Terra Metals’ latest drilling confirms a large-scale, continuous PGM-Cu-Ni-Co sulfide system at its Southwest Prospect, extending the mineralised footprint beyond the existing Dante resource and setting the stage for a maiden Southwest Mineral Resource Estimate later this year.
- 950m strike length confirmed for Southwest sulfide corridor
- Significant PGM-Cu-Ni-Co grades in infill drillholes SWRC058 and SWRC033
- Southwest discovery lies outside 148Mt Dante Mineral Resource
- Majority of 2026 drill assays still pending, potential for resource growth
- Ongoing work includes diamond drilling, EM surveys, and heritage clearances
Drilling Extends Southwest Sulfide Corridor
Terra Metals Limited (ASX:TM1) has reinforced the scale and continuity of its Southwest sulfide system within the Dante Project, Western Australia, with new assay results from infill reverse circulation drillholes SWRC058 and SWRC033. These holes confirm broad zones of high-grade platinum group metals (PGM), copper, nickel, and cobalt mineralisation across a corridor now defined over at least 950 metres of strike between the SW5 and SW6 discovery zones.
SWRC058 delivered a standout 20-metre intercept grading 2.12 g/t PGE3 (sum of Pt, Pd, Au), 0.16% copper, and 0.13% nickel from 85 metres downhole, including a high-grade 2-metre segment at 9.74 g/t PGE3. Meanwhile, SWRC033 intersected 22 metres at 1.21 g/t PGE3 and 0.12% copper from 66 metres, with a cobalt-rich interval near surface. These results bolster the interpretation that Southwest is a large, vertically extensive magmatic sulfide system rather than isolated pockets of mineralisation.
Southwest Sits Outside Existing Dante Resource
The Southwest discovery lies outside Terra Metals’ existing 148 million tonne Dante Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), which itself hosts a diverse suite of metals including titanium, vanadium, copper, and PGMs. Southwest’s mineralised footprint now spans approximately 650 metres across strike and extends at least 750 metres down dip from surface, remaining open for expansion both laterally and at depth.
CEO Thomas Line emphasised the significance of these results, noting that every reported infill and extensional drillhole to date has intersected sulfide mineralisation, strengthening confidence in Southwest’s potential. With the majority of drillholes from the 2026 program still awaiting assay results, including all RC-diamond tail holes targeting the eastern ultramafic package, there is considerable scope for further growth ahead of a maiden Southwest MRE planned for the second half of 2026.
Geological Setting and Exploration Upside
Southwest represents a distinct style of magmatic sulfide mineralisation within the broader Jameson Layered Intrusion, a massive mafic-ultramafic intrusive system spanning approximately 80 kilometres in strike and 30 kilometres in width under Terra Metals’ tenure. Unlike the stratiform reefs underpinning the Dante MRE, Southwest’s sulfides occur across multiple rock types and thicknesses, including feeder-style massive and semi-massive sulfide accumulations.
The company’s exploration efforts continue to uncover multiple mineralised corridors and targets within this fertile intrusive complex, including the nearby SW2 iron-oxide-apatite system and other reef prospects. The coexistence of diverse mineralisation styles points to a long-lived and dynamic magmatic plumbing system with potential for multiple economic deposits.
Next Steps and Ongoing Work
Terra Metals plans to accelerate its exploration program with ongoing diamond drilling aimed at extending the main Southwest sulfide zone, alongside detailed structural studies and ground and downhole electromagnetic surveys to refine targeting of high-grade feeder zones. Heritage surveys are underway to facilitate grid-style resource drilling across the Southwest area.
Metallurgical testwork and flowsheet development will also progress, supporting the company’s goal of advancing toward a Scoping or Pre-Feasibility Study following the maiden Southwest MRE. As assay results from the bulk of 2026 drillholes come to hand, market participants will watch closely for further evidence of Southwest’s potential to materially expand Terra Metals’ resource base within a globally significant layered intrusion system.
Bottom Line?
With high-grade continuity confirmed and most assays pending, Terra Metals is poised to redefine its resource potential at Southwest, but the ultimate scale remains to be seen.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending assay results from 2026 drilling reshape the Southwest resource model?
- What metallurgical characteristics will the Southwest sulfide mineralisation exhibit compared to Dante Reefs?
- Can Terra Metals replicate Southwest’s discovery success across other targets in the Jameson Layered Intrusion?