Duke Exploration Ltd (ASX:DEX) has delivered strong exploration progress during the quarter ending June 30, 2022, advancing its portfolio of copper and gold assets in Queensland.
During the period, the company received encouraging copper, silver and gold assays from the Rogers, Quorn, Browns South and Lone H prospects.
The company continued a scout reverse circulation (RC) program testing primary targets at its flagship Bundarra Copper Project.
What's more, Duke received an integrated study on the geophysical signature of the project which was the basis for a re-interpreted geological framework for copper mineralisation in the Bundarra Intrusive Complex (BIC).
The work program for the current quarter will focus on completing the test drilling of several structural and magnetic anomalies generated by the study.
Assuming positive outcomes from this process and suitable prevailing market conditions, the reverse circulation (RC) rig will be following on with mineral resource delineation drilling of the top targets.
“Positive results”
Duke managing director Philip Condon said: “We are very encouraged with the positive results achieved through our program during Q2, 2022.
“Laboratory assays have mostly been received and are firming up our understanding of elevated gold assays with copper mineralisation.
“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. Future evaluation with a combination of RC and diamond drilling is justified.
“The drilling at Rogers has established a NE trending structural corridor approximately 4000 metres long and up to 200 metres wide within which mineralised shear and breccia structures have been intersected.
“The Rogers Corridor is host to mineralised zones at surface up to 30 metres wide that can be correlated with adjoining boreholes over approximately 350 metres of strike.
“The updated results for the Rogers and Quorn prospects are continuing to support them as potential targets for mineral resource delineation in the future.”
Operational update
During the quarter, the Bundarra RC program focused on scout testing high-ranking prospects that are the most likely areas to host significant mineralisation with high grade and/or a large extent.
A further 38 scout reverse circulation (RC) drill holes were completed, totalling 7,230 metres at the project.
Scout drilling at Rogers has established an open-ended northeast trending corridor of copper-bearing structures and local brecciation zones within a zone about 4,000 metres long and up to 200 metres wide.
Intersections include near surface (0-41 metres down hole depth) over about 350 metres strike that may be correlatable structures (BNRC013-BNDD004-BNRC010).
Drilling at Quorn Breccia has deepened the known extent of the mineralised system to more than 300 metres below surface.
Copper mineralisation is open and hosted in hematite dusted strongly altered intrusive rocks.
Lone Hand scout drilling has intersected a gently east-dipping vein system with similarities to Mt Flora style mineralisation. The vein package is open-ended along strike and at depth.
Forward plan
Immediate future work comprises testing structural and magnetic targets emanating from the integration of Duke and Rankin (2022) targets.
This work will involve a combination of:
- 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.
- Continued geological investigations and ground validation of Rankin (2022) targets.