metals’ core focus is on the advanced Home of Bullion deposit in the NT, which hosts a Resource of 3.1 million metric tons @ 2.9 percent copper-equivalent – and the Browns Reef zinc-lead-copper-silver deposit in the Cobar Basin of NSW, a world-class mineral jurisdiction.
With favorable supply and demand dynamics for copper and an advanced asset portfolio – Eastern Metals provides de-risked exposure to strategic metals and a compelling proposition for investors evaluating the strategic metals space.Overview
Eastern Metals (ASX:EMS) is an ASX-listed base and precious metals explorer with a portfolio of high-quality assets in some of Australia’s most resource-rich regions, with established production, transport and energy infrastructure.
With many centuries of intensive use, base and precious metals are well understood at every stage of the project lifecycle – from exploration to development, mining, processing and offtake – offering de-risked exposure to the energy thematic.
The company holds two projects: the Arunta Project in the Northern Territory (NT), and the Cobar Project in the Cobar Basin of New South Wales (NSW), a world-class mineral jurisdiction. The company’s main focus is on two advanced assets: the Home of Bullion deposit in the NT and the Browns Reef deposit in the Cobar Basin, both strategically located, with ready access to road, rail and energy infrastructure.
Eastern Metals is led by a board and management team with significant breadth and depth of experience in exploration, discovery, development and governance, and a strong track record in delivering value for shareholders.
Company Highlights
- Eastern Metals is an ASX-listed exploration company focused on discovering and developing strategically located base and precious metals projects in New South Wales (Cobar Project) and the Northern Territory (Arunta Project).
- Eastern Metals’ flagship assets are the Home of Bullion deposit in the Northern Territory (NT), which hosts a total Identified Mineral Resource of 3.1 million metric tons @ 2.9% copper equivalent – and the Browns Reef zinc-silver-lead-copper-gold deposit in the world-class Cobar Basin, New South Wales (NSW).
- Both Home of Bullion and Browns Reef are strategically located, with ready access to road, rail and energy infrastructure.
- The world-class Cobar Basin in NSW is enjoying a resurgence courtesy of some new discoveries and Metal Acquisition’s (NYSE:MTAL,ASX:MAC) purchase of the CSA Mine in June 2023.
Key Projects
Arunta Project
The Arunta Project is located in the Northern Territory encompassing a land package of 539 sq km, and is strategically located between the Stuart Highway, the Adelaide-Darwin rail corridor, and the Amadeus gas pipeline, east of Barrow Creek in the NT. The northern project area comprises one deposit and two prospects – Home of Bullion, Mulbangas and Prospect D. The priority is on advancing the Home of Bullion copper deposit. Home of Bullion hosts an existing mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 3.1 million metric tons, grading at 2.9 percent copper equivalent for 89.9 metric kilotons of contained copper-equivalent metal.
Home of Bullion, from 1923 to 1949 produced 3,185 metric tons of ore at 22.5% copper. With an MRE in place for this deposit, there is potential for further increasing the resource base, especially as the deposit remains open along strike and at depth. Further field work, including IP surveys, mapping and field sampling programs will aim to generate drill-ready targets along the ~9 km magnetic trend between Home of Bullion and the Mulbangas prospect. This work is supported by a recent co-funding grant of up to $100,000 through the NT Government’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program.
Cobar Project
The Cobar Project is situated 470 km west of Sydney, in New South Wales. It encompasses the company's Browns Reef tenement along with three exploration licenses – Tara, Bothrooney and Black Range – located in the southern Cobar Basin, a tier 1 mining jurisdiction for base metals exploration and production.
The project’s previous owner, Kidman Resources, defined a JORC 2012 exploration target for the Browns Reef deposit, based on 52 diamond drill holes and 22 RC holes, of 27 to 37 million metric tons grading between 1.3 to 1.4 percent zinc, 0.6 to 0.7 percent lead, 9 to 10 g/t silver and 0.2 to 0.3 percent copper. (The potential quantity and grade of this exploration Target are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a mineral resource. Eastern Metals confirms that it is not in possession of any new information or data that materially impacts on the reliability of this estimate.)
