Can Loyal Metals’ Drone Survey Unlock Hidden Copper-Gold Riches at Highway Reward?
Loyal Metals is deploying cutting-edge drone geophysics to unlock deep copper-gold potential at the historic Highway Reward mine, leveraging AI and $4.4 million in funding.
- Launch of MobileMTd drone survey at Highway Reward mine
- First geophysical survey since 1997 despite soaring copper and gold prices
- Survey targets depths beyond 1,000 metres with high-resolution 3D modelling
- Integration of AI-powered software to define new drill targets
- $4.4 million funding supports advanced exploration techniques
A New Era for Highway Reward
Loyal Metals Ltd (ASX – LLM) has announced the commencement of what it calls the world’s highest-resolution geophysical drone survey at the Highway Reward Copper-Gold Mine in Queensland. This initiative marks a significant technological leap for the site, which has not seen any geophysical surveys since 1997 despite its historical production of 3.65 million tonnes at 5.7% copper and 260,000 ounces at 4.5 grams per tonne gold.
The timing is particularly notable given the dramatic rise in commodity prices since the last survey, copper prices have surged by 664% and gold by 1,317%. Loyal Metals is positioning itself to capitalize on this by applying modern exploration techniques to a historically productive but underexplored asset.
Cutting-Edge Technology Meets Historical Data
The company is deploying Expert Geophysics’ MobileMTd drone technology, which uses natural electromagnetic fields to detect conductive anomalies such as copper-gold sulphides. This system can investigate depths beyond 1,000 metres, well below the previously mined depths of 220 metres for open pit and 390 metres underground. The survey will cover a 9 square kilometre area with tightly spaced 15-metre line intervals, generating approximately 583 line kilometres of data.
Results from the drone survey will be integrated with existing exploration and mining data and fed into AI-powered modelling software. This approach aims to produce a high-resolution 3D geological model that can identify remnant mineralisation and generate new drill targets both at depth and along strike within the mine’s unique volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) geological setting.
Strong Funding and Strategic Vision
Loyal Metals enters this phase with $4.4 million in available funding, underscoring its commitment to unlocking the next chapter of copper-gold discovery at Highway Reward. Managing Director Adam Ritchie expressed confidence in the partnership with Expert Geophysics and the power of combining historical data with state-of-the-art technology and AI modelling. The company’s strategy reflects a broader industry trend toward leveraging advanced geophysical techniques and data analytics to extend the life and value of existing mining assets.
The Highway Reward mine’s location within the Mt Windsor Volcanic Belt, accessible via all-weather highways and close to the Port of Townsville, further enhances its logistical appeal. The survey’s outputs will include detailed conductivity maps, resistivity sections, 3D voxel models, and digital elevation data, all designed to support targeted drilling and structural analysis.
Unlocking Untapped Potential
With no geophysical work conducted for nearly three decades, the Highway Reward mine represents a compelling opportunity to apply modern exploration tools to a historically rich but underexplored resource. The use of drone-based MobileMTd technology combined with AI-driven interpretation could reveal new zones of mineralisation previously undetectable by conventional methods.
As the survey progresses, investors and analysts will be watching closely for the quality of data returned and the subsequent identification of drill targets. This could set the stage for a new wave of exploration success and potentially significant resource upgrades for Loyal Metals.
Bottom Line?
Loyal Metals’ high-tech survey could redefine Highway Reward’s resource potential and reshape its exploration trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- When will the MobileMTd survey results be released and how quickly will drilling commence?
- What scale of resource upgrade might Loyal Metals realistically expect from this new data?
- How will AI-powered modelling influence exploration decisions compared to traditional methods?