Octava Drills 457m with Visible Sulphides; Surface Samples Hit 12.75% Zinc at Federation

Drilling Resumes at Sweeney’s Prospect

Octava Minerals Ltd (ASX, OCT) has recommenced its exploration drilling program at the Sweeney’s prospect, part of its broader Federation Project in Western Tasmania. To date, the company has completed three diamond core holes totalling 457 metres of a planned 2,000-metre campaign. Notably, visible semi-massive sulphide mineralisation was observed in drill hole OFD003 within two distinct lodes, signalling the presence of potentially significant copper, zinc, and silver mineralisation.

High-Grade Surface Samples at Anomaly 1

Just 750 metres northeast of Sweeney’s, the Anomaly 1 prospect has yielded impressive rock chip samples. These surface samples returned high concentrations of zinc (up to 12.75%), copper (0.81%), silver (199 g/t), tin (0.61%), and indium exceeding 500 ppm. This polymetallic assemblage is consistent with the greisen-style mineralisation typical of the region and supports the prospect’s potential as a valuable resource.

Historical Context and Strategic Location

Octava’s exploration builds on historical work conducted in the early 1980s by Renison Consolidated Goldfields, which drilled six holes at Anomaly 1. The most notable intercept from that period included 37 metres grading 0.21% copper, 0.26% tin, 0.86% zinc, and 33 g/t silver, with a higher-grade semi-massive sulphide zone within that interval. The Federation Project itself spans approximately 121 square kilometres, situated just 12 kilometres west of Zeehan, Tasmania, and benefits from proximity to established mining infrastructure and hydroelectric power stations, factors that could ease future development.

Next Steps in Exploration

While assay results from the recent drilling are pending, Octava plans to continue its diamond drilling program to test the strike and depth extensions of the mineralised zones. Additionally, downhole electromagnetic (EM) surveys will be employed to identify off-hole conductors that may indicate further sulphide mineralisation. These efforts aim to clarify the geometry and continuity of the deposits, which remain complex and not yet fully understood.

Implications for Octava Minerals

The early signs of visible sulphides and high-grade surface samples provide a compelling case for the Federation Project’s potential to host economically significant polymetallic mineralisation. If subsequent assays confirm these findings, Octava could be well positioned to advance its critical minerals portfolio, which is increasingly important given global demand for copper, zinc, and rare metals like indium. Investors will be watching closely as the company progresses its exploration through 2026.