Burley Minerals Sets June Heritage Survey for Major Cane Bore Iron Targets

Heritage Survey Greenlights Next Phase at Cane Bore

Burley Minerals Ltd (ASX:BUR) has secured confirmation for a Heritage Survey at the North and Step-Out Targets of its Cane Bore Iron Project, slated for June 2026. This clearance is a crucial precursor to a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign expected to encompass around 120 holes, designed to delineate an inferred resource across a substantial Channel Iron Deposit (CID) area exceeding 290 hectares. The survey’s timing follows months of coordination with Aboriginal Corporations, underscoring the project's sensitivity to indigenous heritage considerations.

Expansive Channel Iron Deposit with High-Grade Surface Assays

The targeted CID forms a contiguous mesa rising up to 20 metres above the surrounding terrain, stretching more than 5 kilometres along strike. Early rock-chip sampling at surface locations has yielded iron grades as high as 56% Fe, reinforcing the deposit’s potential economic significance. The planned drilling programme aims to test the depth and lateral extent of this mineralisation, with the PoW approved for more than 120 RC drill holes across the North and Step-Out Targets. Notably, these sites are accessible without the need for vegetation clearing, facilitating smoother operational logistics.

Burley’s Cane Bore project benefits from a strategic location in the Pilbara Province, less than 100 kilometres by sealed road from the Port of Ashburton near Onslow. This proximity offers a logistical advantage that could translate into lower capital and operating costs compared to more remote iron ore operations. The project’s location adjacent to major transport corridors further enhances its appeal.

New Tenure Adds Growth Potential

Burley recently secured an additional exploration license (E08/3755) contiguous to the northeast boundary of Cane Bore’s existing tenure (E08/3424). This new ground presents promising opportunities for resource extension beyond the current CID footprint. The company plans to conduct mapping and sampling activities in the coming months to assess this area’s mineral potential, potentially expanding the project’s resource base.

The Cane Bore exploration license itself covers over 370 hectares across three CID target areas on the East Flank, including the South, North, and Step-Out Targets. Previous drilling at the South Target, completed in April 2025, involved 28 RC holes with assays confirming significant iron mineralisation near surface. The upcoming drilling at the North and Step-Out Targets builds on this foundation, aiming to unlock further resource definition across the larger contiguous ridge of CID mineralisation.

Preparations Underway for Drilling Following Heritage Clearance

Burley is currently finalising the drilling contract and expects to mobilise a rig promptly after receiving the all-clear from the Heritage Survey. Managing Director Stewart McCallion emphasised the importance of this milestone, highlighting the scale of the North and Step-Out Targets and their potential to define a significant CID tonnage. This follows the company’s earlier exploration successes and systematic sampling programmes that mapped over 800 hectares of surface mineralisation and collected more than 120 rock chip samples across Cane Bore’s strike length.

These developments continue Burley’s steady progression at Cane Bore, complementing its broader portfolio which includes the Broad Flat Well Iron Project in Western Australia and the Chubb Lithium Project in Québec, Canada. The lithium project recently attracted attention amid rising lithium prices and rare caesium discoveries, reflecting the company’s diversified mineral interests. The company’s strategic moves at Cane Bore, including heritage engagement and tenure expansion, position it well to advance resource definition in a highly prospective Pilbara iron ore province.

Burley’s approach to Cane Bore, balancing exploration momentum with cultural and environmental stewardship, will be closely watched as the June Heritage Survey approaches and subsequent drilling unfolds. The outcomes will be pivotal in shaping the project’s resource profile and its potential contribution to the Pilbara iron ore landscape.

Burley’s recent activities also echo its ongoing efforts at the Chubb Lithium Project, where drilling and strategic reviews have been underway amid a buoyant lithium market, as detailed in its latest Chubb Lithium Project update. Earlier this year, the company advanced Cane Bore drilling plans following heritage survey progress, reflecting a coordinated push across its key assets Cane Bore drilling progress update.