- TXC25-144 cut 10.12 metres grading 467 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) (283 g/t silver (Ag) & 2 g/t gold (Au)), including 3.51 metres of 1,020 g/t AgEq (620 g/t Ag & 4.43 g/t Au);
- TXC25-145 encountered multiple zones of high-grade mineralization which included 0.67 metres of 3,264 g/t AgEq (2,008 g/t Ag & 13.93 g/t Au) within 11.58 metres grading 327 g/t AgEq (186 g/t Ag & 1.56 g/t Au) and 2.32 metres grading 401 g/t AgEq (242 g/t Ag & 1.76 g/t Au);
- TXC25-153 drilled 0.7 metres of 724 g/t AgEq (437 g/t Ag & 3.18 g/t Au) within 5.73 metres of 156 g/t AgEq (96 g/t Ag & 0.67 g/t Au);
- Step-out drilling has established continuity of high-grade gold & silver mineralization over significant widths that runs 500 metres along drill-defined strike from the existing DPB resource shell to the northwest; and
- Targeting is now underway to bridge mineralization on remaining 500 metres of vein corridor to NW Step Out resource area.
Blackrock Silver Corp. (TSXV: BRC) (OTCQX: BKRRF) (FSE: AHZ0) ("Blackrock" or the "Company") announces the final set of assay results from its Resource Expansion Program (defined below) showing significant width and high-grade silver and gold drill intercepts in step-out drilling at its 100% owned Tonopah West project ("Tonopah West") located in Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nevada, United States.
Blackrock's resource expansion program at Tonopah West (the "Resource Expansion Program"), which commenced in September 2024, consisted of 18 drillholes totalling 10,802 metres (35,438 feet) of drilling, targeted expansion potential along a one-kilometre northwest trend between the Denver-Paymaster and Bermuda-Merten vein groups ("DPB") south resource area and the Northwest ("NW") Step Out resource area.
The aim of the Resource Expansion Program is to increase the size of the Tonopah West resource footprint and to allow evaluation and inclusion of the NW Step Out resource in an updated preliminary economic assessment to be completed on Tonopah West. This final batch of assay results from the Resource Expansion Program tracked high-grade gold and silver mineralization across significant widths spanning 500 metres from the existing DPB resource area to the northwest.
Andrew Pollard, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Final assays from our Resource Expansion Program have confirmed thick, high-grade silver and gold mineralization extending 500 metres beyond the current DPB resource, with standout intercepts including 10.1 metres grading 467 g/t AgEq and 11.6 metres of 327 g/t AgEq. These results reinforce the scale and continuity of the NW vein system and underscore the strong potential to materially expand the resource and extend mine life at Tonopah West. With our geologic model in hand, drill targeting is now underway for the remaining 500-metre gap of vein corridor that aims to fully bridge mineralization to our NW Step Out deposit."
Table 1:Significant Assays from the Resource Expansion Program Above 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) |
| TXC25-144 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 393.04 | 403.16 | 10.12 | 283.2 | 2.040 | 467.2 |
| Including | 395.78 | 399.29 | 3.51 | 620.2 | 4.426 | 1,019.5 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 351.13 | 353.45 | 2.32 | 241.8 | 1.760 | 400.6 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 361.37 | 372.95 | 11.58 | 186.1 | 1.559 | 326.7 |
| Including | 361.37 | 362.04 | 0.67 | 2,007.6 | 13.928 | 3,264.1 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 379.17 | 380.03 | 0.85 | 166.6 | 1.491 | 301.2 |
| TXC25-152 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 454.06 | 454.58 | 0.52 | 45.9 | 0.611 | 101.0 |
| TXC25-153 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 439.37 | 445.10 | 5.73 | 95.8 | 0.672 | 156.4 |
