Litchfield Minerals has confirmed a continuous mineralised strike of over 3km at its Oonagalabi Formation, revealing new copper, zinc, and silver zones. Upcoming drilling and geophysical surveys aim to test the system’s extensions and depth potential.
- Continuous mineralised outcrop confirmed over 3km strike length
- New zones show strong copper (up to 21.5%), zinc, and silver mineralisation
- Geophysical surveys reveal system open northeast and southwest
- Drilling program commencing to test extensions and depth targets
- Follow-up induced polarisation surveys planned post-drilling
Expanding the Oonagalabi Footprint
Litchfield Minerals has unveiled compelling new geological mapping results from its Oonagalabi Project in the Northern Territory. Fieldwork has confirmed a continuous outcrop of the mineralised Oonagalabi Formation stretching more than 3 kilometres from the Silverado to Bomb Diggity prospects. This expanded strike length significantly broadens the known footprint of mineralisation, suggesting a more extensive system than previously understood.
Notably, rock chip sampling between Silverado and Oonagalabi returned encouraging portable XRF readings with copper concentrations reaching 21.5%, zinc at 2.47%, and silver up to 25 grams per tonne. While these pXRF results are preliminary and require laboratory confirmation, they highlight the potential for high-grade mineralisation within newly identified zones.
Geophysical Insights and Structural Complexity
Geophysical surveys, including Induced Polarisation (IP) and VTEM electromagnetic data, have played a pivotal role in delineating the subsurface extent of mineralisation. The IP surveys detected a second, parallel sulphide-bearing structure aligned with the newly mapped Oonagalabi Formation, reinforcing the geological mapping findings. Furthermore, conductivity trends from VTEM data indicate the system remains open to the northeast and southwest, pointing to additional untested targets beyond current drilling plans.
The mineralised formation exhibits a steep southeast dip and local thickening, suggesting potential for significant depth extensions. These structural characteristics provide a compelling rationale for the upcoming drilling campaign to test both lateral and down-dip extensions of the mineralised zones.
Drilling and Next Steps
The company is poised to commence a reverse circulation drilling program targeting priority areas, including the northeast extension at Bomb Diggity and several step-out positions along strike and down dip. These drillholes aim to validate the continuity and grade of the mineralisation and to assess its economic potential.
Following drilling, Litchfield plans to conduct additional IP surveys to refine the chargeability and resistivity models, which will help map the subsurface sulphide distribution more accurately. Assay results from the current drilling phase are expected by mid to late November 2025, providing a critical data point for evaluating the project’s resource potential.
Sustainability and Exploration Philosophy
Litchfield Minerals emphasizes a commitment to responsible exploration, integrating innovative technologies and sustainable practices to minimise environmental impact. The company’s approach aims to unlock copper and other critical minerals essential for future energy and infrastructure needs while maintaining strong community and stakeholder engagement.
Bottom Line?
As drilling kicks off, the Oonagalabi Formation’s expanded mineralised footprint could redefine Litchfield’s resource outlook, assay results will be closely watched.
Questions in the middle?
- Will laboratory assays confirm the high-grade copper and zinc indicated by pXRF sampling?
- How extensive are the newly identified parallel structures and what is their mineralisation potential?
- What impact will the upcoming drilling results have on the overall resource estimate and project valuation?