Duke has once again doubled the mineralised area at the Mt Flora project after drilling of a VTEM plate anomaly to the north intersected visible copper sulphides.
The single extension hole targeting the anomaly intersected the mineralisation in multiple zones from 47m to a depth of 225m, a result that is interpreted to be similar to stacked massive sulphide veins mined at Mt Flora.
Importantly, it extends the strike of the Mt Flora deposit that requires resource drilling by 250m, adding to the mineralised area defined by drilling to the south.
And there might be more to come.
Duke Exploration (ASX:DEX) is planning to drill two holes, 60m and 120m, along strike to the north to test the strike extent of this new vein system.
This is expected to be completed by the end of February and could extend the strike of the known copper and silver mineralisation at Mt Flora by more than 500m.
Phase two drilling at Mt Flora, which will start immediately and continue to the end of June, includes pattern drilling of the new northern vein system.
“We are very excited with the results from the first hole targeting the VTEM plate anomaly to the north of Mt Flora,” chairman Toko Kapea said.
“The amount of visible copper sulphides logged and a number of sulphide veins confirm the known copper and silver mineralisation at Mt Flora continues to the north for a significant strike extent, which will further add to the mineralised area already drilled by our resource drilling program.
“This is a very exciting time for the company as these results have exceeded already our expectations of how big Mt Flora could be.”
“This goes hand in hand with the growth potential from the 40 remaining undrilled VTEM plate anomalies that now seem likely to map more copper bearing massive sulphide veins.”
Further work
Besides the drilling at Mt Flora, Duke will also start pattern resource drilling at the Quarry anomaly, complete follow-up geophysics surveys at Quorn to allow planning of a drilling program and extend gradient array and pXRF soil sampling to cover anomalous areas from the Quorn surveys that are open.
It will also complete gradient array and soil surveys over the Isens Underground mine area with the goal of starting drilling in the second quarter as well as finalising land access and drill planning at the Prairie Creek gold target.
In addition, the company plans to source a second rig to fast track resource and exploration drilling.
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.