Breakthrough Minerals Launches Maiden Drilling to Expand Barbara Copper-Gold Resource

Rapid Drilling Start Signals Ambition

Just three weeks after completing its acquisition of the North Queensland Copper-Gold Project (NQCGP), Breakthrough Minerals (ASX:BTM) has commenced its maiden diamond drilling program at the Barbara Copper-Gold Project (BCGP). This swift move from acquisition to active exploration underscores the company’s drive to convert its newly secured assets into tangible resource growth.

The initial campaign involves approximately 1,500 metres of diamond drilling focused on down-plunge extensions of copper-gold mineralisation at Barbara North and South. These targets sit within a broader Queensland Copper-Gold Project (QCGP) that boasts a global Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 18.8 million tonnes at 1.07% copper equivalent (CuEq), containing some 200,000 tonnes of CuEq metal. Barbara alone accounts for around one third of this resource, with 6.5Mt at 0.97% CuEq including 63,000 tonnes of contained copper equivalent.

Targeting High-Grade Extensions and Untested Zones

Breakthrough’s drilling strategy zeroes in on extending known high-grade zones, including intercepts such as 17 metres at 2.5% copper from 225 metres and 5 metres at 3.8% copper from 286 metres, which previously ended in or near mineralisation, suggesting the system remains open at depth. A standout priority is the BARC071 target, located about 100 metres north of the Barbara North Pit, which returned 2.0 metres at 2.1% copper in earlier drilling but has not seen follow-up exploration.

Selected holes will undergo downhole electromagnetic (EM) surveying to detect additional conductors beyond the current resource boundary, helping to refine and prioritise subsequent drilling efforts. This approach reflects a systematic and data-driven exploration methodology aimed at maximising resource expansion potential.

Breakthrough’s Managing Director Nigel Broomham emphasised the significance of the milestone, noting the company’s readiness and commitment to rapid progress: “To be turning the first drill rods at Barbara within four weeks from completing the acquisition is a genuine achievement and a clear signal of our intent.”

Broader Exploration Campaign and Near-Mine Targets

Following the Barbara program, drilling will extend to the Lillymay Prospect and other nearby targets as part of a broader 2026 campaign totaling over 4,500 metres of diamond drilling across the QCGP. Lillymay has shown promising results, including a 3-metre intercept grading 7.41% copper, and hosts coincident soil geochemistry and EM anomalies that remain underexplored.

Additional near-mine prospects such as Mount Olive and Spectre also feature copper soil and geophysical anomalies with limited historical drilling, presenting further upside. The company’s methodical review of historical data combined with modern geophysical techniques aims to unlock these opportunities in a coordinated manner.

This drilling campaign builds on Breakthrough’s recent acquisition of the NQCGP, a move that secured a substantial resource base and strategic tenure near Mt Isa. The acquisition was detailed in the company’s announcement in March 2026, which highlighted the district-scale landholding and drill-ready status of the project. The current drilling program is the first tangible step in realising the value of that acquisition through targeted resource growth and exploration advancement.