LinQ’s Porphyry Target Discovery Near Gidginbung Raises Stakes for Gilmore Project’s Future
LinQ Minerals has identified compelling geochemical and geophysical indicators of a significant porphyry copper-gold system just north of its Gidginbung resource in New South Wales, setting the stage for a new phase of exploration.
- High-priority porphyry copper-gold target located ~1km north of Gidginbung resource
- Multi-method evidence includes gravity lows, structural intersections, drilling, and hyperspectral imaging
- Geological setting analogous to world-class Lepanto-Far Southeast and Wafi-Golpu complexes
- Planned IP/MT geophysical surveys and drilling programs to test and refine targets
- Additional prospectivity identified at Dam and Woolshed porphyry prospects within Gilmore Project
A New Porphyry Target Emerges at Gidginbung
LinQ Minerals Limited (ASX – LNQ) has announced a significant breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Gilmore Project in New South Wales. The company’s latest technical evaluation reveals strong geochemical and geophysical evidence supporting the presence of a high-priority porphyry copper-gold target approximately one kilometre north of the existing Gidginbung high sulphidation epithermal gold deposit.
This emerging target, dubbed the Gidginbung North Porphyry, is concealed beneath an advanced argillic altered lithocap; a geological feature often associated with underlying porphyry systems. The discovery is underpinned by multiple vectors, including a distinct gravity low interpreted as a causative intrusion, the intersection of two major geological structures, encouraging mineralisation intersections from historical drilling, and cutting-edge hyperspectral imaging data identifying high-temperature alteration zones typical of porphyry environments.
Global Analogues and Geological Context
The geological environment at Gidginbung North closely resembles that of world-class porphyry-epithermal complexes such as the Lepanto-Far Southeast in the Philippines and Wafi-Golpu in Papua New Guinea. These analogues are renowned for their substantial copper and gold endowments, lending weight to the prospectivity of LinQ’s target.
Notably, the use of hyperspectral short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging, a technology instrumental in the discovery of the Valeriano copper-gold porphyry in Chile, has provided LinQ with a sophisticated tool to detect mineral assemblages indicative of porphyry systems. This modern approach complements the historical drilling data from Sandfire Resources Limited, which intersected anomalous gold-copper-molybdenum mineralisation beneath the lithocap but did not pursue further work at the time.
Expanding the Exploration Horizon
Beyond Gidginbung North, LinQ’s evaluation has highlighted additional exploration potential at the Dam and Woolshed porphyry prospects within the Gilmore Project. The Dam prospect, with a higher-grade core interpreted to plunge northwards, and the underexplored Woolshed prospect, which has seen limited drilling since 1995, represent promising targets for future drilling campaigns.
The Gilmore Project itself is a substantial landholding spanning approximately 597 square kilometres, hosting a global mineral resource estimate of 516 million tonnes containing around 3.7 million ounces of gold and 1.2 million tonnes of copper. Situated within the Macquarie Arc province; Australia’s premier porphyry gold-copper belt; the project benefits from a geological setting analogous to major nearby mines such as Cadia, Cowal, and Northparkes.
Next Steps and Market Implications
LinQ’s Executive Chair, Clive Donner, emphasised the company’s confidence in the vectors and host rocks identified, stating that the next phase will involve induced polarisation (IP) and magnetotellurics (MT) geophysical surveys to refine targets ahead of drilling. These geophysical methods are well-established in porphyry exploration and should help delineate the footprint of the blind system.
With drilling programs already underway at Gidginbung and the Dam, the addition of geophysical surveys and targeted drilling at Gidginbung North could unlock a new chapter in LinQ’s exploration story. The company’s methodical approach, combining historical data with modern technology and expert analysis, positions it well to potentially expand its resource base significantly.
Bottom Line?
LinQ Minerals’ multi-disciplinary evidence for a major porphyry system near Gidginbung sets the stage for a pivotal exploration phase that could reshape its resource profile.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming IP/MT surveys confirm the extent and grade of the Gidginbung North porphyry system?
- How might new drilling results impact the current mineral resource estimates for the Gilmore Project?
- What are the timelines and capital requirements for advancing exploration and potential development at these targets?