Somerset Minerals reports promising high-grade copper intercepts at its Coppermine Project in Canada, with ongoing drilling and regional surveys set to unlock further potential.
- Maiden drilling yields 42.7m at 2.69% copper from near surface
- Phase-2 drilling confirms continuity with assays pending for six holes
- Large 1,665 km² landholding with over 110 copper occurrences
- Regional magnetic and geochemical surveys completed, results expected soon
- Dual-track strategy advancing resource growth and district-scale exploration
A Promising Start in Nunavut
Somerset Minerals (ASX, SMM) has delivered an encouraging update on its Coppermine copper project, located in mainland Canada’s Nunavut territory. The company’s maiden drilling campaign in July 2025 returned thick, high-grade copper intercepts near surface, including a standout 42.7 metres grading 2.69% copper from just 15.2 metres depth. This initial success has set the tone for a broader exploration push across the district-scale landholding.
Building on Early Success with Phase-2 Drilling
Following the maiden results, Somerset has completed a further eight holes at the Jura North area, part of the broader Jura District. Early assays from two of these holes confirm multiple high-grade zones within broad mineralised envelopes extending 60 to 90 metres. Notably, intercepts such as 59.4 metres at 1.50% copper, including a higher-grade 19.8 metres at 3.54%, highlight the potential scale and grade continuity. Assay results for the remaining six holes are eagerly awaited in the coming weeks, promising to shed more light on the deposit’s depth and extent.
District-Scale Potential and Strategic Land Position
Somerset’s Coppermine Project covers an expansive 1,665 square kilometres, one of the largest landholdings in the region, with over 110 known copper occurrences. The project area exhibits hallmarks of a major copper system, including copper-rich source rocks, significant structural controls, and strong alteration zones. The company’s dual-track strategy focuses on advancing drill-ready targets like Jura while simultaneously unlocking regional-scale value through comprehensive geophysical and geochemical surveys.
Unlocking Concealed Targets with Advanced Surveys
Recent completion of a high-resolution airborne magnetic survey and a large-scale soil geochemical program marks a significant step in Somerset’s exploration campaign. These surveys aim to identify coincident anomalies that could indicate concealed copper mineralisation beneath thin overburden. Results from these programs are expected within 4 to 6 weeks and will guide the prioritisation of new drill targets, potentially expanding the discovery pipeline beyond current known zones.
Leadership and Market Position
Somerset’s management team, led by Managing Director Chris Hansen and Non-Executive Chairman Mike Edwards, brings a blend of technical expertise and market experience. With a market capitalisation of approximately A$15.3 million and a tight capital structure, the company is well positioned to capitalise on near-term catalysts. The combination of early drilling success, ongoing assay results, and upcoming regional survey data could significantly enhance Somerset’s profile in the emerging Canadian copper district.
Bottom Line?
As Somerset awaits critical assay results and regional survey data, the Coppermine Project stands poised for a potential leap from promising exploration to a major copper discovery.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the pending assays confirm the high-grade continuity suggested by visual mineralisation?
- How will the upcoming magnetic and geochemical survey results refine Somerset’s drill targeting?
- What is the potential scale of the copper system beneath the Jura District given geophysical indications?