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42.7m at 2.69% Cu Near Surface Highlights Somerset’s Coppermine Potential

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Somerset Minerals reports thick, high-grade copper intercepts at its Coppermine project in Canada and identifies a major 17 km regional anomaly, setting the stage for a significant drilling campaign.

  • Maiden drilling delivers up to 42.7m at 2.69% copper near surface
  • Talisker anomaly spans 17 km with strong copper geochemical and geophysical signatures
  • Upcoming ~3,000m diamond drilling program planned for March 2026
  • Large landholding of 1,665 km² with over 110 copper occurrences
  • Well-funded after recent $3.7 million placement at 11% premium

Exploration Breakthrough at Coppermine

Somerset Minerals (ASX, SMM) has delivered a compelling update on its Coppermine copper project in mainland Canada, revealing thick, high-grade copper intercepts from maiden drilling and unveiling a major regional target that could reshape the district’s exploration landscape. The company’s recent drilling campaign returned standout results, including a 42.7-metre intercept grading 2.69% copper from just 15 metres below surface, confirming the presence of significant near-surface mineralisation.

District-Scale Potential with Talisker Anomaly

Beyond the immediate drilling success, Somerset has identified the Talisker anomaly; a striking 17-kilometre-long coincident geophysical and geochemical feature that ranks as the highest priority regional target. Soil sampling at Talisker revealed copper concentrations exceeding 1,000 ppm, with a peak value of 3,790 ppm, signalling a robust copper system that lies just 5 kilometres from White Cliff Minerals’ Danvers deposit. This proximity and structural linkage to known mineralisation enhance the prospectivity of the area.

Strategic Drilling and Dual-Track Growth

Somerset is poised to advance its exploration with a planned ~3,000-metre diamond drilling program commencing in early March 2026. This campaign will focus on extending the high-grade mineralisation at Jura North, where mineralisation has been confirmed over more than 3 kilometres of strike and is interpreted to extend beyond 7 kilometres along the Jura Fault Zone. The drilling will also test newly identified parallel lodes and deeper targets indicated by recent geophysical surveys, which suggest mineralisation may continue to depths of 600 metres or more.

Robust Capital Position and Experienced Leadership

Supporting these ambitious exploration plans is a solid financial footing, bolstered by a recent $3.7 million placement at an 11% premium to the last close. Somerset’s management team, led by Managing Director Chris Hansen and Non-Executive Chairman Mike Edwards, brings a blend of technical expertise and market experience, positioning the company well to unlock value from its extensive 1,665 square kilometre landholding, which hosts over 110 copper occurrences.

A Copper Future in Canada’s Emerging District

The Coppermine project benefits from its strategic location near established mining infrastructure, including the mining hub of Yellowknife and the community of Kugluktuk, which offers air and port facilities. The geological setting, featuring multiple mineralisation styles analogous to globally significant copper deposits, combined with the company’s dual-track strategy of advancing drill-ready targets while exploring district-scale opportunities, underscores Somerset’s potential to emerge as a key player in this underexplored region.

Bottom Line?

Somerset Minerals’ upcoming drilling and regional exploration at Talisker could unlock a new chapter in Canadian copper discovery.

Questions in the middle?

  • Will the upcoming drilling confirm extensions of high-grade mineralisation at depth and along strike?
  • How will assay results from untested parallel lodes and Talisker anomaly shape the project’s resource potential?
  • What timeline and milestones can investors expect for resource definition and potential development?