Duke Exploration Ltd (ASX:DEX) has enhanced its flagship Bundarra project in central Queensland with assays confirming copper grades from the Quorn prospect but adding elevated gold and silver values.
The latest results for nine Quorn reverse circulation (RC) drilling show elevated gold values occurring with copper in the breccia zone as well as in the adjacent mineralised shear veins and altered and sulphidised granodiorite host rock at depth.
In particular, two drill holes - BHRC019 and BNRC025 - returned 4 metres at 0.93 g/t gold, 1.06% copper and 114 g/t silver and 6 metres at 0.33 g/t gold, respectively.
The Quorn Prospect has become a priority for resource delineation drilling in the future.
The following table shows the intercepts and compares the copper assays with pXRF readings:
Deeper drilling
Location of the Quorn Prospect and current RC drill holes relative to the BIC and Mt Flora.
The RC drilling has successfully increased the vertical extent of the Quorn mineral system from 100 metres to about 300 metres below surface.
The newly-discovered zones at depth include:
- 31 metres at 0.4% copper from 180 metres;
- 18 metres at 0.29% copper from 277 metres;
- 17 metres at 0.51% copper from 315 metres.
Future work at Quorn will include a combination of preliminary geological modelling and design of a drill program.
“Potential targets”
“We are very encouraged with the ongoing positive results being received from our laboratory assays,” said Duke Exploration managing director Philip Condon.
“These are firming up our understanding of elevated gold assays with copper mineralisation as well as showing good correlations with the pXRF results that were previously announced.
“Significant, potentially open-ended intersections have been achieved at depth at Quorn in BNRC025 below the breccia as defined currently. These intersections are all related to highly altered and hematite dusted granodiorite.
“The updated results for the Rogers and Quorn prospects are continuing to support them as potential targets for mineral resource delineation in the future,” he added.
Cross section showing the features of the Quorn mineral system – breccia zone extending down to intense hematite – silica alteration zone.
Future 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 northeast 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.