True North Copper’s maiden drilling at Salebury confirms a large Iron Oxide Copper-Gold system with promising mineralisation extending over a kilometre, setting the stage for resource growth in Queensland’s Cloncurry district.
- Maiden drilling campaign confirms IOCG mineralisation at Salebury
- Three reverse circulation holes totaling 963m intersect copper sulphides and alteration
- Mineralisation extends over a >1km structural corridor with depth potential
- Results align with major systems like Ernest Henry, indicating resource growth
- Further geophysical surveys and drilling planned to target higher-grade zones
Discovery and Drilling Highlights
True North Copper Limited (ASX, TNC) has announced encouraging results from its inaugural drilling program at the Salebury Project in Northwest Queensland’s prolific Cloncurry district. The company drilled three reverse circulation holes totaling 963 metres across key prospects; The Gully, Raleigh’s, and Salebury Main; targeting geophysical anomalies indicative of Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) mineralisation.
The drilling intersected strong alteration zones and copper sulphide mineralisation consistent with the geochemical halos typical of major IOCG systems such as the nearby Ernest Henry Mine. These results confirm the presence of a large-scale IOCG system extending over a structural corridor exceeding one kilometre in length.
Geological Context and Significance
Salebury lies approximately 20 kilometres from True North’s Cloncurry Copper Project and 30 kilometres from Ernest Henry, placing it within a highly prospective geological setting. The mineralisation is hosted within a complex structural framework involving folded thrust sheets and brecciated calc-silicate rocks, with alteration signatures including potassic and hematite assemblages typical of IOCG deposits.
Notably, the Salebury Main Zone drilling revealed a broad zone of copper anomalism over 120 metres, with discrete higher-grade intervals, suggesting potential extensions of historical resources and a vertically zoned copper system. The Gully and Raleigh’s prospects also returned significant copper and gold assays, reinforcing the potential for a substantial mineralised system.
Strategic Growth and Next Steps
True North’s Managing Director Andrew Mooney highlighted the significance of these early results, positioning Salebury as a complementary discovery alongside the company’s Mt Oxide and Cloncurry projects. The company’s three-stage growth strategy aims to extend near-term mine resources, advance district-scale discoveries, and systematically explore regional targets.
Building on the drilling success, True North plans to expand geophysical surveys to infill data gaps and refine target models. Follow-up drilling will focus on delineating the higher-grade core of the IOCG system and upgrading resource confidence to meet current reporting standards.
This discovery underscores True North’s ambition to emerge as a leading copper-gold producer in Queensland, leveraging the region’s established infrastructure and geological endowment.
Bottom Line?
Salebury’s promising IOCG system could be a cornerstone for True North’s copper growth, but further drilling will be key to unlocking its full potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How extensive and high-grade is the core of the Salebury IOCG system at depth?
- What impact will Salebury’s resource growth have on True North’s production timeline?
- How will expanded geophysical surveys refine targeting and influence drilling priorities?