Summary
Results received for the Company's maiden drill program designed as a scout concept test of the 5km-long outcropping mineralization system at the Dora prospect1,2. The scout program is the first drilling to target the under-explored trend and was co-funded by the Tasmanian government under their Exploration Drilling Grant Incentive (EDGI) scheme.
Two diamond core holes (D3-001 and D2-002) totalling 788.7m drilled on the Dora 3 target testing outcropping Cu-Au anomalies. The target concept was confirmed with both holes intersecting broad zones of anomalous IOCG-style copper mineralization. Best intercepts include: 29.0m @ 0.18 % Cu from 248m, including 4.0m @ 0.46% Cu and 0.12g/t Au and 31.4g/t Ag from 249m (D3-001). 34.0m @ 0.12% Cu from 212m (D3-002).
Copper mineralization comprising disseminated, breccia, and vein style chalcopyrite in moderate to strongly magnetite-chlorite to potassic (k-feldspar) altered host rocks. The intensity of alteration and mineralization and generally low tenure of copper grades possibly indicates that the holes intersected the lower-grade, less intense parts of a larger IOCG system.
The results are highly encouraging and emphasize the exploration potential at the Dora prospect and greater Skyline project area and further exploration work is being planned to expand the Company's understanding of the potential of this system.
At the Dora prospect a northwest trending zone of highly prospective outcropping Cu-Au mineralization extends over a strike length of approximately 5km1. Despite evidence for a potentially significant Cu-Au system at Dora, the area had previously remained untested by drilling. CopperCorp identified four priority target areas at Dora2, with two of the target areas (Dora 2 and Dora 3) originally selected for initial drilling2. Only the Dora 3 target area was tested by drilling as the program was cut short due to adverse weather conditions and associated logistical issues.
Exploration Concept
The Mount Read Volcanics (MRV) is an arcuate belt of Cambrian aged calc-alkaline volcanic sequences and broadly co-magmatic granitoid intrusives. It is host to several world-class polymetallic base metal, Cu-Au, and Au-only deposits. The MRV formed in sub-marine rift basins related to a post-subduction extensional tectonic regime during the Middle Cambrian Tyennan-Delamerian Orogeny.
CopperCorp has recognized a large, district-scale magmatic-hydrothermal IOCG style Cu-Au and REE system is developed along the eastern margin of the MRV belt associated with a spine of Cambrian aged magnetite-series, K-Ba-REE rich, alkaline granitoid-porphyry intrusives that drive the mineralization system. The regional tectonic setting (post-collisional/back-arc setting), calc-alkaline volcanic host rocks and style of Cu-Au mineralization/alteration of the MRV can be broadly compared with the Andean Coastal Cordillera IOCG belt which hosts numerous large Cu-Au deposits such as Candelaria (470Mt @ 0.95% Cu, 0.22g/t Au).
The exploration potential of the IOCG system is illustrated by historical drill intercepts into IOCG style mineralization at CopperCorp's recently acquired Razorback Project3 including 13.4m @ 1.6% Cu and 1.6g/t Au from 61.6m (drillhole JP2)3 at the Jukes prospect. Potential for rare earth element (REE) mineralization is also recognized with previous exploration drilling returning REE intercepts of 30.0m @ 2.1% TREO (drillhole SDD005)3, and anomalous REE's in surface rock chip sampling up to 16.2% TREO3 at the South Darwin prospect with limited follow-up exploration.
Drilling Results
Dora 3 Target Area:
The Dora 3 target area comprises an elongate zone, some +500m in strike length (open), of outcropping mineralization in an altered volcaniclastic host rock sequence. Anomalous assays from rock sampling in the Dora 3 area has included up to 1.03% Cu with 0.4g/t Au, 21g/t Ag and 0.13% Zn1,2.
The Company completed a scout drilling program at the Dora 3 target comprising 2 drill holes for a total of 788.7m. Drilling was designed to test for IOCG style mineralization highlighted by surface mapping and geochemistry. No previous drilling had been undertaken in the target area.
Both drill holes intersected multiple zones of low-grade disseminated and vein style chalcopyrite mineralization. Elevated values of gold, silver, lead and zinc are associated with the copper mineralization.
D3-002: 34.0m @ 0.12% Cu from 212m (D3-002).
Host rock lithology in the drill holes comprises quartz-feldspar-phyric rhyolites, diverse felsic volcaniclastic rocks, feldspar-biotite-hornblende-phyric andesites and related mafic-intermediate volcaniclastic rocks. Both holes intersected similar styles of hydrothermal alteration including K-feldspar-chlorite, chlorite-magnetite-pyrite, and sericite-chlorite-carbonate alteration facies. Copper mineralization in the form of disseminated, blebby and whispy stringer-vein chalcopyrite is predominantly associated with the chlorite-magnetite alteration zones.
The alteration types and mineralization styles in the Dora drill holes are consistent with those observed elsewhere in the district-scale MRV IOCG system and also in IOCG terrains worldwide. At the Company's recently acquired
Other Business
New Tenements Granted
As previously reported (refs) the Company previously submitted tenement applications for EL15/2022 (
About the
About CopperCorp
CopperCorp is a well-financed mineral exploration company with approximately
Quality Assurance / Quality Control on Assay Results
Full information on historical exploration activities and results at the Dora prospect and
Information on historical and recent prospecting, mining, and exploration activities at the
CopperCorp's diamond core drill holes are drilled at HQ and NQ core diameters using triple tube to maximize recovery. Core recovery is generally good in mineralized zones (95-100%) with poorer recoveries associated with brittle faulting on zone margins. Sample collection is supervised by CopperCorp geological staff. Mineralized zones are marked up for sampling by an experienced geologist. Half core is split by diamond saw on nominal 1.0m sample lengths while respecting geological contacts. Samples are bagged and ticketed prior to delivery by Company personnel to the ALS commercial laboratories in Burnie,
(C) 2023 Electronic News Publishing, source