Horden Lake’s Untapped Depths Pose Both Opportunity and Exploration Risk for Pivotal Metals
Pivotal Metals’ recent FLTEM survey at Horden Lake reveals large undrilled conductors, signaling significant potential for resource expansion both near surface and at depth. The findings set the stage for a robust drilling campaign aimed at unlocking substantial copper-nickel-PGM mineralisation.
- FLTEM survey identifies multiple large, undrilled bedrock conductors at Horden Lake
- New shallow conductors offer promising open pit expansion opportunities along strike
- Deep conductors extend mineralisation up to three times beyond historical drilling depths
- Survey results validate and extend 2024 drilling and downhole geophysics findings
- Drilling contractor mobilised; metallurgical testwork and resource update forthcoming
Survey Reveals Game-Changing Scale Potential
Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX:PVT) has announced compelling results from its fixed loop time domain electromagnetic (FLTEM) survey at the Horden Lake project in Quebec. The survey, completed in early 2025, has delineated multiple large-scale conductive anomalies that extend well beyond previously drilled zones, highlighting substantial potential for resource growth.
These newly identified conductors include shallow, undrilled targets along strike of the existing deposit, which could significantly expand the open pit resource. More strikingly, the survey detected deep conductors plunging up to 900 meters, three times the depth of historical drilling, suggesting a vast, largely untapped sulphide mineralisation system beneath the known deposit.
Extending the Known Mineralised Footprint
The FLTEM survey targeted the highest sulphide concentrations, focusing on the most conductive accumulations of copper, nickel, and precious metals. The results strongly correlate with the 2024 downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) data and previous drilling, reinforcing the interpretation that these conductors represent extensions of the Horden Lake mineralised system.
Among the six main conductive anomalies, TDC1 to TDC6, several are positioned outside the current mineral resource estimate (MRE) boundaries, including a substantial conductor 600 meters southwest along strike. Historical drilling near these anomalies has intersected significant copper and nickel grades, underscoring the prospectivity of these targets for near-surface resource expansion.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
Managing Director Ivan Fairhall described the findings as a “step change” in the scale of opportunity at Horden Lake. With the drilling contractor already mobilised for step-out drilling, Pivotal is poised to test these high-priority targets in the coming months. Concurrently, the company is advancing metallurgical testwork to optimise copper and nickel flotation processes, which will feed into an updated resource estimate.
Beyond Horden Lake, Pivotal’s broader battery metals exploration portfolio in Quebec’s Belleterre-Angliers Greenstone Belt complements the flagship project, positioning the company well within a prolific mining district known for its world-class deposits.
Historical Context and Technical Confidence
Horden Lake’s mineralisation was first discovered in the 1960s but remained underexplored due to logistical challenges and market conditions. Pivotal’s acquisition and systematic evaluation of historical data, combined with modern geophysical techniques, have revitalised the project’s prospects. The current MRE stands at 27.8 million tonnes at 1.49% copper equivalent, incorporating copper, nickel, palladium, and gold.
The FLTEM survey’s success in defining conductive sulphide accumulations validates the company’s exploration strategy and provides a clear roadmap for resource expansion. The integration of geophysics, geology, and drilling data underscores the potential for a significant increase in the mineral endowment at Horden Lake.
Bottom Line?
Pivotal Metals’ FLTEM results at Horden Lake unlock a new frontier of exploration, setting the stage for a transformative resource update.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming drilling results confirm the extent and grade of the newly identified conductors?
- What impact will the expanded resource potential have on the project’s development timeline and economics?
- Could further geophysical surveys reveal additional targets, particularly along the underexplored western trend?
