Special Report: Exploration activities at Thomson’s Chillagoe project in Queensland have uncovered copper oxide azurite, an indicator that weathered copper sulphide ores are present.
Thomson has auger drilled 240 holes out of a planned 450 holes up to 10 November 2020. At the Laverock prospect, rocks picked up are consistent with historical copper workings in the Laverock area and with previous rock chip sampling which returned anomalous gold and copper grades of up to 5 grams per tonne (g/t) and 1.3 per cent respectively.
Thomson Resources (ASX:TMZ) notes that copper oxide azurite is commonly found in association with malachite, with the two minerals producing a striking colour combination of deep blue and bright green that is strongly indicative of the presence of copper ores.
It added that this highlights the copper potential of the Chillagoe project along with the known gold potential.
Samples collected from the auger drilling to date have been sent for analysis and initial assays are expected in late November.
This data will assist in the understanding of the potentiality for other minerals in the project area.
Drilling of the 450 hole auger drilling program is expected to be concluded within the week.
Copper-gold potential
The auger drilling program targets 10 prospect areas in the Chillagoe project, which Thomson is acquiring from Bacchus Resources.
These prospects feature extensive historical workings, magnetic anomalies suggestive of pipe-like buried intrusions and multiple rock chips with anomalous gold, copper, silver and base metal results.
Notable rock chip results include 29g/t gold and 3,000g/t silver at Borderline; 7g/t gold and 331g/t silver at Laverock; and 24 per cent copper and 6g/t gold at Salt Creek.
No previous drilling has been reported at the targets.
The Chillagoe project covers 594 sqkm in Queensland’s far north and is near the Mungana, Red Dome and King Vol mining operations.
This article was developed in collaboration with Thomson 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.