Iceni Gold Uncovers Anomalous Copper in Deep Welcome Creek Drill Hole

Exploration Milestone at Welcome Creek

Iceni Gold Limited (ASX, ICL) has achieved a significant technical milestone with the completion of its deepest diamond drill hole to date at the Welcome Creek Project in Western Australia’s Officer Basin. The drill hole, designated WCD001/1B, reached a depth of 1,475.5 metres, marking one of the most ambitious exploration efforts in this underexplored region.

Initial geochemical screening using portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) technology has revealed anomalous concentrations of copper, zinc, and lead within the sedimentary sequence intersected by the hole. These elevated base metal readings, including copper values up to 0.26% at nearly 943 metres depth, suggest the presence of mineralising fluids and potential basin-hosted copper mineralisation.

Missed Target but New Insights

Despite this encouraging geochemical footprint, the drill hole deviated significantly from its planned vertical trajectory, bending westward at around 400 metres depth and ending approximately 300 metres from the intended collar location. As a result, the primary geophysical target, a large coincident gravity and magnetic anomaly interpreted as a possible iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) style system, remains untested.

Iceni’s Managing Director, Wade Johnson, emphasised that while the basement source of the anomaly was not intersected, the discovery of anomalous copper within the sedimentary basin adds a new dimension to the project’s prospectivity. The presence of reactive host rocks, sealing evaporite units, and major structural pathways in the Officer Basin collectively support the potential for significant mineral systems.

Next Steps in Exploration

The company plans to undertake selective core sampling for laboratory multi-element assays to validate and quantify the pXRF screening results. These assays will be critical to confirming the tenor and distribution of the base metal mineralisation detected.

In parallel, Iceni is exploring the feasibility of a targeted seismic survey to better define the basin architecture, depth to basement, and geometry of the geophysical source. Such seismic imaging could refine future drill targeting and help resolve the location of the elusive IOCG-style mineralisation.

Additionally, the stuck drill string at the hole’s end presents a technical challenge, but the existing hole may be used for wedge drilling to test displaced targets if conditions permit.

Strategic Positioning in a Prospective Region

Welcome Creek lies within the Paterson Orogen, a geological province known for hosting world-class copper and gold deposits. Iceni’s work here complements its broader portfolio, including the 14 Mile Well Gold Project in the Leonora-Laverton district, positioning the company as a notable explorer in Western Australia’s mineral-rich landscape.

With government co-funding support and a methodical approach integrating geophysics, geochemistry, and structural geology, Iceni is advancing its understanding of the Officer Basin’s mineral potential. The anomalous copper discovery, although preliminary, reinforces the basin’s promise and sets the stage for further exploration activities in 2026.