Sabre Resources Secures Drilling Contractor for 6,000m Program Targeting Tennant Creek Look-Alikes
Sabre Resources is poised to kick off a major drilling campaign at its Kurundi North Project, aiming to unlock copper-gold deposits analogous to Tennant Creek. This follows a transformative acquisition pending shareholder approval and includes government-backed funding for follow-up diamond drilling.
- 6,000m aircore and RC drilling planned at Kurundi North
- Targets mimic Tennant Creek ironstone copper-gold systems
- Northern Territory Government grants $80,000 co-funding
- Drilling contingent on shareholder approval of 4,000km2 acquisition
- Project lies 80km from world-class Tennant Creek Mineral Field
Drilling Contractor Secured for Kurundi North Campaign
Sabre Resources (ASX:SBR) has locked in a drilling contractor to execute up to 6,000 metres of aircore and reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its Kurundi North Project in the Northern Territory. This maiden program targets high-priority ironstone copper-gold anomalies that bear a striking resemblance to the famed Tennant Creek Mineral Field deposits, located 80 kilometres northwest along strike.
The planned drilling is contingent on shareholder approval of a transformative acquisition covering 4,000 square kilometres across the East Tennant Ridge and North Arunta regions, which Sabre is seeking to close at its upcoming 30 June general meeting. The acquisition would significantly expand Sabre’s footprint in a region that has historically yielded over 5.5 million ounces of gold and 700,000 tonnes of copper.
Geophysical and Geochemical Evidence Points to IOCG Potential
Kurundi North lies within a 10-kilometre corridor marked by pronounced magnetic and gravity anomalies indicative of ironstone bodies beneath shallow cover. Detailed drone magnetics and gravity surveys have revealed fault-associated magnetic lows and remnant negatives, interpreted as hydrothermal alteration zones commonly associated with iron-oxide copper-gold (IOCG) mineralisation.
Auger soil sampling strengthens the case, with anomalous copper, bismuth, silver, and gold values detected over these geophysical targets, matching the geochemical 'fingerprint' of Tennant Creek-style mineralisation. These findings suggest a concealed IOCG system that has seen limited prior drilling.
Northern Territory Government Support and Follow-Up Plans
Adding momentum, Sabre has secured $80,000 in co-funding from the Northern Territory Government’s Geophysics and Drilling Collaborations Program. This grant will support two diamond drill holes targeting the most compelling anomalies identified in the initial aircore/RC program, providing a deeper look into the ironstone copper-gold system.
Site preparation is ready to begin immediately after shareholder approval, with drilling expected to start within weeks. Access agreements are in place, smoothing the path for rapid exploration progress.
Broader Portfolio and Strategic Positioning
Beyond Kurundi North, the acquisition includes other drill-ready targets such as the Buchanan Prospect; an Olympic Dam scale untested gravity-magnetic anomaly; and the Frewena Dam copper prospect. Sabre’s existing Northern Territory projects also cover uranium and rare earth element (REE) prospects in the Ngalia Basin and South Arunta regions, with recent discoveries of critical metals and high-grade gold intersections adding to the company’s exploration pipeline.
CEO Jon Dugdale highlighted the significance of the drilling campaign, noting the scarcity of previous testing under shallow cover despite strong geophysical evidence. He described the acquisition and government co-funding as a strong endorsement of the region's prospectivity for greenfields discoveries.
Bottom Line?
Sabre’s upcoming drilling program at Kurundi North, backed by government funding and a major acquisition, sets the stage for a pivotal test of Tennant Creek-style copper-gold systems, with exploration outcomes poised to shape its Northern Territory strategy.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the shareholder meeting approve Sabre’s 4,000km2 acquisition as planned?
- How will initial drilling results influence follow-up diamond drilling and exploration focus?
- What potential does Sabre’s broader portfolio hold for critical metals alongside copper-gold?