Eastern Metals is currently advancing the Browns Reef deposit to identify areas where higher-grade zones of base metals mineralization may occur. The Evergreen and Pineview zones are targets for further exploration, where previous fieldwork programs identified new zones of anomalous base metal mineralization. These new zones, named Kelpie Hill and Windmill Dam, will be the primary focus of forthcoming exploration initiatives. IP surveys and drilling will investigate whether these areas constitute a continuous mineralization zone linking Pineview and Evergreen and potentially serving as a northern extension of Evergreen.
The Cobar Project is adjacent to Australian Gold and Copper’s (ASX:AGC) Achilles prospect which recently delivered spectacular gold and silver results.
Management Team
Bob Duffin - Non-executive Chairman
Bob Duffin has over 45 years of experience in the mining industry. He has participated in exploration programs for a variety of commodities, including copper, other base metals, gold, uranium and iron ore. He began his career with the Geological Survey of New South Wales and held senior positions at Peko-Wallsend, MIM Holdings, Austirex International and Natquest. He has been a non-executive director of several listed companies, including Centennial Coal, Midwest Corporation, Ferrowest, Burmine, Austmin Gold, Mt Lyell, Europa Minerals Group and Mancala.
Ley Kingdom - Chief Executive Officer
With over 25 years of experience in the resources sector in technical and corporate roles, Ley has worked across diverse commodities and jurisdictions, from greenfield exploration to resource definition and feasibility studies. Ley’s prior experience includes working for Western Mining Corporation, BHP and a number of juniors and mid-tiers overseeing greenfield projects through to resource definition and feasibility.
Jason Berton - Non-executive Director
Jason is a geologist and company director who commenced his career as an exploration and mine geologist at the Plutonic Gold Mine in Western Australia, before moving to BHP in South Australia, where he worked on the Olympic Dam Mine expansion project. Previously, he also worked with SRK, an international firm of consulting geologists, and spent two years in private equity assessing resource investment opportunities. He is the Managing Director of PolarX, where he played a major role in negotiating the acquisition of key tenements in North America, and a former director of Estrella Resources. He is also a non-executive director of Lithium Plus.
Mark Dugmore - Non-executive Director
Mark Dugmore is an experienced geologist and boasts significant experience in the mining sector, having served as director and advisor to several junior mining exploration companies. Since 2014, he has served as the managing director of the ROMARDO Group, a Brisbane-based private group specializing in generating early-stage exploration projects in precious metals, base metals and lithium. He spent 16 years working with BHP Minerals.
Ian White - Non-executive Director
Ian White is an experienced corporate executive with experience in company administration, management and marketing. He has served on more than 20 boards as director or secretary, including several ASX-listed companies. Currently, he is the secretary of Maronan Metals (ASX:MMA) and was previously secretary for WPG Resources and Eastern Iron.
Ian Morgan - Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
Ian is a member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and the Governance Institute of Australia, with over 35 years of experience. Ian provides secretarial and advisory services to a range of companies, including holding the position of Company Secretary and CFO for other ASX-listed public companies.
Shallow High-Grade Gold Zone Intersected at Kelpie Hill – Cobar Project, NSW
- Reconnaissance drilling completed at two new targets, Kelpie Hill and Windmill Dam, and at the advanced Evergreen prospect within the 100%-owned Cobar Project in NSW.
- Assay results received for three Reverse Circulation percussion (RC) holes completed at Kelpie Hill, with hole KHRC001 intersecting significant high-grade gold plus base metal mineralisation:
- 7m @ 4.3g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb from 50m and 1m @ 4.17g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag from 82m
- Holes KHRC002 and 003 intersected anomalous base metals, and were extended as diamond tails into the primary sulphide zone, returning intercepts of up to:
- 3.05m @ 3.9% Zn, 2% Pb, 29.5g/t Ag from 298.5 and 0.5m @ 7.2% Zn, 2.4% Pb from 299m
- Assays pending for two holes completed at Windmill Dam and Evergreen.
- Induced Polarisation (IP) survey due to commence in the coming weeks. Results from the IP survey will help define and prioritise targets for immediate, follow-up drill testing.