| Including | 444.40 | 445.10 | 0.70 | 437.0 | 3.180 | 723.9 |
| TXC25-155 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 413.86 | 414.83 | 0.98 | 109.7 | 0.982 | 198.3 |
| AgEq = Ag + Au*(Factor); where Factor = (Au Price/Ag Price)*(Au Recovery/Ag Recovery or Factor=($1,900/$23)*(95%/87%)=90.21; True thickness is 50% to 70% of drill interval; Cut-off grade is 150 g/t AgEq; Reverse Circulation (RC)/Core = RC pre-collar with core tail; Core is core from the surface. |
Table 2: Significant Assays From the entire Resource Expansion Program Above 150 g/t AgEq Cut Off highlighting the grade and thickness of the zone over 500 metres
| Drillhole ID | Hole Type | Program | From
(m) | To (m) | Drill
Interval
(m) | Ag (g/t) | Au (g/t) | AgEq
(g/t) |
| TXC24-113 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 478.08 | 478.39 | 0.31 | 614.0 | 7.140 | 1,256.7 |
| TXC24-113 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 503.13 | 504.66 | 1.52 | 116.8 | 0.904 | 198.2 |
| TXC24-113 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 538.43 | 540.11 | 1.68 | 364.0 | 0.033 | 367.0 |
| TXC24-114 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 394.08 | 395.63 | 1.55 | 93.9 | 1.553 | 233.7 |
| Including | 394.08 | 394.41 | 0.34 | 288.0 | 5.270 | 762.4 |
| TXC25-123 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 436.87 | 437.54 | 0.67 | 182.0 | 1.690 | 334.1 |
| TXC25-123 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 471.83 | 474.88 | 3.05 | 225.4 | 2.412 | 442.5 |
| Including | 471.83 | 472.14 | 0.31 | 2,223.0 | 23.467 | 4,335.3 |
| TXC25-124 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 370.03 | 378.62 | 8.60 | 121.6 | 1.233 | 232.6 |
| Including | 371.55 | 372.31 | 0.76 | 778.6 | 7.854 | 1,485.6 |
| TXC25-124 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 407.40 | 410.26 | 2.87 | 176.8 | 1.785 | 337.5 |
| Including | 407.40 | 407.76 | 0.37 | 1,344.0 | 13.500 | 2,559.2 |
| TXC25-144 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 393.04 | 403.16 | 10.12 | 283.2 | 2.040 | 467.2 |
| Including | 395.78 | 399.29 | 3.51 | 620.2 | 4.426 | 1,019.5 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 351.13 | 353.45 | 2.32 | 241.8 | 1.760 | 400.6 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 361.37 | 372.95 | 11.58 | 186.1 | 1.559 | 326.7 |
| Including | 361.37 | 362.04 | 0.67 | 2,007.6 | 13.928 | 3,264.1 |
| TXC25-145 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 379.17 | 380.03 | 0.85 | 166.6 | 1.491 | 301.2 |
| TXC25-152 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 454.06 | 454.58 | 0.52 | 45.9 | 0.611 | 101.0 |
| TXC25-153 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 439.37 | 445.10 | 5.73 | 95.8 | 0.672 | 156.4 |
| Including | 444.40 | 445.10 | 0.70 | 437.0 | 3.180 | 723.9 |
| TXC25-155 | RC/Core | Resource Expansion | 413.86 | 414.83 | 0.98 | 109.7 | 0.982 | 198.3 |
| AgEq = Ag + Au*(Factor); where Factor = (Au Price/Ag Price)*(Au Recovery/Ag Recovery or Factor=($1,900/$23)*(95%/87%)=90.21; True thickness is 50% to 70% of drill interval; Cut-off grade is 150 g/t AgEq; RC/Core = RC pre-collar with core tail; Core is core from the surface. |
The NW vein system is located along contacts between lithologic units and forms a wide anastomosing and intersecting network of veins and breccias within the West End Rhyolite package. The veins dip approximately 55 degrees to the northeast and show excellent continuity over approximately 500 metres of strike.
TXC25-124, -144, and TXC25-145 have especially wide zones above the 150 g/t AgEq cut off. TXC25-154 returned an exceptionally wide zone of low-grade over 17.1 metres with 0.154 g/t Au and 25.8 g/t Ag. These drillhole intercepts show the system has strength and ability to mineralize a large volume of rock.
