Buxton Resources has applied for a new exploration license at Montello in Western Australia's Musgrave Province, reviving interest in a historically mineral-rich area with promising copper and silver grades.
- New exploration license application E69/4295 at Montello
- Historic drilling revealed high-grade copper and silver intercepts
- Geological setting suggests potential for volcanic redbed copper deposits
- Engagement underway with native title holders for land access
- Plans for modern geophysical surveys to define drill targets
Reviving a Historic Copper Frontier
Buxton Resources Ltd has announced a significant step forward in its exploration strategy with the application for a new exploration license, E69/4295, dubbed Montello, located in the western Musgrave Province of Western Australia. This region, long recognized for its copper and silver mineralisation, has seen sporadic exploration since the late 1960s but remains underexplored by modern standards.
The Montello area boasts a rich history of mineral discoveries, with previous operators like WMC Limited conducting extensive drilling between 1966 and 1971. Their work uncovered notable copper and silver grades, including standout intercepts such as 3.2 meters at 9.02% copper and 20.4 grams per tonne silver. More recent exploration by Rubicon Resources between 2008 and 2012 further confirmed the presence of mineralisation, with intersections like 49 meters at 0.34% copper, including higher-grade zones.
Geological Promise and Exploration Potential
The Montello project lies within the Mission Group, part of the broader Bentley Supergroup, characterized by bimodal volcanics and redbed-type sediments. This geological setting is analogous to other globally significant volcanic redbed copper deposits, such as the Mantos Blancos mine, suggesting the potential for a large-scale copper system.
Buxton’s CEO, Marty Moloney, highlighted the strategic importance of the project, noting that Montello has “all the ingredients required to host a large copper system.” The company plans to leverage modern geophysical techniques, including high-powered induced polarization and airborne magnetotellurics, to identify targets at depths beyond those tested by historical drilling, which was largely shallow.
Navigating Native Title and Next Steps
Access to the Montello tenement area requires engagement with the Ngaanyatjarra Land Council, representing the native title holders. Buxton is actively working with the council to conduct a Preliminary Anthropological Assessment, a critical step to ensure respectful and lawful exploration activities. This process will pave the way for negotiating a Deed of Agreement for Exploration.
With the groundwork laid, Buxton is poised to advance exploration, combining its comprehensive review of historical data with cutting-edge geophysical surveys. The company’s approach aims to unlock the potential of this underexplored region, which could yield significant discoveries in a premier mining jurisdiction.
Balancing Opportunity with Caution
While the historical data is encouraging, it is important to note that the true widths of mineralisation remain uncertain, and the area has yet to be tested with modern drilling techniques at depth. Buxton’s announcement carefully frames the Montello project as an exciting exploration opportunity rather than a confirmed resource, underscoring the early stage of work.
Bottom Line?
Buxton’s Montello application rekindles hope for a major copper discovery, but much hinges on native title negotiations and modern exploration results.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Buxton’s modern geophysical surveys redefine drill targets at Montello?
- What timeline is expected for native title agreements and subsequent drilling programs?
- Could Montello’s mineralisation rival other volcanic redbed copper deposits globally?