Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) has secured a contract for 20 holes and 2,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling at King Solomon and Python prospects of the Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project in northwest Queensland, part of an expansive exploration effort which will include a large airborne versatile domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey.
Drilling is expected to begin in early May at King Solomon, while drill testing at Python will have to await final regulatory approval.
At King Solomon, Cooper Metals will test a conductive zone identified in fixed loop electromagnetic (FLEM) surveying in the same area as the known mineralised trend, interpreted to have a strike length of more than 1.2 kilometres with previous rock chip sampling returning up to 16.65% copper and 2.58 g/t gold.
At Python, field ground checking has confirmed the results of another FLEM survey, identifying prospective rock at surface with anomalous copper and sulphur – consistent with the modelled conductor interpreted from survey data.
Mt Isa begins to build momentum
“The Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project is less than six months old and is really starting to build significant momentum with contracts locked in for the maiden drilling program at King Solomon and Python and the airborne VTEM survey over a significant area of our tenure,” Cooper Metals managing director Ian Warland said.
“Ground checking of the Python conductor confirms the target has potential for copper mineralisation.
“With a successful heritage clearance completed in March and regulatory drill approval already confirmed for most of King Solomon, we look forward to commencing there in May.
“The rapid VTEM screening of a large part of Cooper’s tenure will hopefully supercharge the exploration effort for 2022. We look forward to updating the market as results come to hand.”
The VTEM survey is expected to begin in mid-May, designed to identify bedrock conductors with potential for copper sulphide mineralisation.
This survey will cover about 240 square kilometres and 1,460 line kilometres, providing the first detailed airborne magnetic survey over the area.
Also on the tenure, rock chip assays from the Clare prospect on new tenement (EPM27537) have returned results of up to 4.45% copper, confirming its strong potential.
Cooper’s next steps will involve drilling at King Solomon, finalising drill approvals for Python and King Solomon 3, and beginning VTEM surveying, ground truthing and ranking of drill targets.