Antares Metals (ASX:AM5) is aiming to establish its presence within the Mt Isa North Copper and Uranium Project in Queensland, after uncovering a 450m-long copper vein system near the Conglomerate Creek prospect.
The discovery of the copper-bearing vein system gives Antares further encouragement for Conglomerate Creek and supports the possibility of a “large-scale” copper mineralised system, driven by the prospect’s intrusion as its heat source.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, CEO Johan Lambrechts says this discovery indicates that there is copper mineralised fluids passing through the area.
“There are many vein-hosted copper mineralised projects in the area and we’ve got one which is a surprise of course,” Lambrecht says.
Lambrechts adds that there is still “a lot more work that needs to be done” within the Mt Isa Project.
Antares is continuing to advance the status of its Mt Isa prospects through continual and systematic exploration, while also preparing for upcoming drilling programs.
Lambrechts adds if Antares is able to see copper mineralisation plus the geochemical signatures of the indicator minerals, then it will support vectoring towards the mineralising host.
“That will be a step in the right direction for sure,” Lambrechts tells this news service.
“If we drill the motherload – lets call it that – if we drill through the guts of it on our first attempt, then what a beauty.”
Lambrechts adds that although Antares is unaware of what is beneath the surface near Conglomerate Creek, the company aims to drill and analyse geologically, and then move towards vectoring the target.
“We’re not just drilling holes and we’re not just blindly stumbling around the field – we’re trying to do some good geology,” the CEO says.
“This is our first season in the field which means there is a huge amount of proofing required. We have to go to each of the prospects, review them on paper first and then on the ground.
“We rank them, put them on our hierarchy wherever they belong and then move forward. That is what we’re doing now. We are building momentum and I see a bright future.”
Lambrechts notes that the company’s boots-on-the-ground approach is “paying dividends” by uncovering mineralisation characteristics that were potentially overlooked in the past.
Antares acquired the Mt Isa Project in late 2024, in which gravity and magnetic surveys were undertaken and interpreted seven high-priority geophysical anomalies. The anomalies are interpreted to be intrusion-related targets associated with structures along the edge of a 2 by 2.5km semi-circular intrusive feature.
Rock chip samples have been collected across Conglomerate Creek, which have been submitted for analysis. Results are expected within four to six weeks.
The Mt Isa North Project comprises approximately 2,003km2 of granted and pending exploration tenements located near the city of Mount Isa in Northwest Queensland, Australia.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Antares Metals
