The Conversation (0)
Cobre Limited (ASX: CBE, Cobre or Company) is pleased to announce that it has executed a letter of intent to negotiate exclusively with a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Group Ltd (BHP) for a material earn-in joint venture agreement over Cobre's Kitlanya West and East Copper Projects (Kitlanya Projects), located on the northern and southern basin margins of the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana (Proposed Transaction). The Proposed Transaction follows on from Cobre's successful participation in the BHP Xplor program which also provided funding for the recently completed seismic survey on the Kitlanya West project (see ASX announcements of 23 January 2024 and 22 August 2024)
The Proposed Transaction underscores Cobre's confidence in the potential for its projects to host Tier 1 copper-silver deposits. A partnership with BHP would provide the exploration scale and expertise to maximise our chances of making significant new discoveries on our basin margin exploration ground while retaining 100% ownership of our Ngami and Okavango Copper Projects which are excluded from the Proposed Transaction.
The Proposed Transaction is subject to approval and execution of formal binding documents (Definitive Agreements) and the completion of BHP's due diligence investigations within the exclusivity period. Final details of the Proposed Transaction will be released to the market following completion of the long-form documents.
Commenting on the Proposed Transaction, Adam Wooldridge, Cobre’s Chief Executive Officer, said:
“Successful negotiation and completion of this significant transaction with BHP, one of the world’s leading mining companies, will be a major moment in time for Cobre as a company. Participating in the BHP 2024 Xplor cohort has provided the opportunity to do a belt scale review of the Kalahari Copper Belt, culminating with the collection of seismic data over the prospective northern margin of the belt. The Proposed Transaction with BHP would allow us to fully fund our follow-on exploration programmes and focus on discovering the Tier 1 deposits we believe may be hosted in our Kitlanya West and East Projects.
Independently, Cobre will continue advancing its 100% owned in-situ copper recovery development at Ngami – with a scoping study due in early October - along with further drilling at Cobre’s 100% owned Okavango project. This combined strategy provides exposure to potential Tier 1 discoveries, a development opportunity at Ngami and short-term discoveries on our Okavango project.”
A locality map illustrating the project locations is provided in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Locality map illustrating the position of Cobre’s project areas. Green licenses are relevant tothe Proposed Transaction, dark grey licenses will be run independently by Cobre.
Cobre will continue to provide shareholders with further updates on material developments in respect of the Proposed Transaction.
This ASX release was authorised on behalf of the Cobre Board by: Adam Wooldridge, Chief Executive Officer.
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This article includes content from Cobre Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Geophysics Reveal Further Highly Prospective Targets at Mt Oxide Project
HIGHLIGHTS
- Three MIMDAS Induced Polarisation (IP) and Magnetotelluric (MT) lines at the historic Mt Gordon Copper Mine and Aquila prospect have revealed multiple unexplored geophysical targets with similar signatures to the Vero Cu-Ag-Co resource at Mt Oxide.
- Mt Gordon – Three new shallow and untested anomalies, similar to the Vero resource, have been identified and are partially coincident with historic drilling intersections, including 1.9m @ 3.0% Cu from 106m downhole in ECM11.
- Aquila –Chargeability highs of 15mV/V from two MIMDAS lines spaced 85m apart are coincident with mapped iron oxide-rich breccias which returned up to 0.94% Cu in rock chip samples2.
- A 20m wide, shallow highly chargeable anomaly associated with a 150m long trend of fault breccias with anomalous Cu +/- Ag-As-Bi and no previous drilling.
- A 20m wide and up to 25m deep +25mV/V chargeability and <250ohm.m conductivity anomaly, un-drill tested and correlating with a Dorman trending structure 80m below surface.
- Next Steps
- The geophysical survey is nearing completion with processing pending on Ivena North and an additional line being undertaken at Camp Gossans to test the strike extent of the anomaly at Camp Gossans and the new Black Marlin target3.
- True North Copper’s Exploration team are currently sampling recently identified mineralised structures at Aquila, Rhea and Black Marlin.
- The new geophysics will be integrated with ongoing mapping and surface geochemical sampling campaigns to identify and prioritise targets for future drill campaigns.
- Heritage clearance and access planning for drilling has commenced.
