Orion Minerals has confirmed the down-dip continuity of a high-grade copper zone at its Flat Mine East prospect with a new drill intercept of 3.96m at 4.64% Cu, including 0.95m at 14.19% Cu, extending the deposit beyond previous drilling.
- New drill hole OFMED158 returns 3.96m at 4.64% Cu including 0.95m at 14.19% Cu
- Intercept extends high-grade copper zone 39m down-dip beyond OFMED157
- Results validate and extend geological model of norite-hosted mineralisation
- Flat Mine East remains open at depth, supporting resource growth potential
- Drilling informs next phase of resource optimisation and exploration targeting
Down-Dip Extension Confirms Robust High-Grade Copper Continuity
Orion Minerals (ASX:ORN) has delivered another compelling high-grade copper intercept from its ongoing 2026 drilling campaign at the Okiep Copper Project in South Africa. Drill hole OFMED158 at Flat Mine East (FME) returned a significant 3.96 metres at 4.64% copper, including a blistering 0.95 metres at 14.19% copper, from 322.69 metres down-hole. This intercept lies 39 metres down-dip from the previously reported OFMED157 hole, which itself yielded 7.88 metres at 9.24% copper, including 3.33 metres at 17.12% copper. The new result confirms the down-dip continuity of a high-grade copper zone hosted in norite and extends the geological model deeper than before.
Geological Model Expansion and Mineralisation Details
The mineralised interval in OFMED158 primarily comprises blebby to disseminated bornite and chalcopyrite within norite, consistent with the style observed in adjacent holes. Notably, OFMED157 is itself located 36 metres down-dip from hole OFMED154, which intersected a broader mineralised zone including 15 metres at 4.8% copper within a 78-metre interval. These successive intercepts along strike and down-dip, including the 49.35 metres at 5.05% copper from hole OFMED153, underscore a substantial, continuous high-grade copper system that remains open at depth and along strike.
Validation of Development Strategy and Resource Growth Potential
Orion’s Managing Director and CEO Tony Lennox highlighted the significance of these results, noting that the continuity of high-grade mineralisation supports extending the deposit size and upgrading the geological model. The confirmation that the mineralised system remains open beyond the current resource envelope bolsters the company’s confidence in the Flat Mines area as a cornerstone for the broader Okiep development strategy. These outcomes also validate the ongoing resource optimisation drilling program, which aims to refine targets and enhance the potential for discovery success.
Context within the Okiep Copper Project and Future Drilling
The Flat Mines deposits, including Flat Mine East, currently hold a combined mineral resource of approximately 10 million tonnes at 1.3% copper, reported under the JORC Code. The new high-grade intercepts are expected to inform updates to this resource as further drilling and modelling progress. Orion is also integrating these results with ongoing geophysical surveys, including drone magnetic and MT surveys, to better understand structural controls and target deeper extensions. The company’s extensive ground holdings in the Okiep district, covering over 700 square kilometres, provide a rich pipeline of exploration opportunities beyond Flat Mine East.
Technical Rigor and Reporting Standards
The drilling and assay work follow industry best practices, with diamond core sampling, rigorous quality control measures including certified reference materials, and independent verification by a Competent Person under the JORC Code. The reported intercepts use a 0.7% copper cut-off and allow for up to 3 metres of internal waste. While true widths are not explicitly stated, drilling angles are designed to intersect mineralisation as close to perpendicular as practicable, minimising sampling bias.
Bottom Line?
Orion’s latest drill results at Flat Mine East reinforce the prospect’s high-grade continuity and open-ended potential, setting the stage for resource upgrades and deeper exploration in the months ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the new down-dip extensions impact the upcoming resource estimate update for Flat Mine East?
- What are the implications of ongoing geophysical surveys for identifying deeper mineralised zones at Okiep?
- Could these high-grade intercepts accelerate development timelines or attract new strategic partnerships?