Helix Resources Ltd (ASX:HLX) has drilled multiple copper intersections from scout RC drilling at the Bijoux Prospect which is part of an aggressive target generation and testing program aimed at making new copper (and gold) discoveries in the Cobar-Nyngan area of central NSW.
Drill testing of the Bijoux target in the southern Rochford Trend was recently completed and this report is a preliminary summary of encouraging observations of copper mineralisation in seven of those RC drill holes.
A total of nine RC holes (BJRC006 to BJRC014) for 1,716m were completed. Two holes (BJRC007 and BJRC008) followed up on anomalous copper intercepts in two holes from 2020 (BJRC001 and BJRC002) and the remaining seven holes were drilled within the recently updated Bijoux copper anomaly.
Visible oxide and sulphide copper mineralisation was intersected in seven holes, outlining a 140m NNW-trending mineralised zone that dips steeply to the north-northeast (NNE) and is open to the north and at depth.
The mineralised zone comprises oxide copper mineralisation (mainly malachite observed) in the upper, weathered zones and transitions to sulphide mineralisation (chalcopyrite observed) in fresh rock. However, the geometry and trends of the primary mineralisation still needs to be resolved. Significant intervals of visible copper mineralisation logged include:
- 25m of oxide copper mineralisation, weak to strong malachite from 49m in BJRC012.
- 4m of weak to strong chalcopyrite veins up to 5% from 183m in BJRC010.
- 8m of weak to strong chalcopyrite veins up to 5% from 143m in BJRC013.
Helix’s Executive Technical Director, Dr Kylie Prendergast, said these are highly encouraging first-pass results and the drilled interval of shallow oxide copper potentially highlights the presence of significant fresh sulphide-copper mineralisation nearby. Further data is required to resolve the geometry and structure of the mineralisation intersected to date. Downhole electromagnetic surveys of several RC holes are planned in the coming weeks and combined with ongoing mapping and the drill assays will assist in planning the follow-up round of drilling planned for 2024.
“Last week we reported numerous new copper anomalies emerging along the Rochford trend due to recent geochemical and geophysical work by the company. This week we can report positive, early results from drill testing of one of those targets – the Bijoux copper prospect,” Dr Prendergast said.
“Our geologists have observed widespread, intervals of ‘oxide-copper’ minerals – which are generally the near- surface weathered versions of ‘fresh sulphide-copper’ mineralisation occurring deeper. The drilling has also hit some sulphide-copper intervals further validating our interpretation.
“These are highly encouraging results, but we need to pause the drilling to utilise downhole geophysics and the drill assays to enable us to better vector the next round of drilling into primary copper mineralisation that we are targeting.
“As Mike, a baseball fan, stated during the AGM presentation ‘we are loading the bases’ by building up a large number of copper targets. These results bode well for the major drill program we are planning for 2024 to test many of these new, multi-faceted targets and ‘score some runs’ for shareholders.
“We look forward to providing further updates on our progress toward making new copper discoveries in the Cobar region.”
