Surprise Copper Project Phase 2 Drilling Targets 1,500m of New Mineralisation
Antares Metals has kicked off a second phase of RC drilling at its Surprise Copper Project in Queensland, targeting new geophysical anomalies and high-grade zones to expand mineralisation.
- Phase 2 RC drilling commenced with ~1,500m planned
- Targets previously untested geophysical anomalies and high-grade copper outcrops
- First phase drilling yielded promising copper and gold intersections
- Rock chip samples showed up to 26% copper from artisanal workings
- Additional drilling phases and exploration planned for 2025
Exploration Momentum Builds at Surprise Copper Project
Antares Metals Limited (ASX: AM5) has initiated the second phase of its Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at the Surprise Copper Project, located in northwest Queensland’s prolific Mt Isa North region. This follow-up campaign aims to test approximately 1,500 metres of new targets identified through recent geophysical surveys and surface sampling, marking a critical step in expanding the known mineralised footprint.
The initial phase of drilling delivered encouraging results, including a notable intercept of 11 metres grading 1.8% copper and 1.3 grams per tonne gold from 68 metres depth, with higher-grade zones reaching 3.8% copper over 4 metres. Complementing these findings, rock chip samples from artisanal workings have returned copper grades as high as 26% using portable XRF analysis, underscoring the potential for high-grade mineralisation in the area.
Targeting Untapped Geophysical Anomalies
The current drilling phase focuses on three primary target zones north of the historic Surprise Copper mine, areas that have never before been drilled. These targets were delineated by 2024 geophysical surveys revealing anomalous magnetic, chargeable, and conductive signatures that mirror the mineralised zones beneath the Surprise Mine itself. The program aims to test these anomalies up to 1.2 kilometres north of the mine, including a significant magnetic feature offset to the west, which could represent a substantial new mineralised system.
Chief Executive Officer Johan Lambrechts expressed optimism about the campaign, highlighting the company’s intent to expand the mineralised envelope by probing beneath known outcropping copper mineralisation and newly identified geophysical targets. The drilling rig is now active on site, and the company anticipates providing timely updates as results come to hand.
Broader Exploration Plans for 2025
Beyond Surprise, Antares Metals is preparing to advance several other copper-gold targets within its Mt Isa project portfolio, including the structurally controlled and intrusion-related Conglomerate Creek prospect. The company’s strategy leverages modern exploration techniques across a vast tenure of over 2,000 square kilometres adjoining Glencore’s Mt Isa operations, aiming to unlock new discoveries in a historically underexplored region.
With multiple drilling phases planned throughout 2025, Antares Metals is positioning itself to build a robust resource base that could underpin future development. Investors and market watchers will be keenly awaiting assay results from this second drilling phase, which will be pivotal in assessing the project’s scale and grade potential.
Bottom Line?
As Antares Metals drills deeper into untested targets, the Surprise Copper Project could soon reveal a broader mineralised system with significant upside.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Phase 2 drilling confirm extensions of high-grade copper mineralisation?
- How might new geophysical targets reshape the resource model at Surprise?
- What timelines and results can investors expect from upcoming drilling phases?
