QMines Ltd (ASX:QML) has revealed a broad zone of semi-massive sulphides in an initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Artillery Road Prospect of its flagship Mt Chalmers copper and gold project in central Queensland.
All drill holes in the 13-hole, 2,373-metre program intersected semi-massive to massive sulphide mineralisation at the recently discovered regional target, which could prove to be a “company-defining deposit”.
Visible sulphide
Drilling intersected a large, tabular body of visible sulphide mineralisation measuring up to 25 metres wide, 700 metres long and 250 metres deep in this newly discovered mineral system.
Further, the mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth with mapping showing mineralisation over an area of 1.4 kilometres by 450 metres.
QMines interprets the mineralisation as a skarn, or a skarn overprint of a volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposit with the mineralised body exposed at surface as a gossan, although that is based on the limited information available.
The company notes that the copper and zinc sulphide content appears to be increasing towards the northwest.
Exploration continues
QMines managing director Andrew Sparke said, “The Artillery Road discovery has the potential to become a company-defining deposit.
"Once the results of Phase 1 drilling are received, further drilling will target strike extensions particularly to the northwest where copper sulphide content is improving and a large magnetic anomaly to the east.
“The company is now moving the rig to the VT04 Electromagnetic target where drilling will commence shortly. VT04 is the largest and strongest of the 34 electromagnetic targets and results from this program are eagerly awaited.”
A broad suite of elements is being analysed in the lab and petrological analysis is underway to improve the company’s understanding of the system and to assist with targeting.
The maiden RC drilling program was designed to test the first EM target delivered by Mitre Geophysics from the company’s VTEM airborne survey flown in February and March 2023.
The company expects to begin drilling at the VT04 Electromagnetic (EM) target in the coming weeks while the Artillery Road results are processed and ahead of the wet season.