Golden Mile validates Odyssey prospectivity with rock chips

Rock chip sampling at Odyssey delivers impressive assay results
Mineralisation has been confirmed across multiple structure
Golden Mile Resources is anticipating the receipt of further rock chip assays from other targets

Special report: Arizona explorer Golden Mile Resources is looking to drill targets at the Pearl copper project after the latest batch of rock chip assays eclipsed previous results in terms of copper, zinc and lead grades.

Mineralisation has been confirmed across multiple structures hosting mineralised north-north-west trending epithermal veins, with results including up to 312g/t silver, 15.2% copper, 24.8% zinc and 12.65% lead.

The rock chips also demonstrated visible malachite, chrysocolla, and smithsonite, minerals that indicate the strong potential for high grade copper and zinc mineralisation within the structures, and supporting drill targeting.

Golden Mile’s (ASX:G88) Pearl copper asset is in the San Manuel mining district within the world-class Laramide porphyry copper province and located in the prolific Southwestern North American porphyry copper province, which is the principal copper metallogenic province in the US.

This area accounts for about 70% of total US copper production in 2023.

Despite prolific evidence of surface mineralisation immediately north of BHP’s San Manuel-Kalamazoo mine – one of the largest deposits in the Laramide province, Pearl itself has only seen minimal modern exploration and has never been drilled.

Expanding drilling

G88 recently decided to expand its planned maiden drilling program next year to include the newly elevated Ford prospect, beneath the historic Ford mine’s underground workings, as well as Odyssey.

Ford was developed on a highly altered and polymetallic mineralised zone, with production beginning in 1900 and continuing to a depth of ~60m below the surface before water egress stopped mining.

The initial permit application has been submitted to relevant government agencies in Arizona to secure drilling approval.

“These rock chip samples have delivered the best set of assays at the Odyssey Prospect to date and reinforce the high prospectivity of the Pearl copper project,” G88 managing director Damon Dormer said.

The mapping and sampling has confirmed visible mineralisation, which is supported by significant multi-element grades and persists for over 800m of strike length.

Further, a parallel structure named the Odyssey West Vein hosts similar historic workings, with samples returning grades up to 5.71% copper.

This structure is traceable for approximately 300m in strike length and in places swells up to 2m in width.

Although a secondary structure in comparison to the main Odyssey Trend, its presence highlights the potential for metalliferous mineralisation within the prospect.

What’s coming up?

Further rock chip assays from other targets within the Pearl Project area including Pearl East and Ford are expected in the coming weeks.

Proposed drilling at the Odyssey prospect includes a total of eight drill platforms supporting 12 reverse circulation drill holes for up to 1600m.

The proposed drilling at the Ford Prospect includes four RC holes for up to 500m.

Permit applications have been submitted and the company is awaiting the approval process as well as engaging industry consultants to carry out vegetation and cultural resource surveys.

The process of awarding a drilling contract is well advanced, with several companies capable and available for delivering the required services for the planned program.

This article was developed in collaboration with Golden Mile Resources, 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.