Helix Resources (ASX:HLX) will start a regional scale auger geochemical sampling program to evaluate historical and early-stage targets to identify and advance new copper prospects at its projects in the Cobar region of NSW.
The program is also aiming to add to Helix Resources’ existing Mineral Resource inventory.
Helix reports that the auger drilling will start imminently and to be ongoing for the next 9-12 months with 1-2 rigs active at any one time.
The timing of areas to test will be dictated by land access matters such as weather and cropping activities. Therefore, the initial auger program will commence on the Western Tenement group areas where the land use is predominantly open range grazing compared to the cropping intensive activities in the east.
Helix has capacity and the ability to rapidly follow up (subject to land access and approvals from NSW Resources) to tighten up sample spacing to define copper targets for drill testing – with either / or a combination of geophysics, infill auger or scout RC drilling.
Having secured a strong funding position in May 2022 and built up its Orange-based exploration team the company is now aggressively widening its regional scale exploration activities to maximise its potential for a major copper discovery.
These additional activities include the new geochemical auger program, additional airborne geophysical surveys and reprocessing of existing large data sets, regional structural mapping and interpretation.
Helix is continuing an active ongoing reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling programs on more advanced targets
Concurrently, Helix is continuing an active ongoing reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling programs on more advanced targets.
These regional scale exploration initiatives are designed to generate additional advanced targets to increase the level of drilling activity to deliver significant growth of the existing copper resource base.
Commenting on the works program, Helix Managing Director Mike Rosenstreich said: “The company has over 240km strike of prospective copper trends with numerous poorly tested historical workings, anomalous drill intercepts and geophysical targets.
This large-scale exploration is a bold ambitious step which will allow Helix to leverage this prospective ground to yield even more discoveries.
Underpinned by good geology, effective modern scientific techniques, and a skilled team, we have commenced a series of large-scale regional work programs such as this geochemical sampling program so that we can screen more ground and advance new targets to accelerate the discovery of large-scale copper deposits.”
Helix has established a strong presence in the Cobar region, a proven copper and gold province, with several active operations and excellent infrastructure.
It has been successful in making discoveries at both the Collerina Copper and Cobar Gold projects, with JORC-2012 Mineral Resources that are open and have potential for growth.
The company’s strategy for its Cobar Region projects is to advance the stage and increase the scale of its emerging copper and gold deposits.
Images: Helix Resources Ltd
