White Cliff Minerals has announced a significant discovery of sediment-hosted copper mineralisation at its Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, alongside semi-massive sulphide veining. The company has also expanded its land holdings, reinforcing its position in this emerging copper district.
- Discovery of sediment-hosted copper and semi-massive sulphides in maiden drilling
- Mineralisation associated with the major Herb Dixon Fault structure
- Follow-up drilling underway to target bornite and chalcocite zones
- Expansion of land holdings by ~950 km² securing new high-priority targets
- Initial assay results expected in the September quarter
Discovery Highlights
White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX – WCN) has revealed a breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, with the maiden diamond drillhole STK25001 intercepting a broad zone of sediment-hosted copper mineralisation. This discovery is particularly notable for the presence of chalcopyrite and bornite within the lower Rae Group sediments, accompanied by semi-massive sulphide veining beneath the copper-bearing layers. These findings mark the first confirmed sediment-hosted copper system at Rae, validating the company’s exploration thesis.
Geological Context and Significance
The mineralisation occurs adjacent to the Herb Dixon Fault, a major north-south structural feature that has now been confirmed as a copper-fertile conduit. The style of mineralisation, positioned above a significant redox boundary, aligns with hallmark characteristics of sediment-hosted copper deposits, akin to globally recognized analogues such as the Central African Copperbelt. The presence of sulphides replacing diagenetic pyrite and the occurrence of quartz-calcite veins with chalcopyrite-bornite mineralisation further underscore the system’s complexity and potential.
Strategic Land Expansion
In a strategic move to capitalize on this discovery, White Cliff has expanded its land holdings by approximately 950 square kilometres to the north. This acquisition secures a newly identified intersection of the Herb Dixon Fault with an untested sedimentary package known to host copper occurrences. The expanded tenure includes multiple high-priority exploration targets, including geophysical conductors and geochemical anomalies, enhancing the company’s dominant position in the Rae Basin.
Ongoing Exploration and Next Steps
Follow-up drilling is actively underway at the Stark target area, aiming to step out from the discovery hole and vector towards zones potentially enriched in bornite and chalcocite; minerals indicative of higher-grade copper mineralisation. The Stark target itself is a large geophysical conductor with a strike length exceeding 15 kilometres, yet to be fully tested by drilling. Initial assay results from the maiden drilling campaign are anticipated in the September quarter, which will provide critical data on grade and extent.
Historical Context and Future Potential
The Rae Copper Project benefits from a rich exploration history, including a historic resource estimate at the Danvers Prospect of over 4 million tons grading near 3% copper, though this estimate is not compliant with modern JORC standards and requires validation. White Cliff’s recent drilling and land acquisitions position the company to unlock a multi-faceted copper system with potential for significant scale. The combination of sediment-hosted copper and vein-hosted sulphides within a structurally complex setting offers multiple avenues for resource growth.
Bottom Line?
White Cliff’s sediment-hosted copper discovery and strategic land expansion at Rae set the stage for a potentially transformative copper project in Canada’s emerging district.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the initial assay results reveal about the grade and continuity of the sediment-hosted copper mineralisation?
- How extensive is the bornite and chalcocite mineralisation within the Stark target and its potential impact on project economics?
- What are the timelines and plans for upgrading the historic resource estimate to a JORC-compliant mineral resource?