Loyal Metals Reveals Massive Untapped Copper-Gold Zones at Highway Reward
Loyal Metals has validated an extensive historical drilling dataset at Queensland's Highway Reward Mine, revealing significant unmined copper-gold mineralisation and setting the stage for a new exploration phase backed by $5.8 million in funding.
- Verification of ~122,000m historical copper-gold drilling data
- Substantial remnant mineralisation adjacent to past workings
- Use of VRIFY’s interactive 3D model for resource targeting
- High-grade copper-gold intercepts confirm exploration upside
- $5.8 million secured to commence targeted drilling campaigns
Historical Data Validation and Remnant Potential
Loyal Metals Limited (ASX – LLM) has recently completed a comprehensive verification of approximately 122,000 metres of legacy copper-gold drilling data at the Highway Reward Mine in Queensland, Australia. This extensive dataset, encompassing over 1,000 drill holes, confirms the world-class scale and grade of the deposit, which historically produced 3.65 million tonnes at 5.7% copper and 260,000 ounces at 4.5 grams per tonne gold.
Importantly, past mining operations focused primarily on high-grade copper zones and largely excluded gold from mine plans, leaving significant remnant copper-gold mineralisation adjacent to both open pit and underground workings. Loyal Metals’ verification work highlights these unmined zones, with notable intercepts such as 33 metres at 5.0% copper and 2 metres at 105.4 grams per tonne gold, underscoring the untapped potential.
Advanced 3D Modelling and Targeting
To better visualise and prioritise these remnant resources, Loyal Metals has employed VRIFY’s interactive 3D modelling platform. This technology integrates the verified drilling data into a dynamic model that clearly delineates remnant mineralised zones and identifies open areas for new discoveries. The model supports a data-driven approach to exploration, enabling precise targeting of drilling campaigns.
Complementing this, Loyal plans to deploy a high-resolution MobileMTd geophysical survey capable of probing depths beyond 1,000 metres. The resulting data will feed into VRIFY’s AI-powered DORA platform, which analyses complex datasets to generate high-probability drill targets, enhancing the efficiency and success rate of upcoming exploration efforts.
Strategic Location and Exploration Upside
The Highway Reward Mine is strategically situated within the Mount Windsor Volcanic Belt, a prolific copper-gold region near Charters Towers, Queensland. The area benefits from established infrastructure, including proximity to major processing plants and transport hubs such as the Port of Townsville and Glencore’s Mount Isa copper operations.
Geologically, the deposit features massive sulphide pipes rich in chalcopyrite and pyrite, with gold closely associated with pyrite mineralisation. The system remains open at depth and along strike, with limited drilling below 390 metres indicating significant upside potential for discovering new high-grade copper-gold lenses. Historical intercepts of up to 52 metres at 17.0% copper reinforce this prospectivity.
Funding and Next Steps
With $5.8 million in funding secured, Loyal Metals is well-positioned to advance remnant resource evaluation and commence targeted drilling within the Highway Reward mining leases. The company has also formalised exploration rights through acquisition and option agreements, ensuring exclusivity to explore and develop the tenements.
Upcoming activities include integrating new geophysical surveys with AI-assisted data analysis to refine drill targets, followed by drilling campaigns aimed at unlocking the full value of the remnant copper-gold mineralisation. This marks a strategic pivot from historical mining approaches, leveraging modern technology and higher commodity prices to potentially redefine the project’s economic outlook.
Bottom Line?
Loyal Metals’ integration of verified legacy data with cutting-edge AI and geophysics sets the stage for a potentially transformative exploration phase at Highway Reward.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming drilling results impact the classification and size of the remnant resource?
- What are the timelines and milestones for integrating MobileMTd geophysical data into AI targeting?
- How might environmental and regulatory approvals influence the pace of exploration and development?