True North Copper (ASX:TNC) has unveiled promising assay results from its 2026 reverse circulation drilling at the Great Australia Mine, highlighting new shallow copper-gold intersections that could expand its Cloncurry Copper Project resource base and enhance mine planning options.
- New shallow copper-gold intersections at Great Australia Mine
- Resource extension drilling supports 13.63Mt @ 0.8% Cu base
- Further assay results from Wallace North and South pending
- Diamond drilling and metallurgical studies underway for Q4 2026 PFS
- Three-platform growth strategy targets resource growth, development, discovery
Shallow Copper-Gold Hits Signal Resource Growth Potential
True North Copper Limited (ASX:TNC) has reported encouraging assay results from its 2026 reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at the Great Australia Mine (GAM), part of the Cloncurry Copper Project in Northwest Queensland. The drilling campaign delivered new shallow copper-gold intersections, including standout intercepts such as 10 metres at 0.88% copper and 0.15 grams per tonne gold from 78 metres, and 13 metres at 0.38% copper and 0.08 grams per tonne gold from 30 metres. These results reinforce the potential for near-surface resource additions that could provide greater flexibility in future mine planning around the existing GAM resource base.
Extending the Resource Envelope Beyond Current Limits
The drilling targeted near-mine extensions southwest toward Copper Mine Creek and north of the current resource footprint. Notably, hole GAM26_010 returned a 51-metre intercept grading 0.37% copper and 0.07 grams per tonne gold from 133 metres, while GAM26_009 intercepted 13 metres at 0.38% copper and 0.08 grams per tonne gold from 30 metres depth. These intercepts demonstrate continuity of mineralisation beyond the existing resource envelope, supporting incremental resource growth. The Cloncurry Copper Project currently holds a resource base of 13.63 million tonnes at 0.8% copper and 0.19 grams per tonne gold, containing approximately 109,000 tonnes of copper.
Supporting Development with Diamond Drilling and Technical Studies
Alongside RC drilling, True North Copper completed a diamond drilling program comprising eight holes for 1,303 metres. These holes aim to improve geological confidence through metallurgical and geotechnical testing, feeding into future reserve conversion and Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) workstreams targeted for completion in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company anticipates progressive release of assay results from Wallace North and South RC drilling through June and July, which follow up on previously reported high-grade copper-gold intersections and new geophysical targets.
Strategic Three-Platform Growth Approach
True North Copper continues to execute a three-pronged growth strategy: drilling out and growing the Mt Oxide resource, developing near-term cash flow at the Cloncurry Copper Project, and pursuing discovery through systematic exploration of regional targets such as Chumvale and the Salebury IOCG system. The recent drilling results at GAM complement this approach by enhancing the Cloncurry resource base and underpinning the project's development potential.
Managing Director Highlights Project Progress
Andrew Mooney, Managing Director, emphasised that the drilling program is central to building a robust and appropriately scaled Cloncurry Copper Project with a credible near-term development pathway. He noted the importance of increasing orebody knowledge and resource confidence while testing near-mine growth opportunities. Mooney also highlighted the significance of ongoing metallurgical and geotechnical work in supporting future reserve conversion and the PFS.
Bottom Line?
True North Copper’s latest drilling results bolster the Cloncurry project’s resource potential ahead of key development milestones later this year.
Questions in the middle?
- How will upcoming Wallace North and South assay results influence the Cloncurry resource update?
- What impact will metallurgical and geotechnical findings have on mine planning and reserve conversion?
- Can the shallow copper-gold zones materially shift the project’s economics in the Pre-Feasibility Study?