Canterbury Extends Drilling After Deep Copper Discovery at Briggs
Canterbury Resources has successfully completed a deep drill hole at its Briggs Copper Project, intersecting continuous porphyry copper mineralisation and extending its drilling program to explore further along strike.
- Deep drill hole 25BRD0037 completed to 810m intersecting continuous copper mineralisation
- Strongest mineralisation near contact zone between granodiorite intrusion and volcanic sediments
- Assay results for upper 231m expected within 2-3 weeks; remainder in 4-6 weeks
- New drill hole 25BRD0038 underway to test along strike and below surface copper anomaly
- Drilling partially funded by Queensland Government grant and part of JV with Alma Metals and Rio Tinto
Successful Deep Drilling at Briggs
Canterbury Resources Limited has announced the successful completion of a deep diamond drill hole, 25BRD0037, at its Briggs Copper Project in Central Queensland. The hole reached a depth of 809.9 metres, designed to intersect the entire known mineralised system, including a deep geophysical target identified by VTEM surveys adjacent to the southwestern margin of the existing mineral resource estimate.
Geological logging reveals porphyry copper-style mineralisation throughout the core length, with the most intense copper and alteration zones concentrated around the contact between the porphyritic granodiorite intrusion and surrounding volcanic sediments at approximately 500 metres depth. This aligns well with pre-drilling geological models and resource block estimates updated earlier in 2025.
Implications for Resource Expansion
The mineralisation intensity gradually diminishes below 650 metres but remains present to the end of the hole. Notably, narrow sulphide veins containing pyrite and chalcopyrite in volcanic sandstones below 550 metres are believed to explain the VTEM geophysical anomaly, suggesting potential for further copper mineralisation at depth.
Assay results for the upper 231 metres of drill hole 25BRD0037 are anticipated within the next two to three weeks, with the remainder expected over the following four to six weeks. These results will be critical to confirming visual estimates and refining the mineral resource estimate, which currently stands as a robust inferred and indicated resource.
Extended Drilling Program and Strategic Partnerships
Building on this momentum, Canterbury has commenced a new drill hole, 25BRD0038, positioned 80 metres northwest of the previous hole. This step-out drill is targeting the along-strike continuation of the high-grade contact zone and aims to test beneath a strong surface copper-in-soils anomaly, potentially unlocking further resource expansion opportunities.
The drilling program benefits from partial funding through a $250,000 grant from the Queensland Government’s Collaborative Exploration Initiative, underscoring public sector support for advancing the project. Additionally, Canterbury operates the Briggs Project in joint venture with Alma Metals and holds a royalty interest with Rio Tinto, reflecting a collaborative approach to de-risking and advancing exploration.
Looking Ahead
Data generated from the 2025 drilling campaign will feed into ongoing technical studies, including metallurgical domaining and a scoping study assessing the feasibility of a large-scale, long-life mining operation. The company’s managing director, Grant Craighead, highlighted the validation of geological models and the strategic importance of the southwestern contact zone as a host for higher-grade copper mineralisation.
While assay results remain pending, the successful completion of this deep drill hole and the extension of the drilling program mark significant steps forward in defining and potentially expanding the Briggs copper resource. Investors and analysts will be watching closely as assay data and updated resource estimates become available in the coming months.
Bottom Line?
As assay results approach, Canterbury’s deep drilling success at Briggs sets the stage for potential resource growth and project advancement.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results confirm the visual estimates of copper mineralisation intensity?
- How significant could the new drill hole 25BRD0038 be in expanding the resource along strike?
- What impact will the upcoming scoping study have on the project’s development timeline and economics?