Copper Search Unveils High-Value Heavy Mineral Sands at Peake Project
Copper Search Ltd has identified promising heavy mineral sands rich in zircon and titanium minerals at its Peake Project in South Australia, signaling a strategic expansion beyond copper exploration. The company has engaged renowned expert Ian Warland and applied for a new tenement to advance this low-cost opportunity.
- Discovery of high-value zircon and titanium minerals in stream sediment samples
- Appointment of Ian Warland, expert in heavy mineral sands, as Principal Consultant
- New tenement application ELA2025_17 with magnetic anomalies indicating ilmenite-rich strandlines
- Low-cost exploration leveraging existing tenements and historical data
- Incentive package linked to a significant JORC-compliant mineral resource milestone
Emerging Heavy Mineral Sands Potential
Copper Search Ltd (ASX: CUS) has announced a compelling new chapter in its exploration journey with the identification of promising heavy mineral sands (HMS) at its Peake Project in South Australia. Traditionally focused on copper, the company’s recent reconnaissance sampling has revealed a rich assemblage of valuable minerals including zircon, ilmenite, rutile, and leucoxene. These minerals are critical components in industries ranging from aerospace to ceramics, underscoring their strategic importance.
The discovery was highlighted by pan-concentrated stream sediment samples that returned high proportions of zircon (up to 35%) and titanium minerals (up to 44%), with notably low levels of non-valuable 'trash' minerals. This assemblage suggests the Peake Project’s Mesozoic sedimentary formations, particularly the Algebuckina and Cadna-owie Formations, may host economically significant HMS deposits.
Expertise and Strategic Tenement Expansion
To bolster its exploration efforts, Copper Search has appointed Ian Warland as Principal Consultant. Warland is a respected figure in the mineral sands sector, credited with discovering the world-class Jacinth-Ambrosia HMS deposits in South Australia. His involvement brings seasoned expertise from project generation through to production, a valuable asset as Copper Search advances its HMS strategy.
Complementing this, the company has applied for a new tenement, ELA2025_17, adjacent to existing holdings. Aeromagnetic data over this area reveals subtle linear anomalies interpreted as ilmenite-rich strandlines, geophysical signatures that have proven effective in identifying HMS deposits in other Australian basins like the Murray Basin. This tenement application, expected to be granted shortly, positions Copper Search to rapidly ground-truth these targets with low-cost air-core drilling.
Low-Cost, High-Potential Exploration Approach
Copper Search’s HMS initiative leverages existing tenements and historical data, including a 62-meter thick sequence of unconsolidated marine sands identified in a 1981 drillhole, consistent with potential HMS host environments. The company’s approach is cost-efficient, employing a Toyota Land Cruiser-mounted air-core rig for drilling, significantly reducing exploration expenses compared to conventional methods.
Next steps include strategic re-sampling of historical drill cores, advanced laboratory analyses to refine mineral assemblages, and a regional desktop review to identify further high-potential HMS opportunities. This multi-pronged approach aims to validate and expand the emerging HMS resource base.
Incentives and Broader Strategic Shift
To align incentives, Copper Search has structured a performance rights package for Ian Warland, contingent on the announcement of a JORC-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of at least 100 million tonnes grading no less than 3% valuable heavy minerals. This milestone reflects a substantial resource that could materially enhance shareholder value.
Reflecting its broadened commodity focus, the company plans to seek shareholder approval to change its name to Altitude Minerals Ltd, signaling a strategic pivot to a diversified exploration portfolio that includes copper, gold, uranium, and now heavy mineral sands.
Bottom Line?
Copper Search’s HMS discovery at Peake could redefine its exploration trajectory, but the path to a defined resource remains a critical next step.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Copper Search’s upcoming drilling confirm a JORC-compliant HMS resource at Peake?
- How might the new heavy mineral sands focus impact the company’s valuation and investor interest?
- What are the potential challenges in advancing the ELA2025_17 tenement and securing land access agreements?
