Advance Metals Ltd (ASX:AVM) says new drilling at its 100%-owned Yoquivo silver-gold project in Mexico has delivered a broad, higher-grade intersection that could support a larger-scale development concept, as the company works toward a near-term JORC resource update.
The standout result came from a “scissor” step-out hole in the central Pertenencia zone, drilled in the opposite direction to earlier holes to test geometry and continuity. Hole YQ-26-018 returned 67.88 metres at 134 grams per tonne (g/t) AgEq (68 g/t Ag, 0.9 g/t Au) from 305.9 metres, including 23.89 metres at 257 g/t AgEq (123 g/t Ag, 1.7 g/t Au) from 346.9 metres.
The hole also hit a second mineralised zone of 9.67 metres at 108 g/t AgEq from 418.13 metres, including 2.0 metres at 259 g/t AgEqfrom 427.8 metres.
Schematic cross section (±37.5m, looking north-northeast) through the central portion of Pertenencia showing previous drilling and highlighting selected broad intervals (purple) defined following the recent resampling program. An approximate outline of the existing Foreign Estimate, along with significant downhole intersections for new oblique drill hole YQ-26018 (red bars) are also shown.
Managing director and CEO Dr Adam McKinnon said the opposing drill orientation strengthens confidence in continuity at Pertenencia and supports a shift in thinking beyond a narrow-vein underground focus.
“These results represent a potential inflection point for Yoquivo. The confirmation of broad, high-grade silver-gold mineralisation from opposing drill orientations significantly strengthens our confidence in the emerging resource potential at Pertenencia.”
“Importantly, the scale and continuity now being demonstrated supports a reassessment of development scenarios beyond the original narrow vein underground concept.”
“With drilling continuing across multiple prospects and a resource upgrade expected within weeks, Yoquivo is rapidly evolving into a scalable silver-gold development opportunity with multiple growth pathways.”
Regional drilling broadens the pipeline beyond Pertenencia
The latest intercepts build on AVM's historic core resampling program, which identified multiple broad mineralised zones and prompted the company to consider bulk-tonnage potential alongside the project’s high-grade underground opportunity.
Sulphide-hematite-quartz-carbonate breccia that forms part of the broad mineralised interval in YQ-26-018. This interval graded 0.74m at 572g/t Ag & 10.0g/t Au from 354.64m.
Elsewhere, shallow extensional drilling at Esperanza—about 2.7 kilometres west of Pertenencia—has expanded the footprint of silver-gold mineralisation, with the company reporting it has doubled the strike extent. Results included 10.4 metres at 102 g/t AgEq from 120.6 metres in YQ-26-014, including 2.45 metres at 204 g/t AgEq, while YQ-26-013 returned 1.82 metres at 231 g/t AgEq from 178.73 metres.
At San Francisco, around 700 metres west of Pertenencia, Advance reported narrower intersections including 1.3 metres at 183 g/t AgEq from 122.4 metres in YQ-26-011 (including 0.3 metres at 727 g/t AgEq) and 3.85 metres at 90 g/t AgEq from 199.65 metres in YQ-26-012 (including 0.3 metres at 333 g/t AgEq).
What’s next
Drilling is continuing across Yoquivo with assays pending for multiple holes, while an updated JORC Mineral Resource Estimate is expected in late March 2026.
The company also plans to further evaluate bulk-tonnage open-pit potential in addition to the established high-grade underground opportunity, alongside ongoing regional exploration targeting additional vein systems.