True North Copper (ASX:TNC) has begun drilling at the Great Australia Mine within the Cloncurry Copper Project in northwest Queensland.
The company will conduct diamond and reverse circulation drilling across 2,700m to support ongoing prefeasibility studies and resource growth initiatives as a part of True North’s development strategy.
The Great Australia, Taipan, and Orphan Shear prospects host a total of 11.53 million tonnes @ 0.71% copper and 0.09 grams per tonne gold, which True North describes to have a “strong foundation” for development and mine planning.
Reverse circulation drilling will test near-mine resource extensions and target the Whip and Coppermine Creek areas.
True North Copper will transition drilling to the Wallace North prospect in early March 2026 after completing drilling at the Great Australia Mine.
Drilling at Wallace North will follow up exploration targets such as an intercept of 9m @ 4.33% copper and 3.64 grams per tonne gold from 108m in 2025.
Assays from drilling at the Great Australia Mine are expected to be returned within eight weeks of completion, with metallurgical results to be processed through Q2 and Q3 2026.
True North will conduct geological, geotechnical, and metallurgical analysis to inform mine design and processing optimisation.
General Manager of Operations Matt Varvari says beginning drilling at the Great Australia Mine represents an “important step in advancing the Cloncurry Copper Project toward development”.
“This program is focused on metallurgical and geotechnical validation to refine mine design, processing assumptions, and overall project parameters, while also testing near-resource extensions that may further strengthen the mineral inventory,” Varvari says.
“Building on the recent resource updates at Great Australia and Wallace North, this work supports a disciplined and technically robust pathway toward future mining at Cloncurry.”
True North Copper is focused on advancing its portfolio of copper assets in North Queensland.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: True North Copper
