QMines Ltd (ASX:QML) is buoyed by strong results from its maiden drilling program at the newly acquired Develin Creek Project, around 90 kilometres northwest of Rockhampton in Queensland, which comprises several volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) copper-zinc deposits within the Rookwood Volcanics.
The results confirm the project’s Scorpion deposit to be a shallow, high-grade copper and zinc deposit with potential to grow the mine life at the nearby flagship Mt Chalmers Copper-Gold Project.
Location and Infrastructure surrounding the Mt Chalmers and Develin Creek projects.
Drilling results
QMines has completed 36 drill holes for 4,227 metres of drilling at Develin Creek.
The program aimed to verify previous drilling as well as infill and extensional drilling with the aim of upgrading the inferred portion of the resource to the indicated and/or measured categories, and to test for extensions.
Drilling has intersected high-grade VHMS mineralisation of a similar tenor and style to the historical drilling results.
Step-out drilling has extended the mineralised zones to the north-northeast of the Scorpion deposit. Further drilling is planned to the north of the deposit.
The company received the following significant intersections from recent drilling at Scorpion:
- 26 metres at 1.38% copper, 0.29 g/t gold, 11 g/t silver and 1.99% zinc from 72 metres;
- 23 metres at 1.57% copper, 0.42 g/t gold, 20 g/t silver and 2.77% zinc from 107 metres;
- 14 metres at 2.12% copper, 0.60 g/t gold and 19.3 g/t silver from 54 metres;
- 10 metres at 2.49% copper, 0.47 g/t gold, 18 g/t silver and 0.92% zinc from 83 metres; and
- 61 metres at 0.75% copper from 49 metres, including 5 metres at 2.33% from 50 metres.
Drill hole cross-section A-A’, Scorpion prospect (Looking WNW).
The company previously reported drilling results for the first two holes at the Scorpion prospect, including 31 metres at 2.35% copper, 0.37 g/t gold, 20 g/t silver and 2.37% zinc from 104 metres and 1 metre at 2.88% copper, 0.61 g/t gold, 21 g/t silver and 2.06% zinc from 106 metres.
QMines executive chair Andrew Sparke said: "We are very pleased with the current results from the company’s maiden drilling program at the newly acquired Develin Creek Copper Project.
“These results demonstrate that the Scorpion deposit is likely to extend the mine life at the proposed Mt Chalmers copper operation.
“We look forward to completing the drilling program this year and providing an updated mineral resource estimate shortly thereafter."
Develin Creek Project
QMines acquired an initial 51% interest in the Devlin Creek Project from Zenith Minerals in August 2023 and finalised the purchase of the remaining 49% interest in the project in September 2024.
More recently, the company completed metallurgical test-work on the mineralisation at the Develin Creek deposit which showed excellent recoveries for copper and gold.
Results for the first two QMines drill holes were reported in September 2024, followed by notice of 100% project ownership.