Catalina Resources (ASX:CTN) is preparing to begin a 2,400m reverse circulation drilling program targeting electromagnetic conductors and extensions to copper mineralisation at its Breakaway Dam Copper Project in Western Australia.
Catalina says the program will test conductor plates modelled from downhole electromagnetic surveys completed after drilling in March 2026. Two planned holes will target two of the largest plates, which Catalina interprets as potentially representing a preserved lens within the project’s volcanogenic massive sulphide system.
Other holes will assess continuity between known mineralised zones, test for additional sulphide lenses, and refine the geological and structural model. The results will help determine whether Breakaway Dam progresses to resource-focused drilling.
March drilling expanded the interpreted mineralised strike by about 70%, from 700m to 1.2km. Historical drilling indicates mineralisation may extend across as much as 1.8km, although that broader extent has not been delineated by Catalina’s recent work.
Results from the March campaign include 1.9m estimated true width @ 2.17% copper (Cu) from 198m and 2.9m estimated true width @ 0.57% Cu from 204m.
Historical and earlier drilling returned 6m @ 1.19% Cu from 185m, including 1m @ 3.86% Cu, and 8.7m estimated true width @ 0.48% Cu from 181m, including 0.95m @ 1.18% Cu and 1.7m @ 1.05% Cu.
Executive Director Ross Cotton says successive exploration programs have expanded the interpreted mineralised system and refined the company’s targets.
“Each phase of exploration has expanded the mineralised system, refined our geological model and delivered increasingly compelling drill targets,” Cotton says.
“This next phase of drilling is designed to build on that momentum by expanding the known mineralised system and progressing Breakaway Dam towards resource definition.”
Nexgen Drilling is scheduled to mobilise on 31 July, alongside Catalina’s geological team and supporting field assets.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Images: Unsplash
