Black Bear Minerals (ASX: BKB) has reported exceptional high-grade silver, zinc, and lead results from reconnaissance rock chip sampling at its Shafter silver project in Texas.
The samples, all collected outside the existing 17.6-million-ounce foreign mineral resource estimate (MRE), returned grades up to 3,100 grams per tonne silver.
The company said the results demonstrate strong multi-commodity potential and highlight high-priority targets for upcoming exploration.
High-Grade Rock Chip Results
Black Bear – which recently changed its name from James Bay Minerals upon completion of the Shafter acquisition – collected 72 reconnaissance samples across the central part of the project area.
10 of these samples exceeded 200g/t silver, five exceeded 1% zinc, and eight exceeded 1% lead.
The standout assay returned 3,100g/t silver, 4.5% zinc and 6% lead, confirming the presence of high-grade surface mineralisation outside the current mineral resource envelope.
Chief executive officer Mr Dennis Lindgren said the results “highlight Shafter’s enviable growth potential and development optionality given existing resource and infrastructure.”
Extension Targets Around Presidio Mine
Sampling confirmed surface mineralisation extending at least 370 metres both north and south of the Presidio Mine, with mineralisation remaining open in both directions.
Historical drilling in these areas was sparse or inadequately sampled, meaning large portions of the newly identified mineralisation were not captured in previous resource modelling.
Black Bear Minerals said the from-surface position of the mineralisation positions the area as a strong candidate for assessing open-pit development options.
Although the existing foreign mineral resource is defined solely for silver, the new assay dataset shows consistent zinc, lead and gold anomalism associated with manto-style carbonate replacement mineralisation.
Broader Polymetallic Potential
Black Bear plans to conduct additional sampling and re-analysis of historical core to assess whether broader polymetallic content is economically significant, which would potentially provide additional avenues for resource growth.
The company, which remains well-funded following a A$30 million placement, will expand surface sampling across the Mina Grande Formation to assess potential resource growth at shallow depth.
It will also conduct systematic sampling within the historical Presidio mine workings to quantify mineralisation that remains inside drift and stope walls but is excluded from the current resource.
Further work will include reviewing historical drill core and mapping the overlying Cretaceous sediments to assess the potential for additional mineralisation above the main manto horizon.
