Hammer Metals (ASX: HMX) has intercepted shallow, copper-bearing sulphides during reconnaissance RC drilling at the greenfields Ajax prospect within its Mt Isa copper project in Queensland.
‘Significant’ intercepts generated via portable XRF include 10m @ 3.5% Cu from 25m in Hole HMLVRC014, with a maximum individual 1m reading of 8.9% Cu. Samples from the hole, which was completed on 13 February to a depth of 200m, have subsequently been submitted for definitive laboratory analysis.
Commenting on the news, Hammer Metals Managing Director Daniel Thomas said: “This is a great result, intersecting mineralisation at a greenfield prospect such as Ajax. This interim result from our first drillhole into this prospect illustrates the potential of the Trafalgar to Jubilee trend (~12km long) to host multiple Cu-Au deposits. Follow up drilling to determine the extent of mineralisation at Ajax has been prioritised and will be incorporated into our current drill program. This intercept is a testament to the team’s hard work over the past 12 months and it’s exciting as we look to drill several similar targets along this highly prospective trend.”
“This interim result from our first drillhole into this prospect illustrates the potential of the Trafalgar to Jubilee trend”
Hammer had earlier instigated a geological review at its Mt Isa assets following Carnaby Resources’ ‘major’ copper discovery at the nearby Nil Desperandum. The review encompassed historical drilling and residual geophysical targets including historical IP surveys.
According to Hammer, the mineralised interval is composed of a quartz (+ chalcopyrite) vein within a biotite schist host. The mineralisation is located in a local demagnetised zone and this observation will aid future drill targeting.
Map of the Lakeview region displaying copper rock chipping results from Orion and AjaxAjax is located approximately 1.2km south-east of Hammer’s Lakeview prospect, on a 12km mineralised trend which runs between Trafalgar in the south through to the Jubilee copper-gold resource.
Downhole electromagnetic work is scheduled for hole HMLVRC014 in the near future, and will be tasked with delineating the extent and orientation of mineralisation encountered, along with providing guidance for follow-up drilling.
This will be joined by an ‘extensive’ soil sampling program, which is set to recommence once inclement weather improves.
Images: Hammer Metals Ltd
