Ironbark Zinc Ltd (ASX:IBG) has had a successful start to a field program at the Fiery Creek Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, identifying high-grade copper at surface with a portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analyser.
This program marks the first field work done on the tenure since 2013, with the goal to re-stablish site access after years of fires and floods.
Once access had been restored, the company collected several copper readings from historical workings, pits, shafts, and trenches. The pXRF was used to test for base metals only, not for gold.
Results of note include 7.1% copper, 4.5% copper and 1.2% zinc, and 3.4% copper, all collected from surface or old workings.
Eight kilometres of strike potential
“The Fiery Creek Copper-Gold Project is a little-known part of our portfolio but is now seeing new investment for the first time in many years,” Ironbark Zinc managing director Michael Jardine said.
“It has huge potential with eight kilometres of strike, over 600 historic workings, and extremely high-grade gold and high-grade copper in the historical database.
“There are obvious drill targets below the old workings, and to close off the known strike, and we look forward to delivering more results in 2023.”
With site access re-established, Ironbark has engaged specialist survey firm Narla Environmental to complete a flora, fauna and heritage survey in the second half of January.
Once those key surveys are complete, the company will move to secure drilling permits for the project.