BOA Resources (ASX:BOA) expects to begin a 7,500m reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Neds Creek Copper Project in Western Australia in early August.
The company has completed heritage surveys, signed drilling contracts, and received program of works approval for the 53-hole campaign.
BOA says drilling will initially focus on the Ricci Lee prospect, where the company aims to collect data to support a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE).
Ricci Lee comprises a 500m-long mineralised structure defined by historical workings, eight RC holes, and shallow rotary air blast drilling. Mineralisation remains open to the north and south and at depth.
The prospect is located about 2km southwest of the Thaduna copper deposit and is hosted within the same formation.
Historical drilling at Ricci Lee returned two intersections from hole THC035 — 5m @ 3.48% copper (Cu) and 10m @ 5.12% Cu — at about 200m vertical depth. BOA says the intervals occur in fresh rock containing chalcopyrite and bornite.
The company plans to test extensions to the known mineralisation and increase drill density across the prospect.
Managing Director Graeme Purcell says completing the heritage, contracting, and permitting requirements clears the way for BOA’s maiden drilling at Neds Creek.
“We’re well funded to execute our drilling and other exploration activities, and we look forward to getting this drill program under way, with Ricci Lee as our initial priority,” Purcell says.
BOA recently announced an agreement to acquire the Thaduna and Green Dragon copper deposits, which host a combined MRE of 5.3 million tonnes (Mt) @ 2.30% Cu for 121,000 tonnes of contained Cu.
Thaduna accounts for 4.1Mt @ 2.50% Cu for 103,000 tonnes of the combined resource.
The broader first phase of exploration at Neds Creek also includes 7,500m of aircore drilling targeting structurally controlled Cu mineralisation.
BOA’s 2026 exploration program covers Ricci Lee, Rooney’s, and four other priority prospects across the 1,378km² project.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: BOA Resources
