Helix Resources Ltd (ASX:HLX) has further evidence of the copper discovery potential of the Bijoux prospect in the minerals-rich Cobar-Nyngan area of central New South Wales with copper mineralisation observed in seven reverse-circulation (RC) drill holes.
In one hole, BJRC012, 25 metres of oxide-copper mineralisation with weak to strong malachite was observed from 49 metres.
Also providing encouragement were holes BJRC010 and BJRC013 in which weak to strong chalcopyrite veins up to 5% were observed – 4 metres from 183 metres in the former and 8 metres from 143 metres in the latter.
Importantly, sulphide-copper (chalcopyrite) mineralisation has been intersected for the first time by following up on oxide intercepts.
“Positive, early results”
Helix’s executive technical director Kylie Prendergast said: “Last week we reported numerous new copper anomalies emerging along the Rochford trend due to recent geochemical and geophysical work by the company. This week we can report positive, early results from drill testing of one of those targets – the Bijoux copper prospect.
"Our geologists have observed widespread, intervals of ‘oxide-copper’ minerals – which are generally the near-surface weathered versions of ‘fresh sulphide-copper’ mineralisation occurring deeper. The drilling has also hit some sulphide-copper intervals further validating our interpretation.”
Bijoux drilling
Drill testing of the Bijoux target in the southern Rochford Trend was recently completed with nine RC holes for 1,716 metres and the company has observed copper in seven of those holes.
Two holes followed up on anomalous copper intercepts in two holes from 2020 and the remaining seven holes were drilled within the recently updated Bijoux copper anomaly.
The visual observations outline a 140-metre NNW-trending mineralised zone that dips steeply to the north-northeast and is open to the north and at depth, and is in the core of a 1.6-kilometre-long copper soil anomaly.
Chalcopyrite mineralisation in hole BJRC010 from 185 to 186 metres.
Sulphide marker
The oxide copper is shallow and may have economic potential in its own right, subject to further work. However, Helix says it is an excellent ‘marker’ toward potential deeper, fresh sulphide copper mineralisation and this mineralisation remains open to the north and at depth.
Drilling has now been paused to conduct downhole geophysics to enable the next drill program to vector toward sulphide copper mineralisation highlighted by the oxide intercepts.
"These are highly encouraging results, but we need to pause the drilling to utilise downhole geophysics and the drill assays to enable us to better vector the next round of drilling into primary copper mineralisation that we are targeting,” Prendergast said.
Substantiates method
These preliminary drill results substantiate the company’s methodical, multi-element focused exploration strategy and support the company’s strategy to drill test numerous new copper targets.
"As Mike, a baseball fan, stated during the AGM presentation ‘we are loading the bases’ by building up a large number of copper targets,” Prendergast added.
“These results bode well for the major drill program we are planning for 2024 to test many of these new, multi-faceted targets and ‘score some runs’ for shareholders.
"We look forward to providing further updates on our progress toward making new copper discoveries in the Cobar region.”