Duke is closing in on copper targets at Quorn

Special Report: Duke has confirmed that copper soil anomalies at its Quorn copper prospect in Queensland are associated with the main conductive anomalies.

A recently completed soil sampling program that was analysed for multi-element geochemistry found highly anomalous results of up to 0.47 per cent copper over the main conductive anomalies.

This has allowed Duke Exploration (ASX:DEX) to develop new targets where the conductors and copper anomalies correspond as it’s interpreted to be where near surface copper sulphide mineralisation is present.

The soil was analysed using a handheld portable XRF (pXRF) tool. While this technology is not as reliable as lab assays in analysing the amount of contained metal, it is still a good indicator if mineralisation is present.

Given that Quorn is one of the largest and most continuous anomalies present in the broader Bunderra project, it is not hard to see why chairman Toko Kapea is encouraged to see similar scale systems to those mapped at Mt Flora, where the company is drilling near surface copper and silver bearing sulphide veins.

“This has increased our confidence that we will soon be able to announce discoveries of mineralisation in the Quorn area,” he added.

“We are already planning to fast track the acquisition of additional electrical geophysical data and pXRF soil data over potential extensions to the anomalies mapped at Quorn to the south and east and expect the scale of the system for exploration to increase in size throughout the coming year.”

Quorn copper prospect

Induced polarisation surveying has determined that not only are conductive anomalies similar to those at Mt Flora are present at Quron, they are also bigger and more extensive.

This is interpreted to Quorn possessing more extensive and well mineralised sulphide vein systems.

Duke has already picked out the southern sectional anomaly – the largest and most depth-extensive conductivity anomaly mapped at Bunderra – as an immediate new high priority target for follow-up higher resolution geophysical surveys and potential drill testing.

Drilling at the Quarry propsect has already returned results such as 7m at 3.85 per cent copper, 58.2 g/t silver and 0.1 g/t gold.

Upcoming activity

The company plans to complete phase one drilling at Mt Flora, which will guide the next phase of infill drilling, by the March Quarter, 2021.

It also plans to start pattern resource drilling at the Quarry with a focus on the higher grade northern strike extension while carrying out follow up geophysics surveys at Quorn to allow planning of an exploration drilling program.

This article was developed in collaboration with Duke Exploration, 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.