Octava Minerals takes exploration plunge at Federation project in Tasmania

• Octava Minerals begins exploring the Sweeney’s prospect at its Federation project
• Historical sampling of main adit returned up to 4.17% zinc, 1.23% lead, 3.32% tin and 0.58% antimony
• EM surveying will be carried out to enhance drill targeting

Special Report: Octava Minerals has pivoted quickly to explore the Federation copper-silver-zinc project in western Tasmania – a little more than a month after securing the option to acquire it.

The company has taken several rock chips from the main adit at the Sweeney’s prospect, which has not seen serious exploration since 1980.

Octava Minerals’ (ASX:OCT) managing director Bevan Wakelam said the company’s team has been able to locate all the old drill holes and workings as well as the main adit where samples returned results of up to 4.17% zinc, 1.23% lead, 3.32% tin and 0.58% antimony.

“This visit is essential for us in planning a significant drill program. The approvals process is underway and we look forward to providing updates as things progress,” he said.

The company signed a conditional agreement to acquire Federation in late July 2025.

Federation project

Federation comprises two granted tenements covering 121km2 about 12km west of the town of Zeehan and is on the margin of the Heemskirk Granite dome – a multiphase intrusion containing various phases of mineralisation.

It is close to several mining centres with processing and infrastructure, as well as a number of hydropower stations.

The project has seen historical exploration with Renison drilling 18 diamond drill holes into the Sweeney’s prospect in the late 1970s.

This returned assays such as 23m grading 1.19% copper, 1.70% zinc, 121g/t silver and 1.17% tin from 71m and 24m at 0.25% Cu, 0.52% Zn, 42g/t Ag and 0.27% Sn from 112m.

Meanwhile, historical sampling of the main adit at Sweeney’s returned significant zinc, tin and silver assays.

The adit recorded 47m at 0.96% zinc, 0.64% tin and 7g/t silver with peak 2m sample intervals of 4.17% zinc, 1.23% lead, 3.32% tin and 0.58% antimony.

No further work was done, and the mineralisation currently remains open at depth and along strike.

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EM opportunity

OCT notes that with no serious exploration since the 1980s or any kind of electromagnetic geophysics carried out at Sweeney’s, there’s an opportunity for EM to be applied to enhance drill targeting.

It notes the semi-massive to massive sulphide at Sweeney’s feeder mineralisation being located within resistive country rock and no conductive overburden, is well suited to delineation with EM.

This sulphide zone is interpreted to feed ‘greisen’ style cassiterite dominant mineralisation above, while the feeder zone below remains open.

This will be the target of upcoming drilling programs.

This article was developed in collaboration with Octava Minerals, 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.