Pivotal Metals has unveiled high-grade copper, nickel, and platinum group metals intersections from its maiden drill program at the Belleterre Projects, confirming a significant mineralised system and advancing exploration across multiple targets.
- 21.8m at 1.3% Ni, 1.0% Cu, 1.3 g/t 3PGE at Alotta
- Drilling confirms complex, remobilised sulphide mineralisation
- Ongoing exploration with multiple drill targets in 2026
- Horden Lake resource update and scoping study progressing
- Belleterre projects benefit from Tier-1 jurisdiction and strong infrastructure
Maiden Drilling Uncovers High-Grade Mineralisation at Alotta
Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX:PVT) has delivered striking initial results from its maiden diamond drilling program at the Belleterre Projects in Québec, Canada. The highlight comes from the Alotta target within the Midrim project, where four drill holes totalling 671 metres intersected bonanza-grade copper, nickel, and platinum group metals (PGM) mineralisation. The standout intercept includes 21.8 metres grading 1.27% nickel, 1.03% copper, and 1.29 g/t combined gold, palladium, and platinum (3PGE) from 73 metres downhole, featuring a higher-grade core of 4.7 metres at 2.63% nickel and 1.67% copper.
This shallow, high-grade mineralisation confirms the presence of a large and complex magmatic sulphide system along the regional-scale Belleterre corridor. The sulphide textures range from massive and semi-massive to disseminated and vein-hosted pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite, supporting a remobilised emplacement model. However, the ultimate source of the mineralisation remains elusive, underscoring the potential for further discovery in this under-explored district.
Expanding Targets and Exploration Momentum
Beyond Alotta, drilling at the Midrim East target validated the company’s integrated geophysical targeting approach, intersecting sulphide accumulations beneath cover despite lower grades. Pivotal plans to drill 8 to 12 geophysical anomalies across the Belleterre package during 2026, including ongoing drilling at Shanty Lake and geophysical surveys at LaForce.
The company is also advancing the Horden Lake copper deposit, with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 37 million tonnes at 1.1% copper equivalent released in April 2025. The updated MRE is nearing final review, feeding into a scoping study scheduled for release in the third quarter of 2026. Metallurgical testwork and environmental baseline studies are progressing in parallel, aiming to de-risk the project from engineering and environmental perspectives.
Strategic Location in a Tier-1 Mining Jurisdiction
The Belleterre Projects are situated within the prolific Abitibi greenstone belt, a globally renowned mining district with a century-long history producing millions of tonnes of copper and hundreds of millions of ounces of gold. The region boasts robust infrastructure, including road, rail, and electrical grids, plus access to low-cost renewable hydroelectric power estimated at 5.5 cents per kWh. This infrastructure advantage, combined with proximity to existing mills with spare capacity such as Agnico Eagle’s Canadian Malartic Mine, enhances the economic potential of new discoveries.
Managing Director Ivan Fairhall emphasised the significance of the results, stating, "These results underscore our excitement for the Belleterre project area. The exceptional tenor of mineralisation defined over a wide area is evidence of a significant mineralising system targeted by our ongoing exploration programs." He highlighted the ongoing drilling at Shanty Lake and the recent LacCroche platform hole designed for the first down-hole electromagnetic survey (DHEM) below the deposit, illustrating the company’s systematic approach to delineating new orebodies.
Technical Rigor and Forward Plans
The drilling program employed NQ diamond core drilling with rigorous sampling and assay protocols, including four acid digestion and ICP-MS/AES methods conducted by ALS Laboratories. The company inserted certified standards and blanks to ensure data integrity. While true widths of mineralisation remain uncertain, the data provide critical insights into the orientation and complexity of the sulphide bodies, informing future targeting.
Looking ahead, Pivotal plans to expand drilling across its Belleterre claims, with prioritised targets identified through integrated geophysical and geological interpretation. The Horden Lake project is on track for a scoping study in Q3 2026, supported by updated resource estimates and metallurgical work. This dual-track strategy balances exploration upside with advancing a project closer to production readiness.
Bottom Line?
Pivotal’s maiden drilling at Belleterre confirms a high-grade, complex mineral system with multiple targets primed for follow-up, while Horden Lake edges closer to development milestones.
Questions in the middle?
- Will further drilling at Belleterre identify the source of the remobilised sulphide mineralisation?
- How will the upcoming Horden Lake scoping study shape the project’s development timeline and economics?
- Can Pivotal leverage regional infrastructure and low-cost power to fast-track project economics?