West Coast Silver (ASX: WCE) has appointed Sergei (Serge) Smolonogov as technical director – growth & development, effective immediately, as drilling continues at its flagship Elizabeth Hill Silver Project.
Smolonogov is a Licensed/Registered Professional Geologist with more than 30 years’ experience across Australia, Africa, Europe, Russia and North America, including senior roles with Adriatic Metals, KAZ Minerals and Barrick.
The company highlighted his involvement in advancing high-grade systems from discovery through to feasibility and production, including the Rupice Ag-Pb-Zn-Au-Cu deposit, and prior leadership roles at Adriatic Metals and KAZ Minerals.
“Serge’s appointment significantly strengthens our technical capability at a critical stage of growth for West Coast Silver. Recent drilling has returned exceptional results, including 27 metres at 1,314 grams per tonne (g/t) Ag (Diamond Hole 14), underscoring the high-grade and near-surface nature of mineralisation at Elizabeth Hill. Serge’s experience in advancing high-grade systems from discovery to development will be instrumental in accelerating resource growth and unlocking the broader district-scale potential.”
Technical focus: structural targeting and drill efficiency
Smolonogov will lead technical work aimed at improving structural interpretation to identify high-grade shoots, lifting drill targeting efficiency, and driving step-out and depth-extension drilling, supported by updated geological modelling.
The appointment is intended to strengthen the company’s capability to accelerate high-grade resource expansion at Elizabeth Hill and support its broader strategy across the Elizabeth Hill–Munni Munni corridor.
“Elizabeth Hill presents a compelling high-grade opportunity with clear scope for expansion along strike and at depth. I look forward to applying a systematic, structurally driven approach to further unlock value across the project and surrounding district,” Smolonogov said.
Project backdrop: historically high-grade silver mine
Elizabeth Hill is described as one of Australia’s historically highest-grade silver mines, having produced 1.2 Moz of silver from 16,830 t of ore at an average grade of 2,194 g/t Ag.
Mining ceased in 2000 amid low silver prices of US$5/oz, with the deposit said to remain open at depth across a consolidated 180 km² land package.