The position, orientation and character of the NW vein system is consistent with the outer ring structure of the Fraction caldera marked farther south by the Merten vein. The mineralization is open to the northwest and down dip to the northeast giving ample room for additional resource expansion of the Tonopah West silver and gold system.
Geologic cross sections are being constructed to better understand the silver and gold system to the northwest. Targeting is now underway to bridge mineralization on remaining 500 metres of vein corridor to NW Step Out resource area.
Figure 1: Tonopah West showing NI 43-101 resource location and expansion potential
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/258053_79e345b1a42359cd_001full.jpg
Figure 2 is a plan map showing the location of all the drillholes in the Resource Expansion Program and highlighting those drillholes reported in this news release.
Figure 2: Drillhole location map of the Resource Expansion Program showing drillholes reported in this news release.
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/258053_79e345b1a42359cd_002full.jpg
Figure 3: Northeast-southwest oriented cross section along TXC25-145, looking northwest, showing the anastomosing vein character of the intercepts
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/676/258053_79e345b1a42359cd_003full.jpg
Table 3: Tonopah West Drillhole Location Coordinates (based on GPS readings in the field, Datum UTM, NAD 1927, Zone 11)
| Drillhole ID | Area | Program | Type | UTM_NAD27
E | UTM_NAD27
N | Elevation
(m) | Depth
(ft) | Depth
(m) | Azimuth | Dip |
| TXC24-106 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 476887.1 | 4214846.1 | 1746.6 | 2528.0 | 770.5 | 270 | -80 |
| TXC24-107 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | Lost | 476889.2 | 4214843.0 | 1746.9 | 387.0 | 118.0 | 230 | -65 |
| TXC24-108 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | Core | 476891.5 | 4214844.8 | 1747.3 | 2340.5 | 713.4 | 230 | -65 |
| TXC24-109 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 476911.1 | 4214747.8 | 1748.0 | 2157.0 | 657.5 | 270 | -80 |
| TXC24-110 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 476925.9 | 4214639.9 | 1744.1 | 2157.0 | 657.5 | 270 | -80 |
| TXC24-111 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477058.8 | 4214642.7 | 1747.6 | 2325.0 | 708.7 | 230 | -65 |
| TXC24-112 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477316.7 | 4214181.8 | 1751.9 | 2418.0 | 737.0 | 290 | -65 |
| TXC24-113 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477311.2 | 4214181.0 | 1751.7 | 1772.0 | 540.1 | 220 | -75 |
| TXC24-114 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477403.8 | 4214041.9 | 1757.9 | 2028.0 | 618.1 | 220 | -75 |
| TXC25-123 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477508.7 | 4214018.0 | 1767.1 | 1648.0 | 502.3 | 180 | -65 |
| TXC25-124 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477647.0 | 4213941.2 | 1763.5 | 1724.0 | 525.5 | 180 | -60 |
| TXC25-143 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477497.8 | 4213983.1 | 1766.9 | 1938.0 | 590.7 | 220 | -78 |
| TXC25-144 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477587.9 | 4213900.1 | 1766.1 | 2047.0 | 623.9 | 220 | -78 |
| TXC25-145 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477630.4 | 4213865.9 | 1764.5 | 1927.0 | 587.3 | 220 | -77 |
| TXC25-152 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477397.8 | 4214095.5 | 1755.0 | 2011.0 | 613.0 | 220 | -77 |
| TXC25-153 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477541.2 | 4213943.8 | 1763.7 | 1927.0 | 587.3 | 220 | -78 |
| TXC25-154 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477356.1 | 4214144.1 | 1754.0 | 2105.5 | 641.8 | 220 | -77 |
| TXC25-155 | NW Step Out | Resource Expansion | RC/Core | 477435.7 | 4214030.9 | 1758.0 | 1998.0 | 609.0 | 220 | -78 |
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 ("NI 43-101"). He 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 program at Tonopah West and the anticipated objectives and results therefrom; mineral resource expansion potential at Tonopah West, including the Company's intention to fully bridge mineralization between the DPB south resource area and the NW Step Out resource area; the completion of an updated preliminary economic assessment on 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.
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