Could Bluebird East Be Tennant Minerals’ Next Major Copper Discovery?

Exploration Breakthrough at Bluebird East

Tennant Minerals Limited has reported a compelling new copper target at its 100%-owned Barkly Project near Tennant Creek, Northern Territory. A detailed review of historical shallow drilling has revealed a substantial copper-in-ironstone anomaly at Bluebird East, extending over at least 250 metres. This anomaly is comparable in size and intensity to the high-grade Bluebird copper-gold discovery located just 350 metres to the southwest, suggesting a potential “Bluebird lookalike” target that remains largely untested below 50 metres depth.

The copper anomaly, characterized by assay values exceeding 100ppm and peaking at 1,200ppm copper, is concealed beneath shallow cover with no surface expression, mirroring the conditions of the original Bluebird discovery. Tennant Minerals plans follow-up drilling to test this promising target and further define the mineralised corridor.

Expanding Gold-Copper Potential at Babbler and Wedge

Beyond Bluebird East, Tennant Minerals has identified large-scale gold-copper targets at the Babbler Gold Prospect and the Wedge Copper-Gold Prospect, located 7km south and 5km southwest of Bluebird respectively. Historical drilling from the 1970s at Babbler revealed widespread gold anomalism over a kilometre-scale area, with notable intervals such as 13 metres at 0.48 g/t gold and copper anomalies up to 1,200ppm. These targets lie within volcanic and sedimentary sequences of the Paleoproterozoic Ooradidgee Group, a geological setting recently recognized for its potential to host volcanic-hosted massive sulphide deposits.

The company intends to conduct wide-spaced reverse circulation drilling to test these targets, aiming to unlock new zones of mineralisation that could significantly enhance the Barkly Project’s resource base.

Drilling Results and Strategic Alliance Progress

During the quarter, step-out drilling at Bluebird confirmed the continuity of the mineralised structure but did not replicate the previous high-grade copper-gold intersections. Notable intercepts included 3 metres at 0.5% copper and 0.13 g/t gold, and multiple mineralised horizons containing copper and bismuth. These results refine the understanding of the mineralisation corridor and will guide future drilling efforts, with the mineralisation remaining open to the west and down-plunge.

Meanwhile, Tennant Minerals continues to collaborate with CuFe Resources Ltd and Emmerson Resources Ltd as part of a Strategic Copper and Gold Alliance. The partners are nearing completion of a scoping study for a multi-user processing facility near Tennant Creek, which aims to optimise the development of copper-gold-critical mineral resources in the region. The Northern Territory Government has expressed support for this initiative, highlighting its potential economic benefits.

Financial Position and Upcoming Plans

In May 2025, Tennant Minerals successfully raised $550,000 to fund ongoing exploration, metallurgical test work, and initial development studies at the Barkly Project. The company ended the quarter with cash reserves of $1.183 million and reported total quarterly cash outflows of $479,000, with over half allocated to in-ground exploration.

Looking ahead, Tennant Minerals plans to complete the Bluebird Mineral Resource estimate and integrate it with the Alliance’s scoping studies. The company also intends to initiate passive seismic surveys over the Babbler and Wedge prospects and prepare for further drilling campaigns, contingent on new geophysical data.

Context Within the Tennant Creek Mineral Field

The Barkly Project sits on the eastern edge of the Tennant Creek Mineral Field, a historically prolific mining district that produced over 5.5 million ounces of gold and 700,000 tonnes of copper between 1934 and 2005. The Bluebird discovery exhibits mineralisation characteristics typical of the region’s high-grade copper-gold orebodies, including intense hematite alteration and a transition from secondary copper carbonates near surface to primary sulphides at depth.

Tennant Minerals’ dual approach of resource definition and regional target testing positions the company to potentially expand its footprint within this well-established mineral province.