Green & Gold Minerals (ASX: GG1) has kicked off reverse circulation drilling at Copper Hills, following rock chip assays revealing extraordinary grades of silver, copper, tin, and indium across multiple prospects within its Herberton Conductor Metals Project.
- RC drilling underway at Copper Hills with assays expected in six weeks
- Rock chip samples show up to 2,212 g/t silver and 16.7% tin
- Drilling to progress to Chillagoe’s Sentinel prospect, then Mt Gossan and Siberia
- Vehicle access restored to key sites, enabling expanded exploration
- Project targets metals critical for electrification and AI technology
Drilling Commences at High-Grade Copper Hills
Green & Gold Minerals Limited (ASX:GG1) has initiated reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its Copper Hills prospect, a historic copper-silver mining centre in Queensland’s Emuford district. The company aims to test both the previously mined high-grade veins and the broader mineralised system that historic exploration overlooked, notably assaying for indium, tin, and gold, elements absent from earlier programs.
Recent rock chip assays from Copper Hills returned staggering grades, including a peak of 2,212 g/t silver, 11.1% copper, 26% lead, and 188 g/t indium. These bonanza silver values are closely tied to argentiferous galena, while copper consistently exceeds 5% in most samples. Historic drill results, such as 4 metres at 139 g/t silver and 1.3% copper from 101 metres, underscore the prospect’s potential. Metal prices for copper, silver, tin, and gold have significantly improved since the last drilling in 1980, with indium emerging as a critical metal for semiconductors and flat panel displays. This market evolution enhances the economic prospects of Copper Hills mineralisation.
Expanding Drilling Campaign Across Multiple Prospects
Following Copper Hills, the drill rig will move to the Sentinel prospect at Chillagoe for a brief campaign before returning to the Herberton Conductor Metals Project to target the Mt Gossan breccia and Siberia lode. The Mt Gossan breccia, recently confirmed by rock chip samples to host exceptional tin (up to 16.7%) and indium (676 ppm), has solidified as a prime drill target. Copper assays there reflect a leached iron oxide cap typical of gossanous breccias, indicating potential for underlying enrichment zones.
Vehicle access has been reinstated to Mt Gossan and Siberia, facilitating drilling logistics. However, Penang Pekin and the Elizabeth Bluff mineralised trend remain inaccessible by vehicle, despite being high-priority targets. Green & Gold plans to assess drill pad locations and access routes to incorporate these areas into future programs. Rock chip sampling across these prospects has revealed widespread mineralisation of copper, silver, tin, indium, and gold, confirming the project's extensive polymetallic potential.
Strategic Positioning in Critical Metals for Emerging Technologies
The Herberton Conductor Metals Project lies within a prolific historic mining region about 100 kilometres west of Cairns. The polymetallic system is associated with late Paleozoic granitoids and hosts a variety of metals critical for electrification and AI infrastructure, including copper, silver, tin, and indium. The project’s mineralisation styles range from quartz sulphide veins to breccias and replacement bodies, with zoning that places tin-rich systems near granites and base metals more distally.
Accessory gold is also present, with multiple rock chip samples exceeding 1 g/t gold, adding further value to the polymetallic system. The company’s focus on metals like indium, which is essential for semiconductors and flat-panel displays, aligns with growing demand driven by AI and digital infrastructure expansion.
Ongoing Exploration and Development Initiatives
In parallel with exploration, Green & Gold is advancing its Mt Wandoo gold development project within the Chillagoe Gold Project, which holds an inferred JORC resource of 32,400 ounces of gold and 387,000 ounces of silver. Recent drilling at Mt Wandoo has delivered encouraging gold and silver intersections, supporting ongoing modelling and mining studies.
Reconnaissance fieldwork continues across the Herberton Conductor Metals Project, with numerous historic mines yet to be evaluated, including the Elizabeth Bluff trend. The company’s methodical approach to restoring access and expanding drill coverage aims to unlock the full potential of this polymetallic district.
Bottom Line?
As drilling progresses at Copper Hills and other key prospects, assay results will be pivotal in defining the scale and quality of polymetallic mineralisation critical for future-facing technologies.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay results from Copper Hills confirm the exceptional grades indicated by rock chip sampling?
- How will restored vehicle access impact the pace and scope of exploration at Penang Pekin and Elizabeth Bluff?
- Can Green & Gold Minerals leverage rising demand for indium and tin to attract strategic partnerships or investment?