Metalicity sampling extends copper mineralisation at Mt Surprise

Mt Surprise is living up to its name with soil sampling carried out by Metalicity to follow up on previous high grade rock chips indicating further copper and base metal anomalies.

The sampling indicates increased zones of anomalous mineralisation initially identified from those rock chip, which had returned up to 11.5% copper, 392 parts per million (ppm) cobalt, 2.94% lead, 44.97 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 0.2% zinc in late 2022.

Importantly, the presence of pathfinder elements such as molybdenum, bismuth, tungsten and cobalt are potentially representative of a larger copper mineralised system while the mineralised anomalies remain open in multiple directions.

Metalicity (ASX:MCT) also recently completed geophysical work at the tenure to identify potential prospective structures and generate future targets.

Fieldwork to test anomaly extensions, next order exploration and drilling targets and the recently secured new tenure at Mt Surprise (EPM28653) is expected to begin shortly.

Previous fieldwork

“Previous analysis and fieldwork undertaken by the company had identified a substantial north-south copper-cobalt mineralization zone, with the potential to extend strike in excess of 4km,” managing director Justin Barton said.

“This soil program and resulting assays have further confirmed the increased anomalous mineralisation previously identified and have also identified a potential significant East-West trending anomaly, highlighting the significant prospective upside of this project.

“With the wet season in Queensland coming to an end, we are excited to recommence exploration on these new targets at Mt Surprise and continuing to explore this mineral rich tenure for which we have only begun to scratch the surface.

“This field program will be undertaken in conjunction with our maiden field program at our recently granted and highly prospective Georgetown Project which we are very excited about as it hosts multiple outcropping pegmatites which make it highly prospective for finding lithium mineralisation.”

Soil sampling

The soil sampling program, which is ideal for identifying concealed anomalies in areas with minimal to no outcrop such as Mt Surprise, was carried out over three priority targets identified through rock chip results, field observations and review of historical exploration reporting.

Sampling at the Copper Cap anomaly clearly identified a roughly east west trending anomaly which widens and appears to extend towards the west.

This runs perpendicular to the veins which host copper mineralisation observed in historical excavations trend north-northwest to south-southeast which aligns with associated mobile multi-elements.

Additionally, the presence of pathfinder elements such as molybdenum, bismuth, tungsten and cobalt.

The current dimensions of the copper anomaly in this area alone could be up to 2km long and 500m wide which is a significantly increased target area from initial rock chip samples.

Soil sampling was also carried out at the Double Barrel prospect – a distinctly gossanous outcrop of rhyolitic dyke where rock chip sampling returned base metal mineralisation.

This indicates a large base metal anomaly 1km in length and up to 650m and associated pathfinder multi-elements.

Double Barrel is a particularly strong anomaly with some results for lead and silver being substantially higher than anomalous with one sample returning 0.46% lead and another returning 6.07g/t silver.

The extent of the widespread anomalism indicates that a future program of fine fraction soil sampling is likely to be significantly better at defining the extent of the anomaly.

Additionally, there are a large number of rhyolitic dykes within the Mt Surprise Project area that may be associated with base metal or other mineralisation.

The road ahead

Metalicity has engaged a geophysics consultant to re-process and report on all available geophysical survey data in the Mt Surprise area.

This is designed to generate further potential targets and increase the confidence and dimensions of the newly identified mineralisation anomalies with a report expected in the next two weeks.

Future follow up work will test the potential 4km striking copper target as well as the open extensions to copper and base metal targets through a combination of field mapping and both extensional and tighter spaced soil sampling to provide greater anomaly definition.

This article was developed in collaboration with Metalicity, 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.