Helix Resources Ltd (ASX:HLX) is set to resume drilling at the Bijoux copper project in central New South Wales, with a follow-up reverse-circulation (RC) drill program planned to test recently defined high tenor copper zones within the larger Bijoux auger copper anomaly.
Recent auger geochem results enhanced the delineation of the higher-grade (more than 500 parts per million - ppm - copper) portion of the kilometres-long Bijoux copper anomaly.
The company is now mobilising to drill these new areas identified in a 400-metre-long, high-grade portion of the copper auger anomaly at Bijoux in the coming days.
New discoveries targeted
The program forms part of Helix’s ongoing target generation and testing program aimed at making new copper (and gold) discoveries in the Cobar-Nyngan region of NSW.
The Bijoux prospect is located in Helix’s western tenements within the Rochford Copper Trend — a 30 kilometre trend that features historical mines and copper prospects.
The Bijoux copper discovery was reported in January 2024, where high-grade copper intercepts in several reverse circulation (RC) holes outlined a 200-metre-long NNW-trending zone that is open to depth and along strike.
The best intercepts from those holes included 6 metres at 1.99% copper within 36 metres at 0.99% copper from 41 metres; 2 metres at 5.76% copper within 10 metres at 1.48% copper from 182 metres; and 4 metres at 1.90% copper within 11 metres at 0.94% copper from 140 metres.
Bijoux is prospective for CSA-type copper deposits and represents an important copper discovery.
Here, Helix is aiming to identify more near-surface copper mineralisation with potential to grow copper resources beyond its existing Canbelego mineral resource, which is nine kilometres to the north.
Bijoux copper target, 9 kilometres south of the Canbelego project.
Helix managing director Kylie Prendergast said: “Following a short weather delay the drill rig is underway to Bijoux as planned.
“Drill results at Bijoux earlier this year produced some excellent copper intercepts of higher-grade oxide and sulphide copper mineralisation.
“This drill program will initially test directly north along strike of previous successful copper drill hits, and in an area with the highest copper surface geochemistry recorded to date.
“Helix is following up copper geochemistry targets to discover new CSA-style copper lodes within these anomalous outlines. CSA-style copper lodes are high-grade, vertically extensive bodies of copper that can be continuous to depths of 2 kilometres (such as the nearby CSA copper mine operated by Metals Acquisition.
“Helix has proven that viable CSA-style copper lodes occur on our tenements such as the copper mineral resources in the Canbelego Main Lode.
“Helix considers active exploration of high-quality targets for new copper, gold and base metal deposits will create value for shareholders.”
Oriented diamond drilling is also being considered at Bijoux to provide structural information and samples for metallurgical test work.
Bijoux high tenor +500ppm copper zone showing RC copper intercepts and areas untested by previous drilling. Auger samples with greater than 500 ppm copper are labelled.
Additional exploration
Helix is progressing exploration on multiple fronts across its NSW tenements.
In addition to the Bijoux drill program, auger drilling is underway at the Muriel Tank historical gold field to test for extensions to existing high-grade gold veins and historical workings.
At the Cobar Project — a JV with Legacy Minerals — geophysical contractors have been secured to undertake surface electromagnetic surveys on multiple high priority targets. Helix geologists are now on site to confirm logistics, access and undertake reconnaissance mapping over the targets.
The company is also developing drill plans for gold targets on the project’s Eastern Tenements.