Barton Gold Extends High-Grade Silver Strike Past 500m at Tolmer

Barton is revising the 3.1 million ounce Tunkillia silver resource, where 58,000 metres of drilling was recently completed to support a resource upgrade, pre-feasibility study, mining lease application and financing discussions.

The shallow, broad nature of the Tolmer intercepts – many starting within 60 metres of surface – suggests the deposit could support a low strip ratio, a key input for margin in open-pit scenarios. The 100,000 g/t silver concentrate produced in test work is an order of magnitude above typical flotation concentrates, which usually grade 5,000–15,000 g/t. If repeatable at scale, that grade could materially reduce processing costs and transport volumes.

Barton’s South Australian portfolio now includes two silver deposits – Tolmer and Tunkillia – with the potential to feed a central processing hub or operate independently. The 58,000-metre program at Tunkillia is expected to feed into a resource upgrade and pre-feasibility study, with a mining lease application also in the pipeline.

Further metallurgical work on Tolmer will be a key catalyst. Composite samples from the latest drilling are being prepared for a full test program that will determine recovery rates, concentrate grade consistency and the viability of a standalone operation. Petrology and structural studies are also underway to refine the geological model.

For a junior explorer, the combination of shallow depth, high grades and an expanding footprint is unusual. The next milestones – the Tunkillia resource upgrade and Tolmer metallurgical results – will determine whether Barton can translate these intercepts into a development story that attracts a broader investor base.