Maiden Re(US:MHLD) Prnewswire·2025-06-17 10:00Core Insights - Kootenay Silver Inc. has completed its maiden Mineral Resource Estimate for the Columba Silver Project, indicating a significant silver exploration target with an inferred resource of 54 million ounces of silver at a grade of 284 grams per tonne (gpt) [1][2][6] Resource Estimate Details - The underground Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) includes 5.92 million tonnes grading 284 gpt silver, 0.19% lead, and 0.50% zinc, with a total inferred resource of 54.1 million ounces of silver, 25.2 million pounds of lead, and 65.6 million pounds of zinc [5][7][10] - The MRE is based on a cut-off grade of 150 gpt silver, considering a metal price of US$26.00 per ounce and a mining cost of US$60.00 per tonne of rock [5][19] Exploration Potential - The D vein is highlighted as a target for significant expansion, with potential to extend vertically and along strike, indicating strong prospects for increasing the resource in future drilling programs [3][6] - The company plans to conduct an additional 50,000 meters of drilling, with the initial 20,000 to 30,000 meters focused on expanding the known resource [4][6] Geological Context - The Columba project is characterized as a high-grade epithermal vein system, with mineralization occurring over a vertical extent of at least 350 meters and potential depths exceeding 700 meters [14][15] - The veins are hosted within a volcanic caldera setting, with a mapped surface extent of approximately 4 kilometers by 3 kilometers [15][16] Historical Context - Prior to Kootenay Silver's involvement, there had been no exploration at Columba for nearly 40 years, with historical mining activities occurring in the early 1900s and a brief period from 1958 to 1960 [18]