Rapid Critical Metals Ltd (ASX:RCM) has received approval for a 2,000-metre diamond drilling program at its flagship Webbs Silver Project in northern New South Wales, setting the stage for significant resource growth and exploration upside. The drilling program, set to begin in two weeks at Webbs South, aims to enhance resource classification, expand inventory and test new high-priority targets.
The approval follows the company's recent acquisition of the NSW silver portfolio, and it marks the first major step in Rapid's broader exploration strategy for its newly consolidated silver assets in the prolific New England Fold Belt.
Recently granted ELA 6911 (in yellow), showing Webbs Silver Project (in green), peer tenements (in dark blue), and potential silver trends (in light blue).
The drill campaign is designed to achieve multiple objectives, including upgrading the resource to JORC 2025 compliance, improving geological confidence, and targeting both southern extensions and a promising new parallel lode to the west.
Targeting resource upgrades and new lode discoveries
The drilling targets are underpinned by data from a June 2025 microgravity survey that revealed multiple gravity anomalies west of the existing resource, interpreted as potential parallel lodes.
Geophysics confirm structurally controlled silver, polymetallic system at Webbs CBA data highlights two distinct density zones separated by a north–south lithological boundary aligned with mineralisation, with several gravity highs intersecting the western domain.
LiDAR imaging and field mapping have further confirmed the presence of mineralised reefs extending both north and south along the strike of the mineralised structure, expanding the potential scale of the project.
Byron Miles, managing director of Rapid Critical Metals, emphasised the company's quick move to capitalise on the new discoveries.
“With drilling now approved and high-priority targets in hand, we’re moving quickly to unlock the upside potential of the Webbs Silver Project,” Mile said.
“Our immediate focus is on upgrading and expanding the resource, but we’re equally excited by the potential for new discoveries in this underexplored silver corridor,” he added. “This is an important step in building a robust silver inventory and delivering near-term exploration catalysts for shareholders.”
Expanding resource potential and exploring new targets
The Webbs Silver Project is in a highly prospective region, where the known mineralisation is associated with a major north-south trending structure. The new LiDAR and gravity data suggest that this structure continues along strike and could host several additional untapped targets.
Lidar shows historic workings which support multiple drill targets and strong potential for extensions along strike. Potential presence of structures crossing the known mineralisation at oblique angles may be prospective targets. Newly identified reef extensions and historical workings, significant increase in understanding of the scale of structure associated with mineralisation.
The western domain, previously poorly tested, is now a focal point for the upcoming drilling program, with the potential to dramatically expand the known mineralised footprint.
This drilling approval is part of Rapid's renewed growth focus across its silver assets, with further exploration planned at the Webbs and Conrads Silver Projects. The company’s portfolio is further anchored by the Prophet River Gallium-Germanium Project in Canada.
As Rapid continues to build momentum, the Webbs Silver Project remains a key asset, with significant upside potential for both resource growth and new discoveries, as the company looks to deliver value for shareholders in the coming months.