Catalina Resources is launching a focused 12-hole drilling campaign at its Breakaway Dam Copper Project, aiming to unlock thicker, higher-grade sulphide zones within a promising volcanogenic massive sulphide system.
- 12-hole, ~3,160m RC drilling program targeting copper-rich VMS system
- Key drillhole BDCRC26016 designed to test multi-plate sulphide thickening
- Drilling to assess ~700m mineralised corridor within a broader ~16km trend
- DHEM surveys integrated to refine conductor models and targeting
- Site preparation starts 21 February 2026, drilling to follow immediately
Exploration Momentum Builds at Breakaway Dam
Catalina Resources Limited is advancing its exploration efforts at the Breakaway Dam Copper Project with a new 12-hole reverse circulation drilling program. The approximately 3,160-metre campaign is designed to follow up on recent promising results that confirmed the presence of a copper-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) system. This next phase aims to deepen understanding of the system’s scale and grade potential.
The company’s strategy hinges on targeting the core of the conductive sulphide system, where previous drilling appears to have only grazed the edges. A standout feature of the program is drillhole BDCRC26016, which is specifically configured to intersect multiple conductor plates. This multi-plate test is expected to provide critical insights into sulphide thickness and metal tenor, factors that could significantly enhance the project’s resource profile.
System-Scale Potential and Integrated Geophysics
Breakaway Dam’s mineralised corridor currently extends about 700 metres along strike, but geophysical interpretations suggest the broader conductive trend could stretch for approximately 16 kilometres within Catalina’s tenure. This highlights substantial system-scale potential, with large portions of the prospective horizon yet to be effectively drilled.
Integral to the drilling program are downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys, which will be conducted alongside drilling to refine conductor models and detect off-hole responses. This real-time geophysical feedback is expected to sharpen targeting accuracy and guide subsequent exploration steps, increasing the likelihood of intersecting thicker and higher-grade sulphide accumulations.
Operational Readiness and Next Steps
Site preparation is scheduled to commence on 21 February 2026, with JB Contracting engaged to undertake these initial works. Drilling operations, managed by Core Drilling Pty Ltd in collaboration with Catalina’s geological team, are set to begin immediately after site readiness is achieved. The program’s design reflects a disciplined and systematic approach to evaluating both the grade potential and the architectural framework of the Breakaway Dam VMS system.
Executive Director Ross Cotton emphasised the importance of this phase, noting that the integration of geological and geophysical data is key to unlocking the system’s core. The results from this drilling campaign will be pivotal in shaping Catalina’s exploration trajectory and could materially influence the project’s valuation and development prospects.
Bottom Line?
Catalina’s upcoming drilling at Breakaway Dam could redefine the project’s resource potential, setting the stage for a critical phase of exploration and evaluation.
Questions in the middle?
- Will BDCRC26016 confirm thicker sulphide zones and higher metal grades within the core?
- How will DHEM survey results influence follow-up drilling and resource modelling?
- What are the implications if the broader 16km conductive trend hosts multiple significant sulphide accumulations?