QMines Ltd. has reported further high-grade copper-gold intersections from its ongoing pontoon drilling program beneath the historic Mt Chalmers open pit in Queensland, significantly enhancing geological confidence in the deposit.
The latest assays from diamond drill hole 26MCDD043 returned 26.2 metres at 1.3 per cent copper and 0.7 grams per tonne gold from 36.4 metres.
This broad zone included a high-grade semi-massive sulphide interval of 2.4 metres grading 5.4 per cent copper and 3.8 grams per tonne gold.
High-grade mineralisation was also confirmed 64 metres to the east in hole 26MCDD047, which returned 7.6 metres at 1.8 per cent copper and 1.5 grams per tonne gold.
Meanwhile, hole 26MCDD048 intersected 13.0 metres at 1 per cent copper before mechanical issues forced the hole to be abandoned while still in copper-zinc mineralisation, leaving the zone open at depth.
QMines Exploration Manager Tom Bartschi said the drilling results validated historical data while reinforcing the deposit’s volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) architecture.
“The results from drill hole 26MCDD043 are particularly encouraging,” Bartschi said.
“We have intersected high-grade semi-massive sulphide sitting above a substantial copper-bearing stringer zone, consistent with what we expect from the Mt Chalmers VHMS system.”
“These results will feed directly into our Mineral Resource update with an emphasis on a mining-ready estimate, while the fresh core is also supporting ongoing metallurgical testwork,” he added.
Since late July, QMines has completed 14 pontoon holes for 1,281 metres across the flooded pit using a specialised floating drill rig setup.
Fresh core recovered from the program is being used to de-risk the grade model and advance geometallurgical studies.
With 39 drill holes currently awaiting assay results across its broader exploration program and three rigs actively operating, the company expects a steady flow of news as it prepares an updated mineral resource estimate.
