Happy Creek Minerals Ltd. (TSX-V:HPY, OTC:HPYCF) has announced a new exploration drilling program at its Fox tungsten project in British Columbia’s South Cariboo district.
The 2025-2026 drill program aims to expand the high-grade tungsten resource identified in a 2018 resource estimate.
Happy Creek plans to drill approximately 10,000 meters across 100 diamond drill holes, with drilling set to begin in mid-2025.
Fox, acquired by Happy Creek in 2006, is recognized as one of the world’s highest-grade tungsten deposits, with strategic importance for North America’s critical metals supply chain.
The current NI 43-101 resource estimate for the project includes 582,400 tonnes at a grade of 0.83% tungsten trioxide (WO3) in the indicated category, and 565,400 tonnes grading 1.23% WO3 in the inferred category.
This program aims to increase the existing resource base by targeting new mineralized zones across the 136 square-kilometer project area.
“With the recent completion of the sale of the Highland Valley Project to Metal Energy we can now turn our exploration focus to our Cariboo projects including the high-grade Fox Tungsten Project.
“With demand for North American sourced critical metals including tungsten expected to grow significantly, the Fox Project is extremely well positioned. We plan to begin drilling as soon as possible in 2025,” said Jason Bahnsen, Happy Creek’s president and chief executive.
The 2025-2026 drill program will focus on three main zones. The RC/BN/BK Upper Zones have shown promising tungsten-bearing horizons based on mapping and past drilling.
In addition, the Nightcrawler-Creek Zone has a three-kilometer tungsten anomaly and remains open in all directions.
Finally, the South Grid Zone, identified in 2017, contains near-surface tungsten mineralization and will be further explored to assess its full potential.
Happy Creek holds a Multi-Year Area-Based Permit for the Fox Project, allowing substantial exploration activity through August 2028.