Bunker Hill Drilling Doubles Cate-8 Discovery Target

Bunker Hill Mining Corp. said its underground drilling program at the Idaho silver-lead-zinc mine has doubled the estimated size of the Cate-8 target. The company reported new intercepts 8.1 feet at 18.82 oz/ton silver, with individual samples reaching 27.1 oz/ton silver, 35.7% lead, and 15.7% zinc.

Updated modeling shows a 100% increase in prospective tonnage and grade. At a 50 g/t AgEq cut-off, the Cate-8 target model now includes 337,000 tons at 6.17 oz/ton silver equivalent, containing 2.08 million ounces of AgEq metal.

CEO Sam Ash said the results are “beyond the boundaries of the existing resource footprint.”

“From here, additional drilling will be required, as we aim to establish an additional zone of mineralization that can supplement the current production profile, and we believe that the success achieved to date positions us well to deliver an initial resource estimate before year-end, with the potential for inclusion in our production plan and full-year guidance for 2027.”

The company has completed 21 holes totaling 7,350 feet. All holes intercepted visible galena, with sphalerite common along vein margins. The Cate-8 target is a hybrid vein type that combines Bluebird zinc mineralization with Galena-Quartz silver-lead mineralization. Geologic modeling shows the vein is not cut off by the regional Cate Fault, which the company said could increase potential tonnage.

Bunker Hill expects to deliver an initial resource estimate for the Cate-8 zone by the end of 2026. The company is targeting commercial production at the mine by the end of the same year.