HAWK RESOURCES LIMITED (ASX:HFC) has confirmed strong near-surface copper mineralisation from laboratory assays on drill hole DD26CT003 at the Cactus Corridor within its Cactus copper-gold project in Utah, USA.
Copper intersections include:
- 19.6 metres at 1.25% copper from 60.5 metres downhole, beginning about 44 metres below surface, including 14.2 metres at 1.60% copper from 62.7 metres and 4.9 metres at 3.97% copper from 71.95 metres;
A zone of highly anomalous molybdenum mineralisation occurs within the copper mineralised zone with an intersection of 46.1m @ 0.03% Mo from 35.7m downhole. Also, narrow intersections of silver and gold mineralisation include:
- 12.8m @ 8.3ppm Ag from 18.8m downhole
- 4.9m @ 41.4ppm Ag from 71.95m downhole
- 4.2m @ 0.41g/t Au from 15.0m downhole
- 4.8m @ 0.26g/t Au from 75.86m downhole
Further highlights include:
- the higher-grade intercept sits within a broader 80-metre interval grading 0.48% copper from surface;
- highly anomalous molybdenum was also intersected, with 46.1 metres at 0.03% molybdenum from 35.7 metres;
- narrow precious metals zones included 12.8 metres at 8.3 ppm silver from 18.8 metres, 4.9 metres at 41.4 ppm silver from 71.95 metres, 4.2 metres at 0.41 g/t gold from 15 metres and 4.8 metres at 0.26 g/t gold from 75.86 metres;
- individual high-grade copper samples included 1.29 metres at 5.19% copper and 1.52 metres at 5.56% copper within the main high-grade zone.
Managing director Scott Caithness said DD26CT003 was Hawk’s first hole in the Cactus section of the 1-kilometre-long Cactus Corridor and had returned a 20-metre interval grading above 1% copper.
“It is exciting that DD26CT003, Hawk’s first hole in the Cactus section of the 1km long Cactus Corridor, has intersected strong near surface copper mineralisation grading 1.25% over a 20m interval. High grade zones within this interval include 14m @ 1.6% copper and 4.9m @ 3.9% copper. This hole was drilled at a low dip angle perpendicular to the strike of the corridor hence the intersection is interpreted to represent the true thickness of the +1.0% copper mineralised zone.
“Critically, this +1.0% zone sits within a significantly longer 80m copper mineralised intercept from surface which grades 0.5% and raises the possibility that a much larger lower grade copper mineralised body exists at Cactus. While the gold and silver anomalous zones are narrow, the 46m long 0.03% molybdenum intercept has potential to be significant if future drilling has similar intercepts.
“All Cactus Corridor holes are now permitted and planning is underway to re-commence the drilling programme in Q3, 2026.”
Drilling program
The Cactus Corridor drilling program is designed to test near-surface mineralisation along a northwest-trending corridor extending from the historical Comet deposit, through the Cactus mine and towards the New Years prospect.
DD26CT003 was drilled to 90.68 metres at an azimuth of 222 degrees and dip of -48 degrees. It tested a 50-metre gap between historical holes R-12, which returned 49.5 metres at 1.15% copper, and R-31, which returned 12.2 metres at 1.09% copper.
Hawk said the hole was drilled perpendicular to the mineralised trend, meaning the 20-metre-plus 1% copper zone is interpreted to approximate true thickness.
Historical intersections along the Cactus section include:
- R-12: 49.5 metres at 1.15% copper, including 16.7 metres at 2.28% copper;
- R-13: 82.3 metres at 1.10% copper, including 15.2 metres at 2.39% copper;
- R-14: 33.5 metres at 1.59% copper, including 12.2 metres at 3.31% copper;
- ALCA010: 23 metres at 1.97% copper, including 8 metres at 3.11% copper;
- ALCA013: 13 metres at 1.66% copper, including 3 metres at 2.41% copper.
Long section showing the DD26CT003 copper intersection and historical intersections along the Cactus portion of the Cactus Corridor. All ‘R’ prefix holes and the ‘Airhole’ were vertical and drilled in 1964 while holes ‘ALCA’ were oblique angled holes drilled across the trend of mineralisation in 2018. DDH-4 is an angled hole drilled in 1961 which intersected near surface mineralisation.
What’s next?
Hawk has received permits for all remaining proposed holes along the Cactus Corridor and is preparing to recommence drilling in the third quarter of 2026.
The next phase is expected to include:
- 5 further holes along the Cactus portion of the corridor;
- 5 holes between the Cactus and Comet mines;
- drilling at 50-metre spacings along the corridor;
- follow-up work on areas where historical drilling identified gold mineralisation from surface, including a best Comet-area intercept of 25.9 metres at 1.53 g/t gold;
- multi-element assays from additional Cactus holes, which are expected to be reported when available;
- planning for a second phase of Cactus Corridor drilling, subject to assay results.
About Hawk Resources
Hawk Resources is focused on critical and precious metals exploration, with copper-gold projects in Utah, lithium projects in Brazil and the Olympus scandium project in Western Australia.
The company’s Cactus project comprises more than 300 patented and unpatented claims governed by lease agreements with private landowners. Hawk says the district hosts copper-gold-rich tourmaline breccias, structurally hosted mineralisation and oxide copper zones linked to the broader Laramide mineralising event.