Maiden Drilling at Los Lirios Could Make or Break EV Resources’ Production Timeline

A Strategic Milestone for EV Resources

EV Resources (ASX – EVR) is gearing up to commence its maiden diamond drilling program at the Los Lirios antimony project in Oaxaca, Mexico, a move that signals a critical transition from surface exploration to subsurface resource definition. Scheduled for early January 2026, the fully funded 1,500 to 2,000-metre drill campaign aims to unlock the scale potential of this high-grade project and lay the groundwork for near-term production.

Targeting the Lirios Fault Zone

The drilling will focus on approximately 900 metres of strike length within the broader 4-kilometre Lirios Fault Zone, a structural corridor known for its high-grade antimony mineralisation. EV Resources plans to test both structural veins and carbonate-replacement bodies, which geological mapping suggests are prime hosts for mineralisation. This initial phase targets extensions beneath historical artisanal pits, where surface sampling has already indicated promising grades.

Fully Funded and On Track

With logistics and planning finalized, the program is contingent only on final regulatory clearance from SEMARNAT, Mexico’s environmental authority. The company’s Managing Director and CEO, Mike Brown, emphasised the importance of this drilling as the first test of the Los Lirios system, highlighting its role in underpinning a maiden JORC resource expected in the third quarter of 2026. This resource estimate will be a key value inflection point, potentially accelerating EVR’s path toward production.

Broader 2026 Exploration and Production Plans

The maiden drilling program is just the opening act in what EV Resources describes as an intensive 2026 exploration campaign. Alongside drilling, the company is advancing refurbishment of the nearby Tecomatlán processing plant, which offers a low-capital expenditure route to cash flow. Together, these initiatives position EVR to fast-track its antimony development strategy, addressing critical mineral supply chain demands from markets including the US, EU, and Australia.

Geological Insights Informing the Campaign

EVR’s detailed geological work has identified two distinct mineralisation styles – quartz-stibnite veining along the Lirios Fault Zone and sub-horizontal carbonate-replacement bodies beneath a gypsum layer acting as a fluid barrier. Drill orientations have been carefully selected to intersect these targets optimally, reflecting a sophisticated understanding of the structural geology that could enhance the likelihood of significant discoveries.