White Cliff Minerals has reported a landmark copper intersection at its Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, with drill hole DAN25008 delivering 175 metres at 2.5% copper from near surface. This discovery signals a major step forward in defining a potentially world-class copper resource.
- DAN25008 intercepts 175m at 2.5% copper and 8.66g/t silver starting at 7.6m depth
- Mineralisation remains open at depth and along strike, extending beyond historic limits
- Results validate exploration strategy targeting high-grade zones and vertical extensions
- Follow-up diamond drilling planned to delineate resource boundaries and test Hulk target
- Historic resource non-JORC compliant; new data to support maiden JORC resource estimate
A Breakthrough at Danvers
White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX:WCN) has announced assay results from its 2025 reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, that could reshape the project's prospects. The standout result comes from drill hole DAN25008, which intersected an extraordinary 175 metres grading 2.5% copper and 8.66 grams per tonne silver starting just 7.6 metres below surface. The hole ended in mineralisation with the last 1.5 metres assaying 4.46% copper and 11.58g/t silver, and importantly, the mineralisation remains open at depth.
This intersection is not only significant for its length and grade but also because it extends mineralisation at least 30 metres below previous historical drilling limits. The vertical continuity of mineralisation over more than 175 metres and a potential strike length of 7 kilometres along the northeast-southwest trending fault zone highlight the scale of this discovery.
Validating a Strategic Approach
The results from DAN25008 validate White Cliff's strategy of exploring previously untested high-grade zones and vertical extensions of mineralisation at Danvers. Another hole, DAN25001, returned 52 metres at 1.16% copper and 3.43g/t silver from surface, including a higher-grade interval of 7.6 metres at 3% copper, underscoring the project's robust mineralisation profile.
Managing Director Troy Whittaker emphasized the global significance of the DAN25008 result, ranking it among the top 10 copper intersections worldwide in the last 50 years by grade-metre metrics. The discovery is a testament to the technical team's expertise, particularly the work of geologists Olga Solovieva and Sam Vaughan, who have refined the geological model to identify deeper mineralisation.
Towards a JORC Compliant Resource
White Cliff plans to incorporate these new drilling results into a maiden JORC compliant mineral resource estimate. The historic resource at Danvers, estimated at 4.16 million tons grading 2.96% copper, is non-JORC compliant and based on drilling from the 1960s. The company's current drilling campaign aims to upgrade and expand this resource with modern exploration standards.
Follow-up diamond drilling is now being planned to delineate the mineralisation boundaries at Danvers and to test the nearby Hulk target, which hosts a massive sedimentary structure with potential for additional copper mineralisation. The next batch of assay results from holes along strike from DAN25008 is expected in the coming weeks, which could further define the project's scale.
Strategic Location and Infrastructure
The Rae Copper Project benefits from its proximity to infrastructure, including an open water port less than 80 kilometres from the deposit, which could facilitate future mining operations. The mineralisation starting from surface supports the potential for open-pit mining, a factor that could enhance project economics.
Environmental and metallurgical considerations are also being addressed, with historical testwork indicating promising copper recoveries and concentrate qualities. The arctic environment and permafrost conditions will require careful management in future development stages.
Bottom Line?
White Cliff’s Danvers discovery marks a pivotal moment, but the journey to a JORC resource and economic viability is just beginning.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming diamond drilling refine the resource boundaries at Danvers and Hulk?
- What impact will modern assay results have on the confidence and size of the historic resource?
- How will environmental and logistical challenges in Nunavut influence project development timelines?