Sunshine Metals has initiated an 840 line-kilometre helicopter-borne VTEM Max geophysics survey over the Coronation–Highway area, backed by a $231,000 Queensland Government grant. The survey aims to uncover massive sulphide deposits analogous to Sunshine’s Liontown and the historic Highway-Reward mines.
- Commencement of 840 line-km helicopter-borne VTEM Max survey
- Funded by $231,000 Queensland Government Collaborative Exploration Initiative grant
- Targets massive sulphide deposits in Coronation–Highway area, North Queensland
- Survey complements ongoing drilling and exploration at multiple Sunshine projects
- Follow-up ground activities planned on high-priority targets
Survey Launch and Strategic Focus
Sunshine Metals Limited (ASX, SHN) has commenced a detailed airborne geophysics survey using the state-of-the-art VTEM Max system over the Coronation–Highway district in North Queensland. This 840 line-kilometre helicopter-borne electromagnetic survey is fully funded by a $231,000 grant from the Queensland Government’s Collaborative Exploration Initiative, underscoring the strategic importance of this region for mineral exploration.
Managing Director Dr Damien Keys highlighted the dual focus of the company, advancing shallow gold targets towards production while leveraging modern geophysical technology to identify deeper massive sulphide deposits. The Coronation–Highway area sits within the highly prospective Mt Windsor Sub-province, known for hosting significant volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposits such as Sunshine’s Liontown and the historic Highway-Reward mine.
VTEM Max Technology and Survey Rationale
The VTEM Max system, developed by Geotech Ltd, is optimized for detecting conductive massive sulphide bodies beneath cover sequences. It simultaneously collects conductivity, resistivity, and magnetic data, which is crucial for delineating fault structures that often localize VMS deposits. Approximately half of the known VMS deposits in the Mt Windsor Sub-province are concealed beneath cover, making this survey particularly valuable for blind deposit discovery.
The Coronation–Highway area was prioritized due to its thick Trooper Creek Formation sequences; the host stratigraphy for known VMS deposits; proximity to the economically significant Highway-Reward deposit, and limited modern geophysical coverage since a 1997 gravity survey. Additionally, encouraging geochemical soil anomalies and strong chargeability responses from previous induced polarization surveys support the potential for new discoveries.
Complementary Exploration and Upcoming Milestones
This airborne survey complements Sunshine’s active exploration programs, including drilling at Liontown, Sybil, and other projects within its portfolio. The company plans to follow up on high-priority VTEM targets with ground-based activities such as drilling and fieldwork. Sunshine’s busy schedule through 2025 includes resource upgrades, metallurgical studies, and participation in key mining conferences, signaling a robust pipeline of catalysts for investors.
Sunshine’s broader Ravenswood Consolidated Project hosts a significant VMS resource with a combined gold and base metals footprint, positioning the company well within a historically productive mining district. The company also holds promising projects like Sybil, Investigator, and Hodgkinson, with plans to divest non-core assets in due course.
Outlook and Strategic Implications
While the VTEM Max survey results are still pending, the deployment of advanced geophysical methods backed by government funding reflects Sunshine Metals’ commitment to unlocking the full potential of its North Queensland assets. The integration of new data with historical exploration and ongoing drilling could accelerate the identification of economically viable mineralisation zones, potentially enhancing the company’s resource base and future production profile.
Bottom Line?
Sunshine Metals’ VTEM Max survey marks a pivotal step in exploring concealed massive sulphide targets, with results poised to shape the company’s growth trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- What early indications will the VTEM Max survey provide about new massive sulphide targets?
- How will Sunshine prioritize and fund follow-up drilling on identified anomalies?
- What impact could new discoveries have on Sunshine’s resource estimates and development plans?