Loyal Metals Uncovers 60m of High-Grade Chalcocite at Highway Reward
Loyal Metals has intersected 60 metres of rich chalcocite copper mineralisation near the surface at its Highway Reward Project, confirming the presence of extensive copper-gold deposits and advancing exploration efforts with a third drill underway.
- 60m of semi-massive and disseminated chalcocite copper intersected near open pit eastern wall
- Chalcocite mineral contains approximately 79.8% copper, indicating high-grade potential
- Historical Reward orebody produced over 543,000 tonnes at 9.6% copper and 1.4g/t gold
- Third drill hole progressing to delineate massive sulphide pipe and follow up zinc discovery
- $8.2 million funding supports ongoing exploration and resource definition
Significant Copper Discovery at Highway Reward
Loyal Metals Ltd (ASX – LLM) has announced a promising development at its Highway Reward Project in Queensland, intersecting 60 metres of shallow, semi-massive and disseminated chalcocite copper supergene mineralisation. This mineralisation lies just 50 metres from the eastern wall of the open pit and approximately 110 metres below surface, reaffirming the presence of a high-grade copper-gold system in a historically productive area.
Chalcocite, a copper sulphide mineral containing nearly 80% copper by weight, is one of the richest copper minerals found in nature. Its presence in such significant thickness near surface suggests a robust supergene enrichment zone, which historically has been associated with high-grade copper and gold mineralisation at Highway Reward.
Historical Context and Exploration Upside
The adjacent Reward orebody, located just 200 metres southwest, has a strong production history, having yielded over 543,500 tonnes at an average grade of 9.6% copper and 1.4 grams per tonne gold. Much of this material was treated as Direct Shipping Ore, underscoring the exceptional quality of the deposit. Loyal Metals’ recent drilling confirms continuity of mineralisation along the eastern wall, a zone that had been underexplored for over two decades.
With assay results from the first drill hole delayed until January due to laboratory backlogs, the company is pressing ahead with a third drill hole. This hole aims to further delineate the massive sulphide pipe and investigate a previously identified near-surface zinc occurrence, potentially adding another valuable commodity to the project’s portfolio.
Strategic Positioning and Technology Integration
Backed by $8.2 million in funding, Loyal Metals is well-positioned to advance the Highway Reward Project, which is globally recognised for its high-grade volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) mineralisation. The company is also leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence tools to enhance exploration efficiency, including VRIFY’s DORA platform for drill targeting and geological modelling, and ChatGPT-powered tools for internal communications and planning.
These technological integrations aim to accelerate decision-making and improve resource definition, potentially shortening the timeline to resource delineation and development. The combination of historical data, modern drilling results, and AI-enhanced workflows places Loyal Metals at the forefront of mineral exploration innovation.
Looking Ahead
While visual logging of the drill core has provided encouraging signs of mineralisation continuity and quality, the awaited assay results will be critical to confirming the economic potential of the intersected zones. The ongoing drilling campaign and subsequent data will guide resource modelling and future development strategies.
Moreover, the company’s acquisition of 100% ownership of the Highway Reward tenements and its commitment to meeting financial provisioning requirements demonstrate a long-term strategic approach to unlocking value from this prolific copper-gold district.
Bottom Line?
Loyal Metals’ latest drilling success at Highway Reward sets the stage for a potentially transformative resource update, with assay results and further drilling poised to unlock new value.
Questions in the middle?
- What will the assay results reveal about the true grade and continuity of the chalcocite mineralisation?
- How might the zinc discovery adjacent to the sulphide pipe impact the project’s economic outlook?
- What role will AI-driven exploration tools play in accelerating resource definition and project development?
