Antares Metals (ASX:AM5) has discovered copper mineralisation in all six holes from its maiden 780m reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Conglomerate Creek Target 2 prospect in Queensland.
The program represents the first sub-surface test of a 2km by 2.5km intrusive complex hosting seven untested geophysical anomalies, with only Target 2 drilled so far.
Conglomerate Creek sits within the Mt Isa North Copper Project, located approximately 39km from Glencore‘s (LON:GLEN) Mt Isa operations.
The company intersected 4m @ 0.81% copper (Cu) from 84m. The deepest hole, meanwhile, returned 1m @ 0.11% Cu from 169m and 8m @ 0.07% Cu from 176m, confirming the mineralising system continues at depth.
Antares reports all holes returned anomalous copper ranging from 504 parts per million (ppm) to 8,140 ppm.
Managing Director Terry Topping says the results validate the geological model mapped at surface.
“This is the first time a drill bit has ever tested the Conglomerate Creek intrusive system, and it has confirmed what we mapped at surface,” Topping says.
“We have not yet matched the tenor we see at surface, but for a first-pass program across a 2km by 2.5km target, intersecting the vein system at depth is exactly the result we needed to keep going.”
Meanwhile, Target 5, located immediately north of the drilled area, carries a stronger geochemical response than Target 2 and hosts rock chip samples grading up to 22.0% Cu. The company notes historical exploration over the area remains minimal.
Antares is planning to undertake detailed surface electrical geophysics across the prospect to locate more strongly mineralised sections and prioritise targets ahead of a follow-up RC drilling program.
Field activities are also underway at the Quinns Project in Western Australia, where a program of work for maiden drilling has been approved.
Antares Metals is an Australia-focused multi-commodity explorer advancing two district-scale exploration hubs in proven mineral provinces.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
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