Impact Minerals Limited (ASX: IPT) has announced the resumption of exploration activities at its 100 per cent-owned Broken Hill Project in New South Wales in response to stronger metal prices, innovative in‑house exploration concepts, and renewed industry interest in the iconic mining region.
The 1,770 square kilometre project surrounds the world-class Broken Hill silver–lead–zinc deposit, which has produced over 500 million tonnes of massive sulphide ore since its discovery in 1883.
Recent acquisitions and new discoveries by nearby operators have reignited corporate and exploration activity, presenting what Impact Minerals’ Managing Director, Dr Mike Jones, described as “unfinished business” for the company in the district.
“Although we are making important progress on all aspects of our work in the high purity alumina field, both at Lake Hope and with our major investment in Alluminous Pty Ltd, there is still unfinished business for Impact at Broken Hill,” Dr Jones said.
Jones said that with the recent surge in precious metal and copper prices, and renewed activity in the district following Broken Hill Mines Limited’s (ASX:BHM) acquisition of the well-known Rasp Mine, part of the company’s recently raised capital would be directed toward strengthening its exploration program in the area.
He added that earlier exploration had outlined several promising targets for nickel-copper-PGMs and Broken Hill-style silver-lead-zinc mineralisation, both still warranting further work.
Jones also noted that insights gained through the company’s participation in the 2023 BHP Xplor program had led to new geological models for large copper systems and, earlier this year, the acquisition of an extensive new land position in the region.
He said a ground magneto-telluric survey was now underway to define drill targets for early 2026, with results eagerly anticipated.
The restart comes amid a backdrop of strengthened commodity markets, especially for gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and copper.
Impact’s exploration program will focus on three distinct mineralisation styles across its tenure: early-stage sedimentary or magmatic copper deposits, magmatic nickel‑copper‑PGM sulphides, and traditional Broken Hill‑type silver‑lead‑zinc systems.
At the Platinum Springs, Red Hill, and Rockwell–Little Broken Hill prospects, high-grade magmatic nickel-copper-PGM sulphides are associated with late-stage (820 Ma) ultramafic to mafic intrusions.
A standout intercept of 0.6 metres returned 7.6 per cent copper, 7.4 per cent nickel, 25.6 g/t palladium, 11.5 g/t platinum, 1.4 g/t gold, and 44.3 g/t silver from 57.4 metres down hole (PSD02).
During earlier work in 2020, Impact identified a proprietary multi‑metal ratio measurable by hand‑held XRF that reliably correlated with PGE grades, offering real-time vectoring toward high-grade zones during drilling.
This method helped the company identify the first consistent zones of high-grade nickel‑copper‑PGEs in four decades — showing similarities to ribbon‑like channel structures seen at Kambalda.
Three new mineralised channels were located within the Plat Central and Plat East prospects. Highlights included 1 metre at 10.9 g/t palladium, 7.3 g/t platinum, 0.9 g/t rhodium, 1.3 g/t osmium, and 1.4 g/t iridium from 62 metres; and 7 metres at 3.8 g/t 7PGE, 0.6% copper, and 0.5% nickel from 53 metres, including 1 metre at 3.6 g/t palladium, 1.8 g/t platinum, and 1.2 per cent copper.
All channels remain open along trend and at depth, underscoring the potential for significant discoveries along the 9 km‑long Moorkai Trend.
Impact’s follow-up work program will include high‑resolution ground electromagnetic surveys to refine drill targets for 2026.
The company expects results from these surveys to further outline high‑priority zones for nickel‑copper‑PGE and copper‑dominant systems.
