American West Metals Reports 43m and 49.5m Thick Copper Sulphide Intersections at Cyclone
American West Metals reports significant copper sulphide discoveries and thick mineralised intersections at its Storm Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, highlighting strong potential for resource expansion.
- Discovery of extensive copper gossans over an 8km strike in the Tornado area
- Eight diamond drill holes intersect thick intervals of visual copper sulphides including semi-massive sulphides
- Two geotechnical drill holes at Cyclone Deposit reveal unexpected thick mineralisation on open-pit margins
- Ongoing reverse circulation drilling targets resource upgrades and exploration extensions
- Laboratory assays pending, with pre-feasibility study and environmental monitoring progressing
Exploration Breakthrough at Storm Copper Project
American West Metals Limited (ASX – AW1) has announced a major step forward in its 2025 exploration program at the Storm Copper Project, located on Somerset Island in Nunavut, Canada. The company revealed the discovery of extensive copper gossans and outcrops along an 8-kilometre strike in the Tornado area, a key regional target identified through a recent mobile magnetotellurics (MMT) survey. These surface expressions include abundant chalcocite and malachite, confirmed by portable XRF analysis, indicating a significant volume of mineralising fluids migrating through major fault networks.
The discovery of such widespread copper mineralisation at surface is particularly encouraging, as it suggests the potential for a large, high-grade deposit at depth. This has prompted American West Metals to initiate reverse circulation (RC) drilling to test these fault-related copper occurrences and stratigraphic targets in the coming days.
Diamond Drilling Reveals Thick Copper Sulphide Intervals
Complementing the surface findings, the company has completed eight diamond drill holes totaling 1,786 metres. Notably, two geotechnical holes drilled on the margins of the Cyclone Deposit; targeting proposed open-pit walls; intersected unexpectedly thick intervals of semi-massive copper sulphides. Drill hole PFS-001 encountered approximately 43 metres of strong visual chalcocite and chalcopyrite mineralisation, while PFS-002 intersected about 49.5 metres of similar mineralisation. These intersections lie outside the current resource envelope, suggesting potential for resource growth and an expansion of the open-pit design.
Such thick mineralised zones on pit margins could translate into increased copper extraction volumes, enhancing the project's economic prospects. However, it is important to note that visual estimates are preliminary, and laboratory assays to confirm grades are expected within 6 to 8 weeks.
Ongoing Drilling and Resource Development
RC drilling continues robustly, with 21 holes completed to date, covering resource upgrade and expansion at multiple deposits including Thunder, Lightning Ridge, Cirrus, Cyclone, and Corona. Exploration drilling is also underway in areas such as The Gap, Cyclone West, Squall, and Hailstorm. The drill rig has recently moved to the Tornado area to test near-surface resource potential, aligning with the promising surface mineralisation findings.
Alongside drilling, American West Metals is advancing its pre-feasibility study (PFS), encompassing permitting, processing, and mining studies. Environmental monitoring and community engagement activities are also ongoing, reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible development in this remote Arctic region.
Technical and Strategic Outlook
The Storm Copper Project is a sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposit with multiple deposits and prospects along a central graben structure. The recent drilling results, combined with extensive geophysical and geochemical surveys, reinforce the project's potential to host a large-scale copper resource. The company’s approach includes innovative ore sorting and flotation test work, which has shown promising results for upgrading copper concentrates.
American West Metals’ Managing Director, Dave O’Neill, highlighted the unexpected thick sulphide intersections and extensive surface mineralisation as indicators of untapped growth potential. The upcoming assay results will be critical in validating these visual observations and guiding further resource modelling and mine planning.
Bottom Line?
As assays approach, the Storm Project stands poised for a potential resource upgrade that could reshape its economic outlook.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the laboratory assay results reveal about the grade and continuity of the newly intersected copper sulphides?
- How might the unexpected thick mineralisation on open-pit margins affect the scale and design of the Cyclone Deposit mining operation?
- What are the implications of the extensive copper gossans discovered in the Tornado area for the overall resource potential at Storm?
