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For decades, the Walton Mine stood as one of Canada’s most significant polymetallic producers, generating over C$2.5billion in value (2025 dollars) from exceptionally high-grade ore. While the operation was primarily focused on barite, it also reported remarkably high silver values, including drill and underground results of up to 185 oz/t Ag(approximately 5,754 g/t Ag).

Despite this historic production, Walton was never fully understood as part of a larger mineralized system.

A High-Grade System, Only Partially Tested

Mining at Walton extended to depths of approximately 500 metres before operations ceased in the late 1970s due to flooding. It is important to note there was considerable ore left in situ. At the time, exploration and mining efforts were largely focused on near-surface and accessible zones, typical of the era’s approach.

Historical drill results highlight the strength of the system:

• 5,245 g/t Ag and 0.6% Cu over 12.8metres (DDH 174 at 210m)
• 1,233 g/t Ag and 0.9% Cu over 24.1metres (DDH 210 at 260m)

These intercepts demonstrate the presence of a robust, high-grade mineralizing system. However, they also raise a fundamental question:

Was Walton Mine the main mineralized body, or simply a higher-level expression of a much larger system?

A Modern Geological Reinterpretation

Recent work at the Sturgis–Walton Project has focused on answering that question.

Through the integration of historical data, modern geophysics, and updated structural modeling, TruSilver has developed a new interpretation of the district. The Walton deposit is a structurally controlled, sub-vertical, stratabound, carbonate-hosted replacement system. Based on the understanding of the Irish Deposits, where there is one mineralized body there are likely more.The geophysical footprint of the wider system suggests a larger deeper root to the system approximately  800 metres to the south of the Walton Mine with a further along strike anomalous trend of 800 metres.

This reinterpretation suggests that the original mining targeted only a portion of the system, with the deeper source of mineralization remaining largely untested.

Nova Scotia has been recognized as geologically analogous to Irish-type deposits, with similar structural controls and mineralizing processes. As noted by Dr. Murray Hitzman of iCRAG, “Nova Scotia has exactly Irish-type deposits,” reinforcing the potential for large-scale, structurally controlled systems in the region.

The Sturgis Target: Testing the System Trunk

TruSilver’s focus has shifted to the Sturgis target, located along a 2-kilometre sub-vertical structural trend south of the historic Walton Mine.

Recent work has significantly advanced the understanding of this target:

• 2023 drilling intersected mineralization within a 20-metre-wide siderite and manganese-rich alteration envelope, including:
  
  • 150 g/t AgEq over 0.6 metres
  • 110 g/t AgEq over 5.1 metres
• 2024 geophysical surveys identified a strong, large-scale deep anomaly aligned with the broader structural trend

Together, these results support the interpretation that mineralization is not isolated, but part of a continuous and structurally controlled system extending at depth.

Importantly, the Sturgis target is interpreted to represent the main feeder or “trunk” of the system, with Walton representing a higher-level offshoot that reached surface.

A Systematic Approach to Discovery

TruSilver has advanced the Sturgis–Walton Project through a disciplined and data-driven exploration process. Over $550,000 in modern technical work has been completed to refine targets and reduce geological uncertainty.

The project now consists of approximately 1,133 hectares, is 100% owned by TruSilver, and carries no underlying royalties.

With permits in place, the next phase of drilling is designed to test the deeper portions of the system, where the source of the high-grade mineralization observed at Walton is interpreted to originate.

Looking Forward

The Walton Mine demonstrated the presence of a high-grade mineral system. Today, modern exploration techniques and geological understanding provide an opportunity to test that system at depth and along strike.

While exploration remains inherently uncertain, the combination of historical production, strong grades, modern geophysics, and a refined structural model has defined a compelling target for further drilling.

TruSilver’s approach is focused on systematically testing this target to better understand the scale and continuity of mineralization within the district.