Duke Exploration Ltd (ASX:DEX) has fielded elevated gold mineralisation with associated copper intervals from initial reverse circulation (RC) drilling at Rogers Prospect within the company’s flagship Bundarra Copper Project in North Queensland.
Analysis of gold assay data has revealed a trend for elevated values to occur with copper in association with mineralised shear veins, brecciated host rocks and altered and sulphidised host rocks.
The Rogers Prospect is part of a four-kilometre structural corridor including Browns South that is rapidly emerging as a candidate for resource delineation drilling in the future.
“Interesting development”
Duke managing director Philip Condon said: “We are very encouraged with the positive Rogers laboratory assay results.
“The emerging association of low-level gold with the overall copper mineralisation at Rogers is an interesting development, with the potential being for added value with the addition of the precious metal.
“The other exciting outcome of the Rogers drilling is the emerging relationship between the structural deformation of the host rocks and the copper mineralisation.
“It is also notable that allied to the copper plus elevated gold assays we are also seeing spikes of molybdenum and silver.”
Drilling at Rogers
To date, Duke has received laboratory assays for eight RC and one diamond borehole drilled at Rogers.
The drilling has tested structurally controlled copper mineralisation with related copper-in-soils pXRF anomalism and electromagnetic conductivity highs.
Strong relationships are emerging between mineralised veins and brecciated and altered host rocks with elevated gold and copper (+/- silver and molybdenum) mineralisation.
Gold and copper intersections from a range of host rocks.
Forward plan
An immediate future work plan is testing structural and magnetic targets emanating from the integration of Duke and Rankin (2022) targets. This work will involve a combination of the following:
- shallow heel-toe RC drilling testing the development of mineralised N-S trending structures in the north-east of the BIC;
- RC drilling testing the geometry and extent of breccia mineralisation at Rogers Prospect;
- RC with a DD tail investigation of a prominent magnetic high located NE of Rogers which may be an intrusive stock; and
- continued geological investigations and ground validation of Rankin (2022) targets.