WCE west coast silver limited

Don't shoot the messenger on this, as it is deep research AI—a...

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    Don't shoot the messenger on this, as it is deep research AI—a tool that I am increasingly using in my investment research. Here's what it had to say when I fed the full announcement into it and asked it to give global context.

    Technical Analysis of Drill Results

    The silver grades reported from the Elizabeth Hill project are exceptional by global standards. The highest intersection of 6,951 g/t silver over 2 meters represents approximately 223 ounces per tonne, which places this discovery among the highest-grade silver intersections reported globally in recent years. To provide context, most commercial silver mines operate with grades between 100-500 g/t silver, while high-grade operations typically range from 500-1,000 g/t silver. The reported intercepts significantly exceed these benchmarks.

    The broader intersections also demonstrate substantial continuity, with hole 25WCDD001 returning 5 meters at 2,822 g/t silver (90.7 oz/t) from 26 meters depth, and hole 25WCDD002 intersecting 12 meters at 153 g/t silver from surface. The near-surface nature of these intersections is particularly significant from a mining perspective, as it suggests potential for low-cost, open-pit extraction methods that could enhance project economics.

    Structural and Geological Context

    The geological interpretation reveals that the silver mineralization occurs within a hydrothermal vein system associated with polymetallic mineralization including copper, lead, and zinc. This polymetallic nature could provide additional revenue streams and improve overall project economics. The presence of chalcopyrite, galena, arsenopyrite, and sphalerite indicates a well-developed hydrothermal system that often correlates with significant metal endowment.

    Core recovery exceeded 95% with successful core orientation, allowing for detailed structural measurements that will be crucial for understanding ore body continuity and mining geometry. The systematic logging approach being employed demonstrates professional geological practices that are essential for resource definition and mine planning.

    Global Comparative Analysis

    When compared to recent high-grade silver discoveries worldwide, the Elizabeth Hill results rank among the most impressive. For reference, major silver discoveries in recent years have typically reported initial intercepts in the range of 200-800 g/t silver over similar widths. The Bayhorse Silver project in Idaho, USA, has reported grades of 1,200-2,000 g/t silver, while Mexico's Santa Elena project has intersected zones of 400-600 g/t silver over broader intervals.

    The Elizabeth Hill results, particularly the 6,951 g/t intersection, exceed most comparable early-stage discoveries. However, the true significance will depend on the continuity and consistency of these grades across the broader deposit, which will only be determined through additional drilling and subsequent resource estimation.

    Historical Production Context

    The project benefits from a proven production history, having previously produced 1.2 million ounces of silver from just 16,830 tonnes of ore at an average grade of 2,194 g/t silver. This historical context provides confidence that high-grade silver mineralization exists within an economically extractable framework. The previous operation utilized simple gravity separation techniques for native silver recovery, suggesting relatively straightforward metallurgical processing requirements.

    The cessation of mining in 2000 was attributed to low silver prices (US$5 per ounce), compared to current silver prices of approximately US$24-26 per ounce, which significantly improves the economic outlook for potential redevelopment.

    Technical Limitations and Risk Factors

    A critical limitation in the current assessment is that all reported results are based on portable XRF readings, which the company appropriately acknowledges should not be considered proxy for quantitative laboratory analyses. Portable XRF instruments, while useful for field screening, can produce readings that vary significantly from certified laboratory assays, particularly for high-grade samples where matrix effects and instrument limitations become more pronounced.

    The company has dispatched half-core samples to ALS Global laboratories for confirmatory analysis, with results expected in 6-8 weeks. The variance between pXRF and laboratory results could be substantial, and investors should await these certified results before making definitive assessments of grade quality and continuity.

    Limited Drilling Database

    With only two holes completed from the inaugural program, the current dataset is extremely limited for making robust geological interpretations or resource estimates. While both holes intersected significant mineralization, the spacing between holes (approximately 12 meters apart based on collar locations) provides insufficient coverage to assess ore body continuity or define geological controls.

    The project requires substantial additional drilling to establish mineral resource estimates that comply with international reporting standards such as JORC or NI 43-101. Early-stage exploration projects typically require 50-100+ drill holes before meaningful resource estimates can be calculated.

 
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