You’ve heard of Austin City Limits, the music festival that takes over the Texan hipster hub to unearth the platinum artists of the future. Right?

But the Austin copper target identified by GreenTech Metals (ASX:GRE) has no limits yet, after the junior explorer identified a massive, highly conductive offhole EM response in a downhole survey north of the Whundo copper mine.

Everything is bigger in Texas, and while Whundo is in WA’s mineral rich Pilbara, the Austin target certainly pays homage to its incidental namesake.

The 10,000-plus siemens response is modelled at over 200m of strike and up to 60m down dip, with a target plunge of 20-30 degrees to the north, consistent with the known Whundo mineralisation.

Indeed, the target potentially represents a repeat or deeper extension of Whundo, with the conductor linking shallower Whundo copper and zinc deposits to the deeper mineralisation found at Shelby.

There’s plenty of smoke pointing to a potential fire. While the target is yet to be tested with drilling by GreenTech or its historical owners, copper mineralisation has been found at similar depths in nearby holes, including 12m at 0.25% copper from 209m, including 2m at 1.5% in hole 22GTRC024.

It is thought this could be a peripheral hit to the larger target at Austin, where five historic holes were drilled, three collared over the target, but did not test the target because they were at the wrong angle and depth.

Excitement abounds 

GreenTech Metals executive director Thomas Redcliffe noted how exciting the Austin conductor was given its intensity, size and location.

“This new large untested conductor is very exciting given the strength of the EM response, its size and proximity to known copper mineralisation,” he said.

“We believe this target may represent a major extension of the Whundo Cu-Zn deposit.

“The location of the large Austin highly conductive anomaly is also significant as it supports our exploration model that this is a broad VMS mineral system encompassing Whundo to the west, the deeper Shelby mineralisation to the east and including the old copper workings at Yannery.

“We look forward to drill testing this new target at our earliest opportunity.”

Discussions are already underway with several drill contractors regarding the availability of drill rigs, with the size and scope of the Austin drill program still to be nutted out.

Other priority targets at Whundo are likely to be tested as part of the Austin program.

Assays from GreenTech’s maiden drill program at Whundo have been returned, with 22GTRC016 and 22GTRC024 complementing results from hole 22GTRC023, showing a persistent mineralised horizon increasing in thickness and grade down plunge.

The horizon parallels the main Whundo orebody 50m below and likely continues to surface.

 

 

 

This article was developed in collaboration with GreenTech Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

 

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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