West Cobar Metals (ASX:WC1) has delivered a maiden inferred resource estimate of 19.7 million tonnes @ 0.58% copper-equivalent for the Bulla Park Project in New South Wales.
The resource, calculated by Lily Valley International, comprises 59,000 tonnes of copper, 20,000 tonnes of antimony, and 3 million ounces of silver.
West Cobar also delivered an exploration target for Bulla Park, which contains 30 to 50 million tonnes of 0.47% to 0.66% copper-equivalent.
Further reverse circulation and diamond drilling is planned to extend the mineral resources and to explore for zones of higher grades and new zones of mineralisation.
A planned program includes diamond drilling to extend the inferred resource zone that includes thick more than 60m mineralisation north of and adjacent to the WSW fault. It also includes testing the fault zone at depth for higher grades of copper and antimony.
Further metallurgical testwork for flotation and leach optimisation will continue. Works are currently in progress to test the precipitation process to form a final antimony product from the leach solution.
Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki says the resource and exploration target show the scale of the deposit, with potential tonnage to support a major bulk mining open-cut operation.
“The copper equivalent grade associated with these estimates is excellent and supports further drill programs to define the full extent of the deposit and studies to determine the optimal commercial pathways,” Szwedzicki says.
Szwedzicki adds that recent metallurgical testwork shows the “unique style” of mineralisation will enable the extraction and production of its copper, antimony and silver content.
To date, recoveries of 94.6% copper, 82.6% antimony and 84.1% silver have been achieved. The company expects further testwork will improve the metal recoverability.
Bulla Park, covering 518km2, comprises four granted exploration licences and is owned by the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Bulla Park Metals.
West Cobar Metals is a mineral explorer and developer focused on its assets prospective for critical minerals within Australia.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: West Cobar Metals
