QMines Ltd (ASX:QML) is preparing to drill the Mt Warminster Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) zinc-lead-copper-silver exploration target in central Queensland.
The prospect, 1.6 kilometres northwest of the company’s flagship Mt Chalmers Copper and Gold Project, which is just 17 kilometres northeast of Rockhampton, boasts historical production including 110 tonnes at 16% copper and 10 tonnes at 45% lead.
Strong historical drill results
Historical drilling by Geopeko in 1977 and 1981 (56 holes) included 25 drill holes with significant intersections, including 15 holes with results reporting in excess of 1% base metals, principally zinc with lesser lead, copper and silver.
The company is buoyed by significant shallow historical drilling intersections, which include:
- 12 metres at 2.1% zinc from 24 metres;
- 15 metres at 1.9% zinc from 12 metres;
- 18 metres at 0.7% zinc and 0.6% copper from 6 metres; and
- 3 metres at 3% zinc from 15 metres.
There are also strong coincident VTEM™ and soil geochemical anomalies to be explored when the company kicks off planned drilling at Mt Warminster in early 2023, chasing a fifth mineral resource update for Mt Chalmers.
Survey reveals anomalies
Adjacent VTEM™ anomalies to the immediate west may vector towards increased massive sulphides in that direction. As a result, QMines is preparing to drill both infill holes to classify a resource and step-out holes in the search for massive sulphides.
Drilling is expected to resume at the south of the Mt Chalmers resource in January and then at Mt Warminster following the acquisition of the airborne VTEM™ Max survey.
Executive chairman Andrew Sparke said: “Mt Warminster represents the third VHMS deposit to be drilled by the company at Mt Chalmers and we look forward to aggregating additional tonnes to the global resource.
“We are also pleased to see the historical VTEM™ survey identify massive sulphides at Mt Warminster and look forward to the forthcoming heli EM survey results to locate other targets.”
Activities on the horizon
The company is pursuing a continued step-out drilling program to the south of the Mt Chalmers resource seeking extensions. It is also on the verge of kicking off infill and step-out drilling at the Mt Warminster exploration target.
Preparations are underway to drill the Botos exploration target and there are plans to commence a VTEM™ Max airborne electromagnetic survey in January 2023, then analyse, rank and drill new anomalies.