Following an auger geochemical sampling program, Helix Resources (ASX:HLX) has extended the Collerina copper trend at its Eastern Tenement Group in central New South Wales.
Assays from the shallow auger drill samples delineated two new areas of widespread gold and antimony anomalism, namely the Iowaba and Tarawera targets, which occur 20km and 35km north of the Aldebaran prospect.
Helix says gold and antimony are important pathfinder elements for gold and copper.
At Iowaba and Tarawera, Helix says there are multiple auger samples with results of more than 20 parts per billion (ppb) gold emerging over a 10km area, with many results still pending at the laboratory.
Helix says at the Honeybugle target, several samples more than 20ppb gold occur over a 5km area with effective auger coverage limited by cover associated with a paleochannel.
Follow-up programs will initially include infill auger, and where needed, aircore drilling to define targets for drill testing.
Managing Director Kylie Prendergast says the latest results, which only tested part of the corridor, confirm this is a major prospective zone with signatures indicative of copper-gold mineralisation.
“The auger programs have been highly effective at identifying new target areas, enabling Helix to zero-in on the strongest signatures for new copper gold discoveries,” she says.
“New targets can be rapidly advancing in the Helix pipeline to drill-ready by undertaking infill auger programs, analysing the geochemical signatures and in areas of deeper cover, aircore drilling.
“Over the past six months, Helix has focused on advancing several priority targets in its pipeline which we believe have potential to deliver a new copper-gold discovery in the highly endowed, Cobar region close to established operations and processing facilities.”
While the company waits for more than 600 auger sample results, which are expected in mid- to late-July, an aircore drilling program is being planned to follow-up anomalies.
All anomalies and targets emerging will be assessed and ranked for priority drill testing.
The Eastern Group Tenements cover 1,570km2 of prospective copper trends, which lie 40km southeast of Nyngan in central New South Wales.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Helix Resources
