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Staff Writer
 

BMC Minerals has delivered an impressive update from its 2024 drilling campaign at the Kudz Ze Kayah (KZK) Project in Yukon, Canada. The company’s latest results, from two high-priority targets called Rhyolite Peak and Fuego, showcase substantial mineralisation, strengthening the case for KZK as a multi-metal powerhouse. Located within 1.5 km of the main ABM deposit, these new zones highlight the project’s potential to expand well beyond its initial footprint.

Key Findings from the 2024 Drilling Campaign

Drill-rig-Sept-2017-DSC_1190-1-768x510Assays from the first 14 holes underscore the potential of these zones, with strong values for zinc, copper, silver, and gold. Highlights include:

  • Rhyolite Peak: 4.5 metres at 0.3% copper, 2.5% lead, 8.7% zinc, 291 grams per tonne (g/t) silver, and 1.7 g/t gold.
  • Fuego: A larger interval of 16.0 metres at 3.5% copper, 0.5% lead, 3.2% zinc, 88 g/t silver, and 0.8 g/t gold.

These results are particularly intriguing given that the Fuego zone shows extensive copper grades, with standout sub-sections such as 2.5 metres at 5.6% copper and 133 g/t silver. At Rhyolite Peak, while copper levels are moderate, silver and zinc are especially promising, adding diversification to the project’s resource profile​​.

The Exploration of Rhyolite Peak and Fuego

Rhyolite Peak

Positioned roughly 1.2 km west of ABM, Rhyolite Peak’s geology appears closely aligned with the ABM deposit. Drilling has revealed semi-massive to massive sulphide veins, suggesting the potential for a replacement-style deposit similar to ABM. Key intercepts include:

  • Hole K24-544: 4.5 metres grading 0.3% Cu, 2.5% Pb, 8.7% Zn, 291 g/t Ag, 1.7 g/t Au.
  • Hole K24-545: 2.4 metres at 0.5% Cu, 2.4% Pb, 6.7% Zn, 595 g/t Ag, 3.2 g/t Au.

This mineralisation remains open in several directions, providing BMC with ample opportunity for further expansion​.

Fuego

The copper-rich Fuego zone is drawing attention for its high-grade intervals. Located near a geological fault likely associated with hydrothermal activity, Fuego represents a potential feeder zone, rich in vein and massive sulphide formations. Highlights include:

  • Hole K24-527: 16.0 metres grading 3.5% Cu, 0.5% Pb, 3.2% Zn, 88 g/t Ag, 0.8 g/t Au, with sub-intervals showing up to 5.6% copper over 2.5 metres.

These copper-dominant results make Fuego particularly compelling, offering the potential for high-value production if further drilling confirms the continuity and scale of mineralisation​.

Strategic Outlook and Future Steps

CEO Scott Donaldson commented on the campaign's success, noting that “the results from the 2024 drilling campaign are very exciting. Our targeting tools have proved to be highly effective, and the program as a whole has been extremely successful. Including the GP4F area, we now have four known high-grade massive targets near the main ABM deposit”​.

BMC’s ambitious 2024 campaign drilled 69 holes across 11,322 metres, primarily targeting exploration with the support of metallurgical and geotechnical work. The company’s reliance on geophysical tools, including EM and IP surveys, UAV magnetics, and geochemical assays, continues to pay off, guiding exploration towards rich mineral zones.

Towards Full Production at KZK

The KZK Project centres on the ABM deposit, which already holds an impressive mineral resource base. The proposed ABM mine, slated to process 2 million tonnes annually, is designed to yield about 200,000 tonnes of zinc concentrate, 60,000 tonnes of copper concentrate, and 50,000 tonnes of lead-silver concentrate each year. The expected mine life of roughly 10 years adds a decade of significant production to BMC’s profile.

The Path Forward

Situated within the Finlayson District—a region known for its high-grade VHMS deposits—the KZK Project has benefitted from favourable exploration and regulatory conditions. BMC is currently progressing through environmental assessments and community consultations, with license applications under review.

As BMC moves towards the permitting phase, this new drilling data strengthens the project's outlook. The 2025 program will likely prioritise these high-grade zones, with Fuego and Rhyolite Peak as the central targets. Should results continue to build on these early successes, KZK may well become a prominent, multi-metal producer in the Yukon.

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