Kodiak Copper Corp. (TSX-V:KDK) said assay results from the first three holes drilled in 2023 at the West Zone of its MPD project in southern British Columbia have confirmed porphyry mineralization from surface over an area of 300 metres (m) by 300m and up to 819m depth, extending well below historic drilling and open to extension.
The company said a new zone of structurally hosted high-grade copper-gold-silver mineralization has been discovered to the east of the West Zone.
Additionally, for the first time at the MPD project, significant mineralized hydrothermal breccia has been drilled, the company said, adding that the breccia includes copper mineralized clasts, suggesting additional undrilled mineralization at depth.
"I am very pleased with these initial results from our 2023 drill program. The first three holes at the West Zone are a promising start and confirm our thesis that porphyry mineralization exists below and adjacent to shallow historic drilling. The West Zone is only one of several targets we will test this year and I am looking forward to the next batch of results from the Man Zone where our second drill is currently turning. In total we are aiming to test four or five targets in 2023, each with excellent discovery potential," Claudia Tornquist, president and CEO of Kodiak said in a statement.
In the West Zone, drill hole AXE-23-001, drilled towards the south, intersected significant mineralization from bedrock surface to 539m depth. Assays include 0.28% copper (Cu), 0.28 grams per ton (g/t) gold (Au) and 0.83 g/t silver (Ag) (0.51% CuEq) over 158m, within a broader interval of 0.18% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au and 0.61 g/t Ag (0.34% CuEq) over 533m.
Drill hole AXE-23-002, drilled vertically, intersected mineralization from surface to 488m depth, assaying 0.21% Cu, 0.30 g/t Au and 1.36 g/t Ag (0.45% CuEq) over 203m, within 0.15% Cu, 0.16 g/t Au and 0.80 g/t Ag (0.28% CuEq) over 482m.
Meanwhile, drill hole AXE-23-003, drilled to the east, also intersected from-surface mineralization assaying 0.22% Cu, 0.27 g/t Au and 1.08 g/t Ag (0.44% CuEq) over 51m, within a broad interval of 0.13% Cu, 0.20 g/t Au and 0.61 g/t Ag (0.29% CuEq) over 209m.
"We have been looking for mineralized breccias like the ones we have discovered beneath the West Zone since we began drilling at MPD, as higher-grade breccias are key contributors to many alkalic porphyry mines. We interpret both MPD North and MPD South as overlying major structural intersections that controlled porphyry magma emplacement and are using geophysical and drill data to define new targets within these mineralized corridors. This approach has proven effective in similar alkalic porphyry systems such as the Cadia-Ridgeway deposits in Australia, and locally at many British Columbia porphyry mines including Copper Mountain, Mount Polley and Red Chris,” Chris Taylor, chairman of Kodiak, added.
MPD is a large land package located near several operating mines in the southern Quesnel Terrane, British Columbia's primary copper-gold producing belt. The project is located midway between the towns of Merritt and Princeton, with year-round accessibility and excellent infrastructure nearby.
Kodiak is focused on its 100%-owned copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com