Lewis Ponds MRE Expansion Boosted by 3.3% Copper Rock Chips at Little Bell
Godolphin Resources has revealed promising high-grade copper and gold assay results from its Summers West and Little Bell prospects, highlighting significant expansion potential beyond the current Lewis Ponds resource boundary.
- High-grade copper and gold rock chip assays at Summers West and Little Bell prospects
- Prospects lie outside and south of the existing Lewis Ponds Mineral Resource Estimate
- Associated with a >1,500m strike Induced Polarisation chargeability anomaly largely undrilled
- Ongoing scoping study and metallurgical test work to support development plans
- Additional drilling planned to expand resource and test new copper-gold targets
Expanding the Lewis Ponds Footprint
Godolphin Resources Limited (ASX – GRL) has announced encouraging exploration results from its Lewis Ponds project in New South Wales, with high-grade copper and gold assays emerging from two key prospects; Summers West and Little Bell; located just south of the existing Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) boundary. These findings suggest a potentially significant extension to the known mineralisation footprint, reinforcing Lewis Ponds as a compelling base and precious metals project within the Lachlan Fold Belt.
The rock chip samples collected at Summers West returned copper grades of up to 1.29% alongside gold, while Little Bell yielded even more impressive values, including a standout 3.3% copper and 1.3 g/t gold assay. Both prospects are spatially linked to a substantial Induced Polarisation (IP) chargeability anomaly stretching over 1.5 kilometres; a geophysical signature often indicative of sulphide mineralisation; that remains largely untested by drilling.
Historical Context Meets Modern Exploration
These prospects are not entirely new discoveries; historical workings dating back to the late 19th century had identified copper mineralisation in the area. However, modern geological mapping, surface sampling, and geophysical surveys have now provided a clearer picture of their potential scale and continuity. Notably, limited historical drilling intersected mineralisation with encouraging widths and grades, but the data was incomplete and sporadic, leaving significant upside for targeted follow-up.
Godolphin’s Managing Director, Jeneta Owens, highlighted the significance of these results, describing the emerging copper-gold corridor formed by Summers West, Little Bell, and the nearby Britannia Prospect as a "dynamic expansion opportunity". The company is advancing a scoping mining study underpinned by the recently upgraded MRE, which now totals nearly 10 million tonnes at attractive grades of gold, silver, zinc, lead, and copper.
Next Steps – Drilling and Metallurgical Insights
To capitalise on this momentum, Godolphin is progressing metallurgical test work aimed at improving precious metal recoveries, particularly gold and silver. Concurrently, additional drilling campaigns are planned to systematically test the IP anomaly and expand the resource base. These efforts will focus on both confirming the extent of mineralisation at Summers West and Little Bell and exploring new copper-enriched zones within the southern sector of the project.
The company’s methodical approach; combining geophysical targeting, historical data reinterpretation, and modern assay techniques; positions it well to unlock further value from Lewis Ponds. The updated resource estimate, which showed a 58% increase in tonnage and improved confidence classifications, already supports near-term development potential, with the new copper-gold corridor promising to enhance this outlook.
Strategic Importance in a Critical Minerals Landscape
Situated in a world-class mineral province, Godolphin’s Lewis Ponds project aligns with broader industry trends emphasizing critical minerals essential for clean energy technologies. The discovery of high-grade copper alongside gold and silver not only diversifies the project’s commodity exposure but also strengthens its strategic relevance amid rising demand for copper in electrification and renewable energy infrastructure.
While the exploration results are preliminary and require further drilling to define the full scale and grade continuity, they underscore the potential for Lewis Ponds to evolve into a significant multi-metal resource. Investors and analysts will be watching closely as Godolphin advances its development studies and exploration programs in the coming months.
Bottom Line?
Godolphin’s latest assays open a promising new chapter for Lewis Ponds, with copper-gold expansion poised to reshape the project’s development trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming drilling campaigns refine the extent and grade of the copper-gold corridor?
- What metallurgical recovery improvements can be achieved to enhance project economics?
- Could the largely undrilled IP anomaly reveal additional high-grade mineralisation beyond current targets?