Helix Resources Launches Advanced Exploration at White Hills Copper-Gold Project

Exploration Kickoff at White Hills

Helix Resources Limited (ASX, HLX) has commenced an ambitious exploration program at its White Hills Copper-Gold Project in Northern Arizona, USA. This initiative marks a significant step in advancing the project’s potential, leveraging a combination of modern geophysical techniques and drilling to better understand the subsurface mineralisation.

The White Hills Project is strategically located within two major metallogenic belts, the Arizona Arc, known for porphyry copper systems linked to Cretaceous intrusions, and the Walker Lane trend, which hosts multi-million-ounce gold deposits. This geological setting underpins the project's strong prospectivity for both copper and gold.

Innovative Geophysical Surveys

The exploration program integrates passive seismic Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) and Controlled-Source Audio-Magnetotellurics (CSAMT) surveys. The passive seismic survey, deploying approximately 200 nodes across the project area, aims to image lithological boundaries up to nearly two kilometres deep. This method is particularly suited to White Hills, where shallow alluvial cover obscures the basement rocks that may host mineralisation.

Simultaneously, the CSAMT survey focuses on Section 2, a zone with notable copper-gold anomalies. By mapping resistivity contrasts, this survey will help delineate intrusive contacts and structural features critical to mineralisation. The integration of these datasets promises a comprehensive three-dimensional model of the mineral system, enhancing drill targeting precision.

Targeted Diamond Drilling to Follow

Following the geophysical surveys, Helix plans a diamond drilling campaign targeting the strongest copper and gold anomalies identified at Section 2. Historical drilling at White Hills focused primarily on gold and did not assay for copper, leaving a gap in understanding the full mineral potential. The new drilling will provide copper assays alongside gold verification, testing structural and magnetic targets derived from the integrated datasets.

The drilling program is expected to comprise between 1,000 and 3,000 metres, with final meterage contingent on survey results and target prioritisation. This approach aims to validate both porphyry-related and detachment-related mineralisation models, while also collecting fresh rock samples for detailed geochemical and mineralogical analysis.

Strategic Partnership and Future Outlook

The exploration activities align with the requirements of Helix’s joint venture with Newmont, a major player in the mining sector. The integrated data from geophysics and drilling will underpin a district-scale geological model for the White Hills to Gold Basin corridor, guiding follow-up drilling planned for early to mid-2026.

Helix’s methodical approach, combining historical data with advanced technology and strategic partnerships, positions the White Hills Project as a compelling copper-gold exploration story to watch. The coming months will be critical as assay results and geological interpretations emerge.