The Company has completed drilling at its two new targets, Kelpie Hill and Windmill Dam, as well as drilling at the more advanced Evergreen prospect (refer to Figure 1). Assays results have so far been received for three (3) holes at Kelpie Hill, where hole KHCRC001 returned an intercept of 7 metres at an average grade of 4.3g/t Au (incl. 1m at 8.56g/t Au) in the weathered, oxidised zone of the Preston Formation, along with silver and base metals. Refer to Table 1 for a summary of significant intercepts.
Base metal results were also returned from the other two holes, including deeper base metal zones in the primary (sulphide zone) of hole KHRCDD003. Assay results from drilling at Windmill Dam and Evergreen are still pending. In light of these highly encouraging results, the Company is finalising the design of an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey, which is due to commence in the coming weeks. Results from the IP survey will help define and prioritise targets for follow-up drill testing.
Eastern Metals’ Chief Executive Officer Ley Kingdom said: “While the high-grade gold zone intersected in the first hole was somewhat of a surprise, given that this was primarily a base metals target, intersecting significant mineralisation is an exciting development for any exploration team. While we are still in the process of evaluating the results and working out the geological context and significance of what we have seen in the first three holes at Kelpie Hill, the key takeaway for investors is that this is a highly complex, mineralised system which offers enormous discovery potential, particularly when considering how little drilling has been done. With results pending from the remaining holes, and an IP survey starting shortly, it’s definitely a case of ‘watch this space!’”.
Figure 1: Location of EL6321 (Browns Reef) and the Kelpie Hill, Windmill Dam & Evergreen prospects.
Kelpie Hill Prospect, Browns Reef (EL6321)
Three Reverse Circulation percussion (“RC”) holes were completed at the Kelpie Hill prospect for 560 metres. Two of the holes (KHRC001 and KHRC002) directly targeted a strong lead-arsenic soil geochemical anomaly, while the third (KHRC003) was drilled as a pre-collar for a planned diamond tail (KHRCDD003) to intersect the target zone at greater depth (see Figure 2).
Figure 2: Cross-section of Kelpie Hill drill-holes KHRC001, KHRC002 and KHRCDD003 showing significant intercepts including 7m @ 4.3g/t gold (Au) from 50m downhole.
All three holes intersected anomalous lead-zinc gossanous ironstones, with KHRCDD003 also intersecting primary sulphides below the depth of oxidation. Diamond cored HQ “tails” were drilled to extend holes KHRC002 and KHRC003.
The 50-56 metre interval was logged by the site geologist as “massive red haematitic ironstone, gossanous” in the weathered oxidised zone of the Preston Formation to the west of the interpreted Woorara Fault, a large regional scale structure on the Preston-Clements contact. Refer to Figure 3.
Significant intercepts for KHRC001 include:
- 7m @ 4.3g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag, 0.3% Pb from 50m, including:
- 1m @ 8.56g/t Au from 51m
- 1m @ 4.17g/t Au, 2.7g/t Ag from 82m
- 5m @ 3.45g/t Ag, 0.35% Zn from 103m, including:
- 1m @ 8.3g/t Ag from 106m
Figure 3: Kelpie Hill plan view of drillholes KHRC001, KHRC002 and KHRCDD003 with Pb soil contours, and interpreted faults.
Hole KHRC002 was extended as hole KHRCDD002 with a diamond cored tail from 197 metres to 201.35 metres; however, this hole was abandoned due to drilling complications and did not reach the planned target depth into the Clements Formation on the eastern side of the target zone.
The oxide zone interval 169 to 197 metres is strongly lead anomalous, with the interval 175.5 to 197 metres logged by the site geologist as “strongly silica altered ex-shale and sandstone, often highly ferruginous to gossanous, limonite and haematite stain, pits ex-sulphide, quartz veins”.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Eastern Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Silver Price Update: Q3 2024 in Review
How did the silver price perform in Q3?
Silver started the third quarter at US$29.46 on July 1 and had surged above US$31 by the middle of the month.
The precious metal's increase came alongside renewed speculation that the Fed would cut rates in July. However, backed by another strong US jobs report, the central bank left rates unchanged.
Against that backdrop, the price of silver began to fall and by July 30 had reached US$29.04.
The silver price sank to a quarterly low of US$26.65 on August 7, even as speculation about a rate cut in September took hold among market participants. The retreat, which mirrored a dip in the gold price as investors looked to take profits, was short-lived, and by mid-month the white metal was once again trading above the US$29 mark.
