Pearl Copper Project Drills 3.66m at 2.42% Copper, 59.74m at 0.88% Lead
Golden Mile Resources has reported encouraging initial assay results from its maiden drilling campaign at the Pearl Copper Project in Arizona, revealing significant copper, lead, zinc, and silver mineralisation. The findings support the potential for a substantial mineralised system and set the stage for further exploration.
- Maiden reverse circulation drilling completed on time and budget
- Significant copper, lead, zinc, and silver intercepts at Odyssey and Ford Prospects
- Mineralisation remains open at depth, indicating further potential
- Project strategically located near major copper mines in Arizona
- Follow-up drilling and geophysical programs planned for next six months
Initial Drilling Success at Pearl Copper Project
Golden Mile Resources Limited (ASX, G88) has announced the results of its inaugural reverse circulation drilling campaign at the Pearl Copper Project in Arizona, USA. This maiden program, comprising ten drill holes totaling over 1,186 metres, has intersected multiple zones of copper, lead, zinc, and silver mineralisation across two key prospects, Odyssey and Ford.
The Odyssey Prospect, centred on historic workings of the Pearl Mine, delivered notable intercepts including 3.66 metres grading 2.42% copper, 1.25% zinc, and 94 grams per tonne silver. These results, obtained from relatively shallow depths, suggest the mineralised system remains open down dip, inviting further exploration to delineate its full extent.
Broad Mineralisation at Ford Prospect
At the Ford Prospect, drilling intersected broader zones of mineralisation with significant lead content, including a 59.74-metre intercept averaging 0.88% lead alongside copper and zinc. Visible copper carbonate minerals such as azurite were observed, prompting re-assay submissions to confirm grades. The presence of pervasive limonitic alteration and deeper weathering at Ford contrasts with the more discrete vein-style mineralisation at Odyssey, highlighting the geological diversity within the project.
Strategic Location and Next Steps
Situated just 80 kilometres south of the BHP and Rio Tinto controlled Resolution Copper Mine and adjacent to the world-class San Manuel-Kalamazoo Mine, the Pearl Copper Project lies within the prolific Laramide Porphyry Copper Province. This region accounted for approximately 70% of US copper production in 2023, underscoring the project's strategic importance.
Golden Mile’s Managing Director Damon Dormer expressed optimism about the results, emphasizing that the initial assays validate the company’s belief in the project’s potential. The company plans an active exploration pipeline over the next six months, including further drilling, geochemical and geophysical surveys aimed at targeting primary sulphide mineralisation beneath the oxide zones. Additionally, surface mapping and sampling will continue to refine targets, including the newly identified Aurora Gold Prospect.
Implications for Golden Mile and Investors
These early drilling results mark a significant milestone for Golden Mile as a junior explorer, providing tangible evidence of mineralisation in a previously underexplored area. The combination of encouraging grades, open-ended mineralisation, and proximity to major copper operations positions the Pearl Project as a compelling asset in the company’s portfolio. However, the true economic potential remains to be determined through ongoing exploration and resource definition.
Bottom Line?
Golden Mile’s Pearl Project has taken a promising first step, but the next phase of drilling and analysis will be critical to unlocking its full value.
Questions in the middle?
- Will follow-up drilling confirm the continuity and true width of mineralisation?
- How will re-assays of visually rich copper zones impact grade estimates?
- What is the timeline and scale for advancing towards a resource estimate?