Copper Hits 8% Above Priority VTEM Conductor at Oonagalabi

Exploration Breakthrough at Oonagalabi

Litchfield Minerals Limited (ASX, LMS) has reported encouraging exploration results from its Oonagalabi Project in the Northern Territory, signalling a potentially significant expansion of its copper mineralised system. Recent ground-truthing activities following a detailed VTEM (versatile time-domain electromagnetic) survey have identified gossanous copper mineralisation directly above a priority VTEM conductor, with handheld XRF readings reaching up to 8% copper. This surface expression is a promising indicator of sulphide mineralisation at depth, suggesting the presence of a substantial copper system.

Expanding the Mineralised Footprint

Beyond the initial conductor, field mapping has uncovered a distinctive plant species known locally as the “Zinc Bush,” which has only been observed in association with copper-zinc mineralisation within the Oonagalabi Formation. This geobotanical indicator, alongside physical mineralisation exposures, bolsters confidence in the presence of sulphide deposits beneath the surface. Notably, the Bomb Diggity cluster; a newly identified zone; has extended the mineralised strike length by an additional 1km, revealing outcropping copper mineralisation within the Oonagalabi Formation that was previously unmapped.

A Larger, More Complex System Emerges

The final VTEM survey data has unveiled multiple new targets extending both north and south of the known mineralised horizon, indicating that the system is more laterally extensive and complex than earlier understood. The presence of strong conductive plates at depths of around 150 meters, combined with geobotanical and geophysical evidence, points to several high-priority blind sulphide targets. These findings suggest that the previously drilled outcrop may represent a peripheral zone rather than the core of the mineral system.

Preparing for a Comprehensive Drilling Campaign

Logistical preparations are underway to support a multi-target reverse circulation (RC) drilling program, with earthmoving equipment expected on site in early September. This program aims to test the priority VTEM conductors and the Bomb Diggity cluster, with plans to include down-hole electromagnetic surveys to refine conductor geometry. However, the company emphasizes that successful execution depends on shareholder support for its Share Purchase Plan (SPP), which will provide the necessary funding to undertake a thorough and methodical exploration campaign.

Strategic Importance and Future Outlook

Oonagalabi’s location at the intersection of deep crustal structures and continental-scale gravity lineaments; features often associated with Tier-1 mineral systems; adds strategic weight to these exploration results. The project’s classification by Geoscience Australia as having moderate IOCG (iron oxide copper gold) potential further underscores its promise. Litchfield Minerals’ managing director, Mat Pustahya, highlighted the significance of these findings, describing the upcoming quarter as potentially company-defining, provided the planned drilling program proceeds as intended.