Silver price, Q3 2024.
Chart via Trading Economics.
Silver reached US$30.14 on August 27 after remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell at his annual address at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium. His dovish statements were the clearest indication yet of an upcoming rate cut.
September started with silver in a slide. It bottomed out on September 6 at US$27.93, but saw a reversal after August's US jobs report fell short of expectations and boosted expectations of a larger rate cut.
This provided tailwinds for silver, which broke through the US$30 level before the Fed slashed rates by 50 basis points at its September meeting. Silver climbed to its quarterly high of US$32.15 on September 24.
Industrial demand still a key silver price driver
Silver is valued as a precious metal, but is also driven by industrial demand, particularly photovoltaics.
According to the Silver Institute, silver demand for solar power has more than doubled in the past five years, rising from 74.9 million ounces in 2019 to a forecast 232 million ounces by the end of this year.
India in particular has become a major factor in global photovoltaics market, and has been one of the largest silver consumers in 2024. The country reportedly imported 4,554 metric tons of silver during the first half of the year, putting it on pace to double the 3,625 metric tons of silver it imported in 2023.
In April, India reintroduced a requirement for major photovoltaics projects in the country to use domestically sourced panels. The requirements were put on hold for the 2023 fiscal year due to insufficient domestic manufacturing. Their return has led to a ramp up in Indian photovoltaics production and an increased need for silver.
Additionally, TopCon cells, which have higher efficiency, but require 50 percent more silver content, have begun to dominate the photovoltaics market, contributing to an increasing strain on the supply of silver.
Speaking to the Investing News Network (INN), Peter Krauth, editor of Silver Stock Investor, noted that in addition to increasing demand from India’s photovoltaics sector, the government has changed import duties.
“One important development was when India decided to reduce import duties on gold and silver from 15 percent to 6 percent. That led to a second surge of imports into that country,” he said.
Overall, the silver market remains in a deficit. The Silver Institute is forecasting that demand from all sectors will rise to 1.22 billion ounces in 2024, while mine supply will reach just over 1 billion ounces.
Given that difference, why hasn’t the silver price seen a bigger run?
Part of the reason is that aboveground reserves are being drawn down. However, Krauth believes market participants are only just realizing that the deficit situation isn’t going away any time soon.
“Supply has been flat for a decade. Mine supply peaked eight years ago. Demand has grown to 20 percent above annual supply since 2020. The main reason prices haven’t exploded is that silver consumers have been able to tap stockpiles of 'secondary inventories' at major futures exchanges and exchange-traded funds," he explained.
"That may have 12 to 18 months before running out."
M&A activity increasing as silver price rises
As the silver price rises higher, M&A activity in the sector is strengthening.
First Majestic Silver (TSX:AG,NYSE:AG) announced on September 5 that it plans to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of Gatos Silver (TSX:GATO,NYSE:GATO) in a US$970 million transaction.
The deal will provide First Majestic with a 70 percent stake in the Cerro Los Gatos mine in Northern Mexico. The combined entity's anticipated annual production is 30 million to 32 million silver equivalent ounces.
On October 4, Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) agreed to acquire SilverCrest Metals (TSX:SIL,NYSE:SILV) for US$1.7 billion. The deal will create one of the largest silver producers in the world, with output of 21 million ounces projected by 2025.
The deal gives Coeur 100 percent ownership of the recently opened Las Chispas mine in Sonora, Mexico, which is projected to sell 9.8 million to 10.2 million silver equivalent ounces this year.
Krauth said M&A involving smaller companies may follow as the silver price moves higher.
“Current silver prices are positive for profits, but replacing reserves is a big challenge. I think silver crossing the US$35 mark and sustaining it will give miners confidence that high silver prices are here to stay. With that, they are likely to start moving down the food chain to developers and explorers,” he said.
Investor takeaway
Both Krauth and Mind Money CEO Julia Khandoshko see significant gains ahead for silver.
“Silver may hit more than US$40 and even $50 this year or mid-2025,” Khandoshko commented to INN, noting that strong geopolitical and economic issues continue to impact the precious metal.
“Although silver is less popular than gold, traders might consider it to diversify their investment portfolios, valuing the possibility of using silver as a hedge during periods of uncertainty and high inflation,” she added.
