Can Ballymore’s Deep Drill Unlock Hidden Porphyry Beneath Historic Dittmer Mine?
Ballymore Resources has initiated a deep drilling program at its Dittmer Project in North Queensland, targeting a significant porphyry copper-gold system beneath the historic mine. This follows strong Stage 5 drilling results and is supported by Queensland Government funding.
- Deep drill hole commenced targeting major magnetic anomaly beneath Dittmer mine
- Stage 5 underground drilling completed with high-grade gold, silver, and copper intercepts
- Drilling funded by $250,000 Queensland Government CEI grant
- Porphyry target analogous to large Eastern Australian copper-gold deposits
- Further assay results and IP survey planned to advance exploration
Exploration Milestone at Dittmer
Ballymore Resources (ASX, BMR) has embarked on a pivotal phase of exploration at its Dittmer Project near Proserpine in North Queensland. The company has commenced drilling a deep hole designed to test a substantial pipelike magnetic anomaly beneath the historic Dittmer mine, interpreted as a porphyry copper-gold intrusion. This target is reminiscent of major deposits such as Northparkes and Ridgeway in Eastern Australia, known for their significant copper and gold endowments.
Strong Foundations from Stage 5 Drilling
The deep drilling initiative follows the successful completion of Ballymore's Stage 5 underground drilling program, which intersected the main Duffer Lode structure with impressive continuity and grade. Notably, assay results from this stage have revealed high-grade mineralisation, including a standout intercept of 0.40m at 221.31 g/t gold, alongside silver and copper credits. These results reinforce the potential for a robust mineralised system and provide a compelling rationale for the deeper porphyry exploration.
Government Support and Strategic Survey Plans
The deep drill hole is partially funded by a $250,000 grant from the Queensland Government’s Collaborative Exploration Initiative (CEI), underscoring public sector support for junior explorers advancing innovative projects. Ballymore has also secured an additional $150,000 CEI grant to conduct an induced polarisation (IP) geophysical survey over the nearby Andromache porphyry target, scheduled to commence shortly. These initiatives aim to refine targeting and accelerate the discovery process within the Dittmer project area.
Geological Context and Exploration Upside
The Dittmer district’s geology is characterised by mineralisation styles typical of intrusion-related gold systems, with historic mining focused on high-grade gold lodes believed to be the upper expression of a larger porphyry copper-gold system at depth. Ballymore’s recent geophysical surveys have delineated a 1200m by 800m magnetic body with a pencil-like geometry, a hallmark of many prolific porphyry deposits. Early drilling has also encountered porphyry alteration and elevated copper values, further supporting this model.
Next Steps and Market Implications
With the deep hole expected to take approximately 50 days to complete, Ballymore anticipates assay results by late July. Concurrently, the company plans to extend underground exploration drives to facilitate further drilling of lode extensions identified in recent surface campaigns. These developments position Ballymore to potentially define a significant new copper-gold resource in a historically productive region, attracting attention from investors and industry alike.
Bottom Line?
Ballymore’s deep drilling at Dittmer could unlock a major porphyry system, setting the stage for a transformative discovery in Queensland’s copper-gold landscape.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the deep drill hole confirm the presence and scale of the porphyry copper-gold system?
- How will upcoming assay results from Stage 5 and the deep hole influence resource estimates?
- What insights will the Andromache IP survey provide about additional porphyry targets nearby?
