Norfolk Metals’ maiden drill testing at the Roger River Project, in Tasmania, has intersected native copper in the first hole.
Notably, native copper was observed over discrete zones from 58.50m to 145.40m downhole comprised of disseminated to blebby copper (1-3%) hosted in altered magnetic basalt and within silica-carbonate veins in drillhole 22RRD-001.
Tasmania is host to several world-class base and precious metal deposits such as Rosebury (MMG) and Mount Lyell (New Century Zinc).
However, Norfolk Metals (ASX:NFL) has no estimate of potential gold, copper and/or any other base metal mineralisation, which can only be confidently determined through laboratory analysis.
All drill core samples have now been dispatched to ALS Laboratories and will be analysed for precious and base metals.
Promising underexplored ground
The Roger River project comprises two exploration licenses licences (ELs) coving 261km2 and over 30 kilometres strike of the highly prospective Roger River Fault zone – which is host to several gold and copper occurrences as well as alteration, silicification and diatreme breccias typical of epithermal precious metal deposits.
Executive Chairman Ben Phillips says the consistent occurrence of native copper in the first hole at Roger River is “very encouraging.”
“Norfolk’s prospectus stated that the Roger River Fault copper occurrences are poorly understood and would require work; we look forward to exploring this virgin fault via our defined targets,” he said.
“The preliminary results from our first drill hole indicate that the fault that splays off the Roger River Fault is fertile and validates the company’s early decision to acquire the recently granted EL17/2021.
“We look forward to continuing the drill program over our priority targets and improving our understanding of the mineralisation over this very exciting, underexplored ground,” Phillips said.
Follow-up exploration planned
The company recently received assay results from a recent soil orientation program at Roger River, which defined multiple discrete gold and copper anomalies including the recently identified follow up target “A1”.
The plan in the coming month includes completing the second hole (gravity/magnetic Target A1) and investigation on conducting an IP Survey over Target A2, to identify possible conductors that may indicate massive sulphide mineralization around the maiden hole 22RRD001.
The company will also submit soil programs to MRT extending anomalous orientation soil lines, and in December, plans to continue drilling defined targets.
This article was developed in collaboration with Norfolk Metals Limited (ASX:NFL), 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.