Krauth was similarly positive about silver's prospects. “We are near a crucial level of US$32. Once silver stays consistently above that level, I think it can continue to US$35, which I would expect by the end of this year. Beyond that, I think silver will continue to rise and is likely to reach US$40 at some point in 2025," he said.
However, he expressed a degree of caution, saying there are near-term factors that could pose challenges for investors. He's primarily concerned that a rally in the US dollar could lead to a retreat in precious metal prices.
“In my view, the approach in Q4 should be mostly the same for both metals and equity investors. I’m still cautious that we will see a price pullback in silver, which will bleed into the equities. For that reason, I’d only be adding on weakness in either the metal or the miners,” Krauth said.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Dean Belder, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
What Was the Highest Price for Silver? (Updated 2024)
How is silver traded?
Before discovering what the highest silver price was, it’s worth looking at how the precious metal is traded. Knowing the mechanics can be useful in understanding why and how its price changes on a day-to-day basis and beyond.
Put simply, silver bullion is traded in dollars and cents per ounce, with market activity taking place worldwide at all hours, resulting in a live silver price. Key commodities markets like New York, London and Hong Kong are just a few locations where investors trade the metal. London is seen as the center of physical silver trade, while the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, called the NYMEX, is where most paper trading is done.
There are two popular ways to invest in silver. The first is through purchasing silver bullion products such as bullion bars, bullion coins and silver rounds. Physical silver is sold on the spot market, meaning that in order to invest in silver this way, buyers pay a specific price for the metal — the silver price per ounce — and then have it delivered immediately.
The second is accomplished through paper trading, which is done via the silver futures market, with participants entering into futures contracts for the delivery of silver at an agreed-upon price and time. In such contracts, two positions can be taken: a long position to accept delivery of the metal or a short position to provide delivery.
Paper trading might sound like a strange way to get silver exposure, but it can provide investors with flexibility that they wouldn’t get from buying and selling bullion. The most obvious advantage is perhaps the fact that trading in the paper market means silver investors can benefit long term from holding silver without needing to store it. Furthermore, futures trading can offer more financial leverage in that it requires less capital than trading in the physical market.
Market participants can also invest in silver through exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Investing in a silver ETF is similar to trading a stock on an exchange, and there are several silver ETFs to choose from. Some ETFs focus on physical silver bullion, while others focus on silver futures contracts. Still others focus on the silver stocks or follow the live silver price.
What is silver's all time high price?
The silver all-time high was US$49.95 per ounce, a level it reached on January 17, 1980.
However, the price didn’t exactly reach that level by honest means. As Britannica explains, two wealthy traders called the Hunt brothers attempted to corner the market by buying not only physical silver, but also silver futures — they took delivery of those silver futures contracts instead of taking legal tender in the form cash settlements. Their exploits ultimately ended in disaster: On March 27, 1980, they missed a margin call and the silver market price plunged to US$10.80. This day is infamously known as Silver Thursday.
That record silver price wouldn’t be tested again until April 2011, when it reached US$47.94. This was more than triple the 2009 average silver price of US$14.67, with the price uptick coming on the back of very strong silver investment demand.
Silver price history
Silver price chart, January 1, 2009, to October 21, 2024.
Chart via Trading Economics.
After its 2011 peak, silver's price pulled back over the following years before settling between US$15 and US$20 for much of the second half of last decade.
An upward trend in the silver price started in mid-2020, when it was spurred on by the economic uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The price of silver breached the key US$26 level in early August 2020, and soon after tested US$30. However, it failed to make substantial progress past that.
In the spring of 2023, the silver price surged by 30 percent, briefly rising above US$26 in early May, but the precious metal cratered back down to US$20.90 in early October. Later that month, silver advanced toward the US$23 level on the back safe-haven demand due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Following remarks from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, rate cut speculation sent the price of silver to US$25.48 on November 30, its highest point for the fourth quarter.
Silver price in 2024
Silver price chart, January 1, 1999, to October 21, 2024.
Chart via Trading Economics.
After starting 2024 on a low note, the white metal saw gains in March on rising Fed rate cut expectations. The resulting upward momentum led silver to reach a Q1 high of US$25.62 on March 20 before breaking through the US$30 mark on May 17. The silver price reached a then 12 year high of US$32.33 per ounce on May 20.
