Antares Metals reports exceptional high-grade copper, gold, and silver results from rock chip sampling at its Startle and Astound prospects, reinforcing the Mount Isa North Project’s exploration potential.
- Rock chip samples up to 27% copper and 2.66 g/t gold
- 89% of samples exceed 1% copper content
- Startle prospect reveals three distinct mineralised zones
- Astound prospect features a 10m wide high-grade shear zone
- Plans for expanded 2026 exploration including maiden drilling
Exceptional Surface Grades Signal Strong Prospectivity
Antares Metals Ltd (ASX, AM5) has delivered a compelling update from its Mount Isa North Project in Queensland, announcing rock chip sampling results that include copper grades as high as 27%, gold up to 2.66 grams per tonne, and silver reaching 31 grams per tonne. These results stem from the Startle and Astound prospects, located roughly 80 kilometres northeast of the established mining hub of Mount Isa.
With nearly 90% of samples exceeding 1% copper, the findings underscore the robust mineralisation present near surface. The Startle prospect, in particular, stands out with three clearly defined mineralised lodes stretching over 350 metres, where 22 of 23 samples from the main area returned copper grades above 1%. This continuity suggests a significant copper endowment that warrants further investigation.
Astound Prospect Highlights Structural Similarities and High-Grade Zones
Approximately 7 kilometres south of Startle, the Astound prospect reveals a 10-metre-wide shear zone rich in copper minerals such as malachite and chalcocite. Rock chip samples here returned copper grades up to 12.9% and gold up to 1.09 g/t, accompanied by notable silver values. The presence of historic small-scale pits and copper weed vegetation further supports the prospect’s mineral potential.
Geological mapping indicates that both prospects share similar lithological and structural characteristics, hinting at a common mineralising event. This connection enhances the strategic value of the Mount Isa North Project as a whole.
Building Momentum for 2026 Exploration
Antares Metals’ Managing Director, Terence Topping, described the results as a "fitting close to a very successful and positive first exploration season." The company plans to capitalise on this momentum by advancing exploration activities in 2026, including detailed mapping, geophysical surveys, and maiden drilling programs aimed at testing the depth and lateral continuity of the mineralised zones.
Beyond Startle and Astound, Antares also intends to expand work at its Conglomerate Creek and Cromwell discoveries, as well as potentially progressing exploration at the Queens Gift uranium resource, pending further drill results. Additionally, the company is preparing exploration programs for newly acquired gold projects in Western Australia, signalling a diversified growth strategy.
Context and Outlook
The Mount Isa region is renowned for its world-class copper deposits, and Antares’ findings add promising new chapters to this legacy. While these rock chip results are surface samples and do not yet confirm resource size or economic viability, they provide a strong foundation for the next phase of exploration. The upcoming drilling campaigns will be critical in determining the true scale and continuity of these high-grade zones.
Bottom Line?
Antares Metals’ high-grade surface results set the stage for a pivotal 2026 exploration season that could redefine the company’s resource potential.
Questions in the middle?
- Will upcoming drilling confirm the depth and continuity of these high-grade zones?
- How might the Startle and Astound prospects integrate with Antares’ broader Mount Isa North strategy?
- What timelines and budgets has Antares allocated for advancing its uranium and Western Australia gold projects?