New Copper Vein Discovery Raises Stakes at Mt Isa North Project
Antares Metals has identified a significant 450-metre copper mineralised vein system near Conglomerate Creek, bolstering the potential for a large-scale copper deposit at its Mt Isa North project in Queensland.
- Discovery of 450m-long copper-bearing quartz-breccia vein system
- Supports potential for large-scale copper system driven by Conglomerate Creek intrusion
- Rock chip samples collected with assays pending
- Systematic exploration continues across Mt Isa North Copper and Uranium Project
- Upcoming RC drilling planned at Surprise copper project
Discovery at Conglomerate Creek
Antares Metals Limited (ASX, AM5) has announced a promising new development within its Mt Isa North Copper and Uranium Project in northwest Queensland. Recent fieldwork has uncovered a 450-metre-long copper mineralised quartz-breccia vein system located northeast of previously identified geophysical targets at the Conglomerate Creek prospect. This discovery adds a compelling new dimension to the company’s exploration narrative in a region historically known for its copper endowment.
The vein system, characterised by malachite and chalcocite mineralisation within quartz veins and sheared basalt host rocks, was identified through detailed mapping and rock chip sampling. Although laboratory assay results are still pending, the visual presence of copper minerals provides early encouragement for the scale and quality of mineralisation.
Building on Historical and Geophysical Foundations
This finding builds on Antares Metals’ 2024 magnetic and gravity surveys, which highlighted seven high-priority intrusion-related geophysical anomalies associated with a semi-circular intrusive feature at Conglomerate Creek. The newly discovered vein lies approximately 330 metres northeast of these targets, suggesting a broader mineralised system than initially mapped.
Historical exploration dating back to 1968 had noted copper anomalies in the area, but follow-up work was incomplete and the vein system itself was not documented. Antares’ systematic “boots on the ground” approach is thus uncovering mineralisation characteristics that may have been overlooked, potentially unlocking new exploration models in this well-known mining district.
Strategic Exploration and Next Steps
Antares’ CEO Johan Lambrechts emphasised the significance of the discovery, noting that the Conglomerate Creek intrusion likely acts as a heat source driving copper mineralisation. The company is advancing its exploration program with ongoing rock chip sampling and awaits assay results expected within four to six weeks. Concurrently, Antares is preparing for a third phase of reverse circulation drilling at its Surprise copper project, signaling a multi-pronged approach to resource delineation across its tenements.
The identification of copper mineralisation hosted in the Cromwell metabasalt unit also opens new geological targets within the Mt Isa North project area, expanding the scope beyond traditional host rocks. This diversification could prove pivotal in defining a large-scale copper system with significant economic potential.
Context within the Mt Isa Region
The Mt Isa region is globally recognised for its sediment-hosted copper deposits, often accompanied by cobalt and silver. Antares’ exploration activities are strategically positioned adjacent to Glencore’s Mt Isa Operations, leveraging modern exploration techniques to revisit and reinterpret underexplored ground. The company’s focus on integrating geophysical data with detailed field observations exemplifies a contemporary approach to mineral discovery in mature mining provinces.
While assay results and further drilling will be critical to confirming the economic viability of the Conglomerate Creek vein system, the current findings represent a meaningful step forward for Antares Metals. The company’s methodical exploration strategy and early successes underscore its potential to add value in a competitive copper exploration landscape.
Bottom Line?
As assay results and drilling progress, Antares Metals could be on the cusp of defining a significant new copper system in a prolific mining district.
Questions in the middle?
- What copper grades will the pending assay results reveal from the Conglomerate Creek vein system?
- How extensive is the mineralisation beyond the currently mapped 450m strike length?
- What impact will the upcoming Surprise project drilling have on Antares Metals’ overall resource potential?