Cooper Metals Ltd (ASX:CPM) has begun its maiden drilling campaign at King Solomon prospect, part of the Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project in northwest Queensland.
The company has planned 2,000 metres of RC drilling, which will first test targets at King Solomon before turning its attention to the Python prospect pending regulatory approval.
As well as drilling, Cooper also has a large airborne versatile domain electromagnetic (VTEM) survey planned to start next week. This will cover around 240 square kilometres and 1,460 line kilometres providing the first detailed airborne electromagnetic survey over the area.
“It’s great to have started our maiden drilling program at the Mt Isa East Copper-Gold Project," Cooper Metals managing director Ian Warland said.
"The targets at King Solomon and Python look very promising with extensive historical workings, broad geochemical signature and FLEM responses to drill test as part of this program.
"The VTEM survey screening of a large part of Cooper’s tenure will commence next week, we look forward to updating the market as results come to hand.”
Details of the drilling
Cooper will drill under historical workings at King Solomon and test the higher amplitude FLEM responses along the 1.2-kilometre-long mineralised trend.
Notably, the FLEM survey was coincident with the known mineralised trend, striking over 1.2 kilometres with Cooper’s rock chip samples previously returning up to 16.65% copper and 2.58 g/t gold.
Regulatory drill approval (Environmental Authority) is in place for most of the King Solomon prospect, with the rest over King Solomon 3 expected sometime in May.
Drilling will focus on King Solomon 1 and 2 first and then move to King Solomon 3 and Python subject to final regulatory approval.
Mt Isa East Project over regional geology and main prospects.
What’s next
The next few months will be busy for Cooper. Here’s what to expect.
- Complete drilling at King Solomon;
- Finalise drill approvals ahead of drill testing at Python and King Solomon 3; and
- Commence VTEM survey, ground truth and rank targets.