Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) has struck 60 metres of visual disseminated sulphide mineralisation in drilling at the Brumby Ridge prospect of the Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project in northwest Queensland.
The drilling program consisted of four diamond holes over 1,054 metres and a further five reverse circulation (RC) holes for 1,044 metres, producing about 500 drill samples for the laboratory’s analysis, with results expected late in April.
Of the five RC holes, three were scissor holes drilled on the same section as previous hole 23MERC028, which returned 71 metres at 2.8% copper, and it was from this zone that the 60-metre intersection of sulphide mineralisation was observed.
More exploration drilling to come
“At Brumby Ridge, scissor hole 24MERC003 drilled on the same section as 23MERC028 and intersected an over 60-metre-long length of disseminated visual sulphides,” Cooper Metals managing director Ian Warland said.
“Drill hole 24MERC003 appears to have intersected a narrow mineralised fault breccia zone which crosscuts the main mineralised north-northwest trending quartz-carbonate vein.
“We have engaged a consultant to help review the Brumby Ridge data in detail as the assays are received in late April.
“Rain has temporarily halted drilling before we head back out later this month to test four prospects in the area, including the untested Mafic Sweats North which has a combined geophysical and geochemical anomaly.
“We will provide more detail once drilling is back underway and as assay results are received for Brumby Ridge.”
While visual estimates are only approximations, Cooper estimates 24MERC003 contains about 5 metres of laminated sulphides (5-10% sulphide) from 89 metres of depth and a further 67 metres of disseminated sulphides (1-2% sulphides) from there.
The company has engaged consultants to review the drill data from this latest program as part of a detailed assessment of the copper grade and size potential at Brumby Ridge.
Drilling is on hold due to wet weather but the company will soon resume a regional RC program of about 14 holes across 2,200 metres over prospects including Raven, Yarraman, Mafic Sweats South and Mafic Sweats North.