Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) has wrapped up a reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at King Solomon and Python copper-gold prospects at the Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project in north-western Queensland and started an induced polarisation survey (IP).
A total of 19 reverse circulation holes for 2,816 metres was completed on a range of targets at King Solomon 1, King Solomon 2, Python and the Camp gossan.
Extended mineralisation
At King Solomon 1, RC drilling continues to extend mineralisation, intersecting three separate zones of copper sulphides in the northern part of the prospect including, in visual estimates only:
- 20 metres of disseminated sulphides (1-3% sulphides) from 46 metres, composed of approximately 60% chalcopyrite and 40% pyrite (western zone);
- 7 metres of disseminated sulphides (1-6% sulphides) from 94 metres composed of approximately 60% chalcopyrite and 40% pyrite (middle zone); and
- 12 metres of trace to disseminated sulphides (0.5 to 2% sulphides) from 148 metres composed of approximately 50% chalcopyrite and 50% pyrite (main shear).
The continuity of the western zone needs further drill testing and an IP survey is underway to help evaluate its potential.
Drilling is now complete and the company has submitted more than 600 1-metre drill samples to the laboratory, with first assay results expected in December.
Survey to search deeper
An induced polarisation (IP) survey has started at King Solomon 1 to search deeper (200-metres plus) beyond the range of the current drilling, to assess the depth potential of the copper-gold mineralisation prior to any follow-up drill testing.
“The November drill program has been successful in finding new zones of mineralisation at King Solomon 1 and 2,” managing director Ian Warland said.
“The potential of this new mineralisation will continue to be assessed at depth with IP ahead of any more planned drilling. The first batch of drill samples is in the laboratory on rush and we expect results in December including the results for the new western zone intersected in hole 22MERC055.
“Now just 12 months on from Cooper listing on the ASX, we have completed over 60 drill holes, many of which have intersected copper-gold mineralisation, and we have also generated an enviable pipeline of targets thorough the use of VTEM, ground geophysics and geochemistry which we will continue to test through 2023 and beyond.
“I look forward to updating the market as the new assay results and results of the IP survey come to hand.”