Duke Exploration Ltd (ASX:DEX) has commenced a major reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its flagship Bundarra Project.
Up to 11,600 metres in 46 RC drill holes is planned to be drilled over about three to four months in the initial phase of the program.
Duke’s focus will be on primary targets in the southwestern portion of the Bundarra pluton.
Priority drill target areas in the southwestern part of Bundarra Pluton.
The targets were recently identified as a direct result of the extensive exploration program conducted in Q3 and Q4, 2021 including soil sampling, geological assessment and ground-truthing, GAIP surveys, VTEM analysis, magnetics over the entire Bundarra Pluton and the recent 5-hole diamond drilling campaign completed in January 2022.
Duke managing director Philip Condon said: “We have reached a very exciting juncture in the evolution of Duke.
“After an important and intensive exploration program throughout Q3 and Q4, 2021, we have identified over 10 primary targets, 8 of which are within the southwestern part of the Bundarra pluton.
“Significantly, there are 3 new areas of interest that have been identified together with 5 areas of previously known mineralisation.
“All these targets satisfy our criteria of coincident geochemical and geophysical anomalism, combined with geological mapping and ground truthing confirmations.
“Drilling has started at Browns South prospect, and it is planned for the program to be completed over the next 3 to 4 months assuming no delays, with results to be reported progressively throughout the program starting in about 8 weeks from now.”
Browns South mineralised zone is associated with NE striking feldspar porphyry and magnetic diorite dykes in granodiorite that align along strike with mineralisation at Rogers.
Priority targets
Duke’s priority targets include Browns South, Rogers, Laird of the Hills, Isens, Cattle Creek, Absolon and Quorn.
Each one of these priority targets has either historical copper mineralisation or high levels of copper in soils implying a likely strong success rate in the drill program.
The planned drilling has been categorised into three levels of priority.
Priority 1 holes will be drilled initially and if successful will be followed by priority 2 holes with the aim of testing the extent of mineralisation.
If these holes are successful, then priority 3 holes will be also drilled to further expand the extents of mineralisation and lay the foundations for the definition of a new mineral deposit.
This sequence will be followed at each prospect starting at Browns South, before moving to the next target location.
Follow up drilling will occur after the initial RC program is completed on any of the targets that have the potential to be of sufficient scale and grade.