Norfolk aims to stack Chilean copper riches as it launches drilling at Carmen project

• Norfolk launches up to 50-hole, 5,100m drill program at Carmen copper project in Chile
• Initial RC drilling to confirm historical drill intercepts as test new targets along strike
• Diamond drilling will test for sulphide mineralisation below the copper oxide cap

Special Report: Norfolk Metals has embarked on a maiden drill campaign aimed at unlocking the potential for a low-cost, high-margin heap leach operation at its Carmen copper project in Chile.

It has started the reverse circulation phase of the campaign, which will comprise up to 50 holes, to both confirm historical drill intercepts within the proven copper mineralisation zone from surface at the Carmen Main target as well as testing targets along strike.

Norfolk Metals’ (ASX:NFL) Carmen project in Chile’s Atacama region hosts multiple drill-ready targets across more than 15km of untested strike over two distinct belts plus a historical, non-JORC NI 43-101 copper oxide resource of 5.6Mt at 0.6% copper.

Adding interest, it is just 16km from the Nueva Unión joint venture between Teck and Newmont that is developing the multi-billion-dollar Relincho and Fortuna deposits.

“Norfolk and Transcendence are pleased to announce we are successfully drilling only two months to the day since we commenced the earn-in to the Carmen copper project,” executive chairman Ben Phillips said.

The company is earning a 70% stake in the project by spending $3m on Carmen over three years. A director from vendor Transcendence Mining will also be appointed to the Norfolk board.

More from NFL: Norfolk gets drill-ready for Chilean copper at Carmen

Drill program

The RC phase will concentrate on confirming known mineralisation within the historical resource area with some twinning of important historical drill holes.

It will also test targets along strike on the Carmen-Tabaco Thrust Fault system.

This will be followed by diamond drilling to examine the sulphide mineralisation below the copper oxide cap from 40m depth.

Additional drilling of either variety will seek to expand mineralisation on sections to the southwest of the historical resource as well as down-dip and below the copper oxide cap within the Carmen Main Target area to examine sulphide mineralisation and confirm important historical sulphide intercepts.

Assays from the drill campaign will be sent to ALS Laboratories in Chile for analysis.

In Q4 2025, the company will also submit subsequent drill permitting applications and commence metallurgical test work on copper oxide ore.

This article was developed in collaboration with Norfolk 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.