COMMENT
True North Copper’s Managing Director, Bevan Jones said:
“Our geophysical survey at Mt Oxide has revealed several new, highly prospective targets that share similar characteristics with our high-grade Vero deposit. The results of this survey, which has been supported by a Queensland Government CEI Grant, have uncovered significant anomalies at both the historic Mt Gordon Copper Mine and Aquila prospect. These results are in addition to the positive results at Vero and Camp Gossans announced in August. With these exciting developments, we’re optimistic about expanding our exploration footprint and identifying additional drill targets. The continued integration of geophysics, mapping, and sampling will be key to advancing our future exploration programs at Mt Oxide, including the design of the next phase of drilling.”
Figure 1. Location of the Mt Oxide Project, within context of Mt Isa Inlier.
Mt Oxide MIMDAS Survey Results Summary
In July 2024, TNC announced it had commenced its leading edge MIMDAS Induced Polarisation (IP), Resistivity and Magnetotellurics (MT) geophysical survey (MIMDAS survey) at Mt Oxide4. Partial funding of $300k was granted to TNC in Round 8 of the Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI) to undertake the survey (Figure 6).
The MIMDAS survey has aimed to identify potential sulphide mineralisation developed below numerous leached gossan zones and build an improved understanding of the regional scale structural and geological architecture. Two previously reported lines identified chargeability anomalies correlating with mineralisation in the Vero resource and a series of untested anomalies including a chargeability anomaly 1km east of Vero, and two chargeability high responses at Camp Gossans3 beneath outcropping breccias with similar surface geochemical signatures to the Esperanza Deposit5. The coincidence of anomalies directly associated with the Vero resource highlights the applicability of MIMDAS to target copper-silver mineralisation within the Mt Oxide District.
Three additional lines have recently been completed, including two lines 85m apart for 2.3 line-kms over the highly prospective Aquila prospect and one line for 1.5 line-kms over the historic Mt Gordon Copper Mine (Figure 2).
At Aquila, the survey has identified two (2) chargeability responses in the Mount Gordon Fault Zone and the Dorman fault trend, and one conductivity response below a geochemically anomalous fault breccia.
At Mt Gordon, the survey has identified four (4) chargeability responses in the Mount Gordon Fault Zone and in resistive sandstone over a 600m wide chargeability trend.
The geophysical survey is nearing completion with processing pending on Ivena North and an additional line at Camp Gossans, 150m northeast of the line completed in August that returned a very high-order chargeability anomaly coincident with mapped Gossans and defined the new Black Marlin Target3.
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This article includes content from True North Copper, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
Multiple Exciting High-Potential VMS Targets Identified at Evelyn
- Evaluation of historical exploration has identified high-potential drill targets & extensive areas in the Evelyn Mining Lease requiring further exploration
- The high-grade Evelyn base metal deposit (590Kt @ 2.54 % Cu, 3.90 % Zn)1 is centrally located within a granted Mining Lease & historical magnetic and EM surveys have defined prospective “event-horizon” stratigraphy that strikes for >3.0 km in the tenement. Approximately 70% of this highly prospective stratigraphy remains largely untested by effective drilling
- Discrete, late-time conductors defined by a VTEM (airborne EM) survey flown in 2007 are located beneath alluvial cover & remain largely untested
- Rock chip results from the recent sampling program at Felsic Dome target returned up to 3.94% Cu and 1.21 g/t Au, demonstrating prospectivity immediately west of Evelyn
- Strong bedrock conductors defined by FLEM (ground EM) surveys occur beneath transported cover with very limited drill testing completed
- Previous exploration ignored geochemical techniques in favour of geophysics
- Surface, auger & litho-geochemical techniques to be used extensively, allowing for fast & efficient exploration to identify further drill targets, mostly within the prospective event-horizon stratigraphy
- RC drilling is proposed to test existing VTEM & FLEM conductivity along with other targets generated by the geochemical program
Anax’s Managing Director, Geoff Laing commented: “Evelyn is a rich, high-value base metal deposit and the discovery of any further ore positions within the granted Mining Lease would add considerably to the overall economics of the broader Whim Creek Project. The exploration team have done well to advance the prospectivity of the area and we look forward to executing a more aggressive discovery strategy going forward”
The Company has undertaken a full review of all historical exploration resulting in the identification of considerable potential to add existing resources with successful exploration.
Figure 1: Location of the Whim Creek Project and Evelyn Deposit
Geological Overview
The Evelyn deposit exhibits many characteristics typical of a Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) style of mineralisation. The ore is comprised predominantly of massive pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite and minor quantities of galena and pyrite. Almost no gangue exists within the ore and the interconnectivity of the sulphide minerals results in strong electrical conductivity providing an excellent target for ground, airborne and downhole electrical geophysical techniques.
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This article includes content from Anax Metals Limited, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.