CuFe Ltd (ASX:CUF) has wrapped up an intensive review of its Tennant Creek Copper-Gold Project in the Northern Territory, identifying four high-priority exploration targets aimed at expanding CuFe’s global copper resources.
CuFe executive director Mark Hancock said: “With the ongoing exploration success of other juniors in the region, the sustained improvement in the copper market and historical highs in the gold price we have initiated a detailed technical review of our Tennant Creek project.
“The aim is to expand existing resources and highlight the exploration potential remaining in the area.”
Targets for drilling
With the results of this review in its back pocket, the company now has a high-priority list of key areas for immediate exploration and potential resource growth.
The review, conducted by technical consultant John Dobe, a geologist with more than 30 years of experience, provided a comprehensive assessment of heritage and regulatory approvals necessary for the near-term, 5,000-metre drill program.
The findings also indicated the potential to expand the Orlando resource based on existing drilling and historical underground data.
John Dobe’s audit and consolidation of historical geological and geophysical databases led to the identification of significant exploration targets.
The review categorised targets within the Gecko and Orlando corridors into four categories:
- resource extensions and infill;
- near resource/brownfields;
- target delineation; and
- grassroots/generative.
Five high-priority targets were identified in the Orlando Corridor, with two specifically earmarked for immediate attention. These targets include resource extensions within the underground Orlando resource and areas adjacent to the open pit.
The existing data supports the extension of copper and gold mineralisation from the current open pit into the historical underground workings.
Orlando and Gecko
MEC consulting's review confirmed drill hole data that supports further mineralisation within the Orlando Corridor.
As a result, an immediate workstream has been put together to develop the Orlando deposit, using drill hole data and grade control drilling from open pit mining and historic drilling.
In the Gecko Corridor, two key high-priority targets, FSSZ (Footwall Structural Shear Zone) and L25S Resource Extension, were picked out.
FSSZ is a copper-dominated trend along the southern margin of the Gecko Corridor, initially identified in 2017, while L25S, with mineralisation lying south of the current L25 resource, requires close-out drilling to confirm its potential.
Exploration this year
CuFe's plan for the 2025 financial year is to work on parallel workstreams on high-priority targets defined by the review.
The company will conduct resource modelling of the Orlando and L25S resources, third-party geophysical reviews of historical surveys, and heritage and land access reviews for target areas.
The execution of the drill program and planning for medium-priority targets are also part of the strategy.
“We have developed a detailed suite of targets that we can translate to on-ground exploration with an initial drill program to be executed post heritage and regulatory approvals,” Hancock continued.
“We see a lot of potential to add resources to underpin the future recommencement of mining in this world-class mineral field.”