The company said one hole, designed to grow its existing resource, visually identified two significant sulphide zones at the project's Tom's Lode prospect. The intercepts include a 12.9-metre zone containing 20 per cent semi-massive sulphides from 347.6 metres downhole, and a separate 8.5-metre hit of stringer and disseminated sulphides from 326 metres.
While assays are yet to confirm grade, Orbit said the visual sulphide assemblage is encouraging, comprising pyrite, sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and galena, the key ore minerals for zinc, copper and lead.
"The current drilling program is focused on increasing geological confidence within the existing mineral resource," said managing director Jeneta Owens.
The drilling forms part of a four-hole, 1500-metre campaign at the 148-square-kilometre project near Orange. The hole that delivered the sulphide hits is still in progress; once complete, the rig will move on to test Spicer's Lode to the north. The campaign aims to increase confidence in the existing mineral resource, potentially converting inferred tonnes to the indicated category, and will provide core for metallurgical test work.
A second hole has been completed to a depth of 400.2 metres, extending drilling into the Lewis Ponds footwall. Samples have been sent to the lab, with results expected in the fourth quarter of this year.
The company has also flown a drone aeromag survey across Lewis Ponds and its exploration corridor, including the fresh Cousin Jack discovery. The 40-metre line spacing program is expected to provide data far superior to historical datasets, with validation and processing now underway.