How Pivotal Metals’ Quebec Projects Are Unlocking New Copper and Gold Riches
Pivotal Metals has reported a significant increase in its Horden Lake copper resource alongside promising gold discoveries at Lorraine, underscoring its growing footprint in Quebec's critical metals sector.
- Horden Lake resource expanded to 37Mt at 1.1% copper equivalent
- 70% increase in in-pit copper to approximately 200kt
- Step-out drilling extends mineralisation strike and validates EM targeting
- High-grade gold target identified at Lorraine Mine from historical data
- Cash balance of $1.52 million supports ongoing exploration activities
Resource Expansion at Horden Lake
Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX – PVT) has delivered a substantial upgrade to its Horden Lake project in Quebec, Canada, with a newly reported mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 37 million tonnes at 1.1% copper equivalent (CuEq), containing 407,000 tonnes of CuEq. This update, announced for the quarter ending 30 June 2025, highlights a 70% increase in in-pit copper to around 200,000 tonnes, positioning Horden Lake as one of the highest-grade open-pit copper projects listed on the ASX.
The resource is predominantly copper-dominant but includes significant by-products such as nickel, precious metals (gold, palladium, platinum), silver, and cobalt, enhancing the project's economic potential. The deposit's favourable geometry, with over 84% of the resource contained within a single pit shell to a depth of 250 meters, supports a low-cost, long-life open-pit mining scenario.
Drilling Success and EM Validation
Recent step-out drilling comprising 11 holes and over 1,550 meters extended the known strike of mineralisation at Horden Lake by targeting a newly identified electromagnetic (EM) anomaly. The drilling confirmed continuous mineralisation with notable high-grade intervals, such as 4.3% CuEq over 0.5 meters within a broader 19.5 meters at 0.71% CuEq. These results validate EM surveying as a high-conviction exploration tool for sulphide mineralisation and reveal multiple undrilled EM targets along the 3.2-kilometer mineralised contact zone, indicating significant upside potential.
Emerging Gold Prospects at Lorraine
Beyond copper and nickel, Pivotal has identified a compelling gold target at the historic Lorraine Mine within its BAGB project portfolio. A review of historical underground sampling revealed 'bonanza' grade gold intersections, including 28 meters at 45.2 grams per tonne (g/t) gold with 3.2% copper, and 9.5 meters at 14.1 g/t gold with 3.2% copper. These findings suggest a large-scale gold system with a prospective strike corridor of at least 600 meters, largely unexplored to date.
Complementing this, a recent high-resolution magnetic survey has expanded the target area west of the Lorraine Mine, delineating new host rocks for both gold and copper-nickel-platinum group metals mineralisation. The company is advancing field programs including mapping, sampling, and geophysical surveys to refine targets ahead of drilling.
Financial Position and Forward Outlook
As of 30 June 2025, Pivotal Metals holds $1.52 million in cash, supporting ongoing exploration and technical studies. The company continues to focus on advancing its Quebec portfolio through resource growth, technical de-risking, and strategic funding options to maximise shareholder value. Managing Director Ivan Fairhall emphasised the company’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of its projects, highlighting the recent resource upgrade and exploration successes as key milestones.
Looking ahead, Pivotal plans to intensify exploration efforts across its BAGB projects, targeting both copper-nickel-platinum group metals and gold, while progressing development studies at Horden Lake. The combination of a robust resource base, validated exploration techniques, and emerging gold targets positions Pivotal Metals as a notable player in the critical minerals space within a top-tier jurisdiction.
Bottom Line?
With a strengthened resource base and fresh gold targets, Pivotal Metals is poised for a pivotal phase of growth in Quebec’s critical metals landscape.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Pivotal secure funding to advance development beyond exploration?
- What are the timelines and expected costs for drilling the undrilled EM targets?
- How will the company address the nugget effect impacting gold assay reliability at Lorraine?