Zacatecas Silver has initiated its 2026 diamond drilling campaign at the El Cristo Project, situated in Mexico's Zacatecas Mining District.

Major Drilling Mexico spudded the first hole and finished it last month.

The drilling reached a downhole depth of 117m at a -60° incline, targeting the downdip extension of a sulphidation vein near the surface.

A mineralised brecciated structure was encountered between 89 and 108m downhole.

Mineralisation occurs within brecciated, multi‑episode quartz veins and is hosted by a fractured, intensely silicified volcaniclastic succession of andesitic to basaltic composition.

The presence of fine dark-grey sulphide, along with sphalerite and galena, and some chalcopyrite, characterises the zone.

The observed vein textures and mineral assemblages match those expected in the shallowest levels of silver, base metal, intermediate-sulphidation epithermal vein systems in the district.

Rock-chip sampling of waste dumps surrounding artisanal workings at El Cristo indicates that the highest silver grades are closely linked to the presence of galena and sphalerite.

The company is in the process of sampling this hole and plans to send the samples to ALS in Zacatecas.

Zacatecas Silver CEO and director Eric Vanderleeuw said: “Intersecting the vein system with visible sulphides in our very first hole is exactly what we were aiming for, the presence of galena and sphalerite confirms we are in a fertile, mineralised system with clear potential for high-grade silver.

“This is an outstanding start, and we are eager to build on this momentum as the drill programme progresses.”

The company’s two key projects are the Zacatecas Silver Project and the Esperanza Gold Project, both in Mexico.