Litchfield Drills 140m+ Copper-Zinc Intercepts and Gold Zones at Oonagalabi

Exploration Breakthrough at Oonagalabi

Litchfield Minerals Limited (ASX – LMS) has announced significant progress in its exploration efforts at the Oonagalabi Project in the Northern Territory. The recently completed Phase 1 reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign has confirmed the presence of a large-scale polymetallic system, predominantly copper and zinc, while also uncovering a distinct gold-silver-bismuth mineralisation trend linked to a prominent magnetic intrusive body dubbed “Bomb Diggity.”

The drilling results reveal wide-spaced intercepts, spaced approximately 150 meters apart, that demonstrate the continuity and scale of the copper-zinc system. Notably, hole OGRC004 intersected over 140 meters of mineralisation, reinforcing confidence in the system’s extent. Meanwhile, hole OGRC002 returned gold, silver, and bismuth within magnetite-rich alteration zones, indicating a secondary mineralising event that overlays the base metal system.

Two Distinct Mineral Systems

The Oonagalabi Project now stands out for hosting two separate mineralisation styles. The first is a copper-zinc ± lead system hosted in calc-silicate units, which appears to predate significant folding and metamorphism. Its geometry aligns with sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) style deposits, though a skarn origin remains plausible. This system extends over a strike length of more than 3 kilometers and a width of about 1 kilometer.

The second mineral system is characterised by gold-silver-bismuth mineralisation associated with intense magnetite alteration. This later event is spatially linked to the Bomb Diggity magnetic intrusion, located roughly 1.5 kilometers northeast of the main drilling area. The gold-rich mineralisation overprints the earlier copper-zinc system and is interpreted as an intrusion-related event, potentially analogous to iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) systems such as those found at Tennant Creek.

Strategic Next Steps

Building on these findings, Litchfield plans to intensify exploration efforts with a VTEM Max airborne electromagnetic survey scheduled for July. This survey aims to identify conductive feeder structures that could host higher-grade sulphide mineralisation or remobilised sulphide breccias, similar to those at the nearby Jervois deposit.

Phase 2 drilling will focus on testing the western magnetic flank of the Oonagalabi system to better delineate the gold-silver-bismuth zone and to drill the Bomb Diggity gravity-magnetic anomaly, which is considered the potential source of the gold-rich mineralisation. The company’s managing director highlighted the excitement around the discovery, emphasising the potential value that a large, multi-phase mineral system could bring to shareholders.

Validation of Geophysical Targeting

The Phase 1 drilling results also validate the use of geophysical targeting methods, particularly the correlation between mineralisation and high-chargeability zones identified in induced polarization (IP) surveys. This alignment supports the effectiveness of Litchfield’s exploration strategy and provides a robust framework for future drilling programs.

While the true widths of mineralisation remain to be determined and economic viability is yet to be assessed, the confirmation of two distinct mineralising events and the scale of the system underscore the significant exploration upside at Oonagalabi.