Domestic Metals Corp (TSX-V:DMCU, OTCQB:DMCUF, FRA:03E0) said it plans to launch a 9,000-metre diamond drill program at its Smart Creek copper porphyry project in Montana, targeting high-grade porphyry copper style mineralization.
The program will test multiple high-priority targets identified through the company's recent exploration campaign, which combined geological mapping, surface sampling, historical drill data and 3D computer modelling.
Drilling is fully funded through Domestic Metals' existing treasury and will comprise an estimated six to eight holes, the company said in a statement.
Smart Creek project is a joint venture with Rio Tinto, which retains a 40% interest. The property spans 8,000 hectares and sits 50 kilometres northwest of the Butte District in Montana, in a similar geological setting.
Rio Tinto previously drilled 26 of 40 permitted sites at the Smart Creek target, with the best hole returning 109.73 metres at 0.75% copper, including 89 metres at 0.97% copper.
"This program represents the culmination of nearly two years of systematic exploration at Smart Creek," said Gordon Neal, CEO of Domestic Metals.
"We've refined our target model significantly since taking on the project, and the drill plan is designed to vector toward the center of porphyry and CRD target mineralization. Our geologists have developed targets based on the high-grade surface rock sampling results and new IP geophysical data. We believe Smart Creek is prospective for porphyry copper as well as copper-gold-silver enriched carbonate replacement deposits and we're excited to finally put the drill bit to these targets."
Since 2024, Domestic Metals has advanced exploration at Smart Creek through geological mapping, sampling and IP geophysics, returning high-grade results including 102 g/t gold with 23.1% copper and 3,810 g/t silver, and identifying multiple large-scale targets where chargeability features align with established alteration and high-grade sampling.
The exploration work has outlined two priority drill target areas: three 600 to 800 metre holes planned at Smart Creek and four 600 to 800 metre holes at Sunrise Mine.
Further program details are expected to be reported once drilling starts, the firm added.