Blende Silver Corp. (TSX.V: BAG) (OTC: BAGGF) announced it has engaged Ronacher McKenzie Geoscience Inc. ("RMG"), a Canadian geoscience consulting firm, to complete an integrated geological, geochemical, and geophysical interpretation and targeting program at its 100%-owned Blende Silver-Zinc-Lead Project in north-central Yukon. The engagement follows compelling initial results from a 3D induced polarization (IP) survey that the company conducted over a portion of the project.
The survey was designed to calibrate the geophysical signature over the known West Zone mineralization, which anchors the company's existing mineral resource, and to test for potential extensions and new targets. Key observations from the preliminary data include a strong correlation between the IP chargeability response over the West Zone and the known silver-zinc-lead mineralization, providing a reliable calibration benchmark. More significantly, multiple untested chargeability anomalies were identified, notably in the Lower Central Zone and New Mountain Top areas, which appear to be several times larger than the West Zone response.
The Lower Central Zone anomaly and the New Mountain Top anomaly both extend to the edges of the surveyed grid, suggesting potential for greater extent beyond current coverage. Historical drilling in the Central Zone, which consisted of 13 holes drilled along the ridge toward the East Zone, appears to have been positioned between two distinct chargeability anomalies rather than directly testing the strongest responses. These findings suggest potential for greater system scale and continuity, including possible extensions of mineralization from the West Zone through the Central Zone toward the East Zone.
"The 3D IP survey appears to have delivered a clear calibration at the West Zone while revealing multiple untested chargeability anomalies notably larger in scale," said Andrew H. Rees, President and CEO. He added that RMG's work will help the company better understand mineralization controls, assess potential continuity between known zones, and prioritize technically supported targets for future exploration.
RMG will compile and integrate the company's historical geological, geochemical, and drilling data with the new 3D IP results. The program includes geophysical quality control, integrated 3D interpretation, and identification of high-priority targets. Deliverables will include a 3D data workspace, technical report, and presentation, expected within approximately eight weeks.
The Blende Project hosts the largest carbonate-hosted silver-zinc-lead deposit in the Yukon, according to a 1995 publication in Economic Geology by M. Robinson and C.I. Godwin. A 2021 mineral resource estimate (prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 at a 1.5% ZnEq cutoff) outlines a substantial system, including measured and indicated resources of 7.6 million tonnes grading 30.6 g/t silver, 2.07% zinc, and 0.88% lead, and inferred resources of 4.3 million tonnes grading 26.4 g/t silver, 1.74% zinc, and 0.70% lead.
Historical exploration defined the East and West Zones, two primary mineralized zones approximately two kilometers apart along a >6 km corridor. The new 3D IP data provides important context for evaluating potential continuity and overall scale of the mineralized system. With permitting progress advancing, the company is positioning for systematic exploration, and the integrated interpretation from RMG will guide future programs, including a potential update to the mineral resource estimate. The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Sarah Palmer, P.Geo., an independent Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
