Cyprium Metals (ASX:CYM) has identified extensive copper mineralisation within the Nifty waste dump adjacent to the historical oxide open pit in Western Australia, with drilling confirming significant intercepts across a 750m by 250m area.
The company completed 133 reverse circulation (RC) holes for 2,697m targeting visible copper oxide mineralisation across the waste dump, with standout intercepts including the following:
- 9m @ 1% copper (Cu) from surface in hole 26NFLG050, including 4m @ 1.83% Cu from 2m
- 7m @ 1.11% Cu from surface in 26NFLG060, including 3m @ 1.55% Cu
- 9m @ 0.80% Cu from surface in 26NFLG021, including 2m at 1.56% Cu from 5m
Scout drilling comprising 38 holes for 797m at approximately 100m spacing returned encouraging results requiring follow-up, including 3m @ 0.88% Cu from 18m in 26NFLG069 and 6m @ 0.53% Cu from 10m in 26NFLG143, with 1m @ 1.89% Cu from 11m.
“What was set aside in the 1990s as being waste or low grade is now potentially economic — no different to our open pit that has a 0.9% reserve grade or nearly twice what is often being advanced in greenfield developments today,” Executive Chairman Matt Fifield says.
“We’re bringing 2026 market conditions, mechanical horsepower, and technology to 1993 geology. Those combinations are helping to build the foundation of Australia’s next great copper company.”
The oxide copper mineralisation within the waste dump presents a potential future feed source to the refurbished heap leach and SXEW plant. The waste dump is located approximately 1.2km from existing heap leach pads via existing haul roads.
Cyprium is executing a phased restart of the Nifty Copper Complex.
Phase one involves re-leaching of existing above-ground heap-leach pads and refurbishment of the SXEW plant to support initial production capacity of approximately 6,000 tonnes per annum of copper cathode.
The company plans further drilling to define and infill the extent of the main mineralised zone, alongside follow-up drilling around newly identified mineralisation.
An external technical consultant will deliver a maiden mineral resource estimate for the mineralised zones of the waste dump.
Cyprium Metals is a Western Australian copper developer advancing the Nifty Copper Complex restart, with a focus on phased production through heap leach and SXEW operations.
The company will be attending the Noosa Mining Conference, held on 22–24 July 2026 at Peppers Noosa Resort, Noosa Heads, Queensland.
Mining.com.au is an official media partner of this year’s conference and will be at the event.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Cyprium Metals
