Duke Exploration Ltd (ASX:DEX) has delivered further encouraging copper grades from the final three holes of a five-hole diamond drilling program at Rogers prospect within the flagship Bundarra Project in Queensland.
The five-hole program, including the three holes completed at Rogers, was drilled to test and refine priority target generation and further the detailed understanding of the complex geology of the Bundarra copper system.
Within Rogers, the company’s scout diamond drill holes have intersected zones of copper mineralisation largely within fresh rock with results including:
- 6.41 metres at 0.89% copper, 3.15 g/t silver and 0.07 g/t gold from 101.59 metres;
- 1.5 metres at 1.28% copper, 4.67 g/t silver and 0.14 g/t gold from 152 metres; and
- 10.1 metres at 1.06% copper, 2.7 g/t silver and 0.11g/t gold from 129 metres.
The results further confirm that exploration targeting at Bundarra is effective and has had a direct influence on the follow up reverse circulation (RC) drilling that is underway around the Absolon/Quorn/Rogers targets.
“Significant mineralisation”
Commenting on the results, Duke managing director Philip Condon said: “A very successful completion on this pivotal diamond drilling program by the team.
“We have now confirmed and further enhanced our exploration techniques, confirmed the existence of significant mineralisation at all three prospect locations, and defined an important follow-up drill campaign which is currently underway.
“Dr Pollard’s report further unlocks the complexities of the Bundarra mineral system.
“Ultimately the program has resoundingly demonstrated the potential for the project to host multiple copper deposits across the pluton and opened up the potential for both pipe-like breccia bodies and lode-style intrusion related copper deposits.”
Drilling results
Duke’s main aim of the drilling was to test the relationship between anomalous copper in soil, GAIP conductivity and historic workings, and confirm the lithological and geometric relationships of any copper and silver mineralisation in the Rogers area.
The company’s newly developed targeting technique using pXRF soils combined with conductivity modelling from gradient array IP data would also be tested.
Consequently, two distinct mineralisation styles were identified – copper mineralisation in lode style sulphide veins, and as matrix-fill in strongly altered breccia.
Following suite from Isens and Quorn, mineralisation at Rogers also hosted NE-SW trending structures.
Interpretation
Dr Peter Pollard, who has more than 30 years of research and consulting experience on intrusion-related mineralising systems, recently visited the site and undertook a review of the drill core from holes BNDD003 and BNDD004.
He noted the presence of several generations of intrusive rocks from pre-mineralisation foliated but nonmagnetic rocks, through to younger, post mineralisation unfoliated intrusions of likely Cretaceous age.
Notably, his review of the diamond holes has confirmed an important and previously unknown association of copper mineralisation with magnetite bearing diorites, providing significantly enhanced exploration focus.