In Q3 this year, prices for the metal slid down below the US$27 mark to as low as US$26.64 by August 7 alongside its industrial cousin copper.
Heading into the fourth quarter, silver has reversed course to the upside, tracking the record breaking moves in the gold price. Silver prices once again breached the US$30 level on September 13 and continued higher. On October 21, the silver price moved as high as US$34.20 during the trading day, up more than 48 percent since the start of the year and its highest level in 12 years.
This latest run-up came “as US election jitters, escalating Middle East tensions and bets on further monetary easing drove safe-haven demand for precious metals,” according to Trading Economics. “Expectations of stronger silver demand amid the global shift toward cleaner energy also supported prices, as silver is a major industrial component used in solar panels.”
Market watchers are curious as to whether the silver price will continue its upward trajectory. Only time will tell, and it will depend on the white metal's ability to remain above the critical US$30 level.
Like other metals, the silver spot price is most heavily influenced by supply and demand dynamics. However, as the information above illustrates, the silver price can be highly volatile. That's partially due to the fact that the metal is subject to both investment and industrial metal demand within global markets.
In other words, it’s bought by investors who want it as a store of wealth, as well as by manufacturers looking to use it for different applications that are incredibly varied. For example, silver has diverse technological applications and is used in devices like batteries and catalysts, but it’s also used in medicine and in the automotive industry.
In terms of supply, the world’s three top producers of the metal are Mexico, China and Peru. Interestingly, even in those countries silver is usually a by-product — for instance, a mine producing primarily gold might also have silver output.
The Silver Institute's latest World Silver Survey, put together by Metals Focus, outlines a 1 percent decrease in global mine production to 830.5 million ounces in 2023. This was in large part the result of a four month suspension of operations at Newmont’s (TSX:NGT,NYSE:NEM) Peñasquito mine in Mexico due to strike action among workers. In addition, lower ore grades and mine closures curtailed production in Argentina, Australia and Russia.
The firm is forecasting a 0.8 percent decline in global silver mine production to 823.5 million ounces in 2024. In countries such as the US and Morocco, expansions and new projects are expected to contribute to supply growth. However, a significant drop in silver production out of Peru and China is expected to offset these increases.
Looking at demand, Metals Focus is projecting 2 percent growth for 2024 as industrial fabrication is expected to reach another all-time high on a projected 20 percent increase in demand from the solar market. This could be tempered by an anticipated contraction of 13 percent for physical investment in silver bars and coins.
The silver market is expected to experience a substantial deficit of 215.3 million ounces in 2024, amounting to the second highest discrepancy in over two decades.
Is the silver price manipulated?
As a final note on silver, it’s important for investors to be aware that manipulation of prices is a major issue in the space.
For instance, in 2015, 10 banks were hit in a US probe on precious metals manipulation. Evidence provided by Deutsche Bank (NYSE:DB) showed “smoking gun” proof that UBS Group (NYSE:UBS), HSBC Holdings (NYSE:HSBC), the Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) and other firms were involved in rigging silver rates from 2007 to 2013. In May 2023, a silver manipulation lawsuit filed in 2014 against HSBC and the Bank of Nova Scotia was dismissed by a US court.
JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) has been long at the center of silver manipulation claims as well. For years the firm has been in and out of court for the accusations. In 2020, JPMorgan agreed to pay US$920 million to resolve federal agency probes regarding the manipulation of multiple markets, including precious metals.
In 2014, the London Silver Market Fixing stopped administering the London silver fix, which had been used for over a century to fix the price of silver. It was replaced by the LBMA Silver Price, which is run by ICE Benchmark Administration, in a bid to increase market transparency.
Market watchers like Ed Steer have said that the days of silver manipulation are numbered, and that the market will see a significant shift when the time finally comes.
Investor takeaway
While silver has neared US$50 multiple times, including its all-time high, it’s anyone’s guess whether it will reach those heights once again. Many commentators say prospects are bright for silver, and investors will no doubt be watching to see how the metal fares.
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2015.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, currently hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Eastern Metals Investor Kit
- Corporate info
- Insights
- Growth strategies
- Upcoming projects