QMines Unveils High-Grade Copper-Zinc Hits at Sulphide City
QMines Limited reports promising high-grade copper and zinc intersections from its maiden drilling at Sulphide City, bolstering confidence in the Develin Creek project’s potential.
- Initial 27 holes completed, 5,861m drilled at Sulphide City
- Multiple thick, high-grade copper-zinc-gold-silver intersections confirmed
- Diamond drilling to commence for detailed mineralisation geometry
- Resource upgrade expected to move more ounces into Indicated category
- Ongoing metallurgical and pit optimisation studies underway
Drilling Success at Sulphide City
QMines Limited (ASX, QML) has announced encouraging results from its maiden reverse circulation drilling program at the Sulphide City deposit, part of the Develin Creek project in Queensland. The initial phase of 27 holes, totaling 5,861 metres, has intersected multiple zones of thick, high-grade copper-zinc mineralisation, consistent with and extending historic drilling data.
Highlights include intercepts such as 9 metres grading 2.63% copper and 4.2% zinc from 178 metres, and 6 metres at 2.2% copper and 3.0% zinc from 239 metres, accompanied by gold and silver credits. These results reinforce the view that Sulphide City hosts a substantial volcanic-associated massive sulphide (VMS) system with stacked mineralised zones.
Advancing Geological Understanding
To better understand the complex geometry of the mineralisation, QMines is adding diamond tails to selected drill holes. This coring will provide detailed structural and mineralogical insights, particularly into the semi-massive and massive sulphide zones. The diamond rig is expected onsite imminently, complementing ongoing RC drilling efforts.
Geological analysis indicates Sulphide City’s mineralisation is structurally controlled, with steeply dipping sulphide bodies exhibiting brecciated and stratiform textures. The deposit’s mineral assemblage and alteration patterns suggest a deep-water submarine volcanic environment, with potential affinities to well-known Besshi and Cyprus style VMS deposits.
Resource Growth and Project Development
These drilling results are pivotal for QMines’ strategy to upgrade the existing resource estimate. The current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for Develin Creek stands at 4.13 million tonnes grading approximately 1% copper and 1.16% zinc, with 44% in the Indicated category. The new data aims to increase the proportion of Indicated resources, improving confidence for mine planning and economic studies.
Complementary workstreams include ongoing metallurgical testwork to refine processing routes, and an open-pit optimisation study at the nearby Scorpion deposit, with results due shortly. A broader scoping study is also underway to evaluate the integration of feed from Develin Creek, Mt Chalmers, and Mt Mackenzie projects into a larger operation.
Management Perspective and Next Steps
Executive Chairman Andrew Sparke expressed optimism about the drilling outcomes, highlighting the continuity and grade of mineralisation as key indicators of the project’s scale and quality. With further assay results pending from 14 additional holes, QMines is poised to maintain drilling momentum and advance its development plans.
Looking ahead, the company plans to integrate these findings into an updated Pre-Feasibility Study targeted for the first half of 2026, reflecting an expanded mine plan and incorporating updated capital and operating cost estimates.
Bottom Line?
QMines’ Sulphide City drilling confirms robust mineralisation, setting the stage for a resource upgrade and advancing Queensland’s copper-zinc prospects.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results influence the overall resource classification?
- What impact will structural complexity have on mining methods and costs?
- How might integration of Develin Creek with regional projects affect project economics?
