White Cliff Minerals Intersects 91m Copper Sulphides at Rae, Raises A$6.5m for Drilling

Diamond Drilling Unveils Thick Copper Sulphide Zone

White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX:WCN) has delivered a substantial step forward at its Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, with the first diamond drillhole at Danvers 1 (DAN26026) intersecting an impressive 91.35 metres of chalcocite and bornite-bearing copper sulphides. This thick mineralised zone confirms the presence of a chlorite-altered chaotic breccia as the primary host rock, reinforcing the potential scale and continuity of the copper system.

The diamond drilling has not only confirmed mineralisation thickness but also provided crucial structural insights. Core logging revealed sulphides predominantly occurring as breccia cement within crackle and mosaic breccias along the Teshierpi Fault Zone’s shoulder. These findings refine the geological model, allowing more targeted follow-up drilling to delineate resource boundaries.

District-Scale Mineralisation Extends Over 5.4 Kilometres

Assays and visual observations validate copper mineralisation extending over more than 5.4 kilometres of strike, with sulphides noted over an additional 1.6 kilometres in recent drilling. This suggests the mineralised structure could span approximately 7 kilometres, with ongoing drilling aimed at expanding this to over 10 kilometres, underscoring the district-scale potential of the Rae project.

Supporting this, drillhole DAN26022, located more than 600 metres north of Danvers 1 on a separate structure, returned 41.5 metres at 0.87% copper including a high-grade 9.14 metres at 3.06% copper. Nearby hole DAN26024 intercepted multiple mineralised intervals, including 12.19 metres at 0.54% copper and 15.24 metres at 0.86% copper with a 1.52-metre section grading 4.16% copper. Meanwhile, DAN26030, drilled about 100 metres southwest of a previous high-grade hole, observed a combined 144.45 metres of copper sulphides dominated by bornite and chalcocite.

Funding Secured to Accelerate Exploration

White Cliff Minerals has received A$6.5 million from an underwritten WCNO conversion, a capital injection that will fund an expanded drilling program at Rae. Managing Director Troy Whittaker highlighted the company’s strengthened position to accelerate drilling and unlock the full potential of this rapidly growing copper system. The financing follows a series of encouraging drill results that continue to build confidence in the scale and grade continuity of the Danvers discovery.

Refined Geological Model Guides Next Steps

Executive Technical Director Eric Sondergaard emphasised how the diamond drilling campaign is enhancing the understanding of structural controls on mineralisation. The close association of high-grade copper with chlorite-altered chaotic breccias and northeast-trending fault structures is providing effective vectors for locating thicker, higher-grade zones. This evolving model supports plans to mobilise additional drill rigs for infill and extensional drilling, aiming to define maiden Exploration Targets and Mineral Resources.

Drilling remains ongoing, with the Phase 1 regional spaced campaign targeting completion within July. The focus is on infilling widely spaced holes and expanding lateral and vertical strike extensions across newly identified high-grade zones. Oriented diamond core is delivering critical structural data to optimise future drilling angles and target generation.

Historic Resources and Metallurgical Confidence

The Rae Copper Project includes a historic resource estimate at Danvers of 4.16 million tons at 2.96% copper, though this is not JORC-compliant and requires validation through modern drilling and analysis. The recent drilling results, including thick intervals of bornite and chalcocite mineralisation, suggest a significant copper system is emerging.

Complementing exploration, metallurgical test work has demonstrated excellent copper and silver recoveries exceeding 95% and 93% respectively, producing high-grade concentrates with no deleterious elements identified. These results bolster the economic potential of the Rae deposit and support the company’s ongoing advancement of the project.