AIC Mines has confirmed a high-grade copper-gold shoot at its Brumby prospect near the Cannington mine, with drilling intersecting up to 14.4% copper over 10.5 metres within a broader mineralised zone.
- 10.5m at 14.4% copper and 3.8g/t gold intercept
- 46.4m interval grading 3.6% copper and 1.0g/t gold
- Sulphide-magnetite breccia pipe extends over 500m strike
- Mineralisation remains open down-dip and along strike
- Supporting geochemical and gravity surveys completed, results pending
Brumby Prospect Reveals High-Grade Copper-Gold Mineralisation
AIC Mines Limited (ASX:A1M) has delivered a standout result from its Brumby prospect in northwest Queensland, confirming a high-grade copper-gold shoot within a larger sulphide-magnetite breccia pipe. The highlight came from drill hole BRDD001, which intersected an exceptional 10.5 metres grading 14.4% copper and 3.8 grams per tonne gold starting at 151.5 metres depth. This sits within a broader 46.4-metre interval averaging 3.6% copper and 1.0g/t gold, underscoring the prospect’s potential.
Located just 20 kilometres west of South32’s Cannington silver mine and 100 kilometres south of AIC’s own Eloise copper operation, Brumby is part of a 636 square kilometre project area that AIC consolidated late last year. The recent three-hole drilling campaign was designed to test for higher-grade shoots within the magnetite breccia pipe, a strategy that has now been validated.
Geological Significance and Mineralisation Continuity
The drilling results confirm a continuous zone of higher-grade copper and gold mineralisation at the southern margin of the breccia pipe, with mineralisation extending from near surface to at least 200 metres depth. The mineralised shoot is steeply plunging and remains open to the southwest, west, and down-dip, offering multiple avenues for resource expansion.
Subsequent holes BRDD002 and BRDD003 helped define the geometry of the shoot, with BRDD003 intersecting 116 metres of sulphide-magnetite breccia, including a narrower 3-metre interval grading 0.6% copper and 0.1g/t gold. While BRDD002 did not encounter significant mineralisation, the overall interpretation points to a substantial hydrothermal system warranting further drilling.
Historical Drilling Supports New Findings
The Brumby prospect has a history of exploration dating back to the early 1990s, with previous operators such as Aberfoyle Resources and Barrick Gold reporting anomalous copper and gold intercepts. Notably, Barrick’s hole BRNQ0012 intersected 17 metres at 1.7% copper and 0.5g/t gold, which the recent AIC drilling has successfully extended and upgraded.
Despite prior interest, the project was relinquished by previous owners after 2019, leaving AIC Mines as the sole operator to advance exploration. The current drilling program confirms the prospect’s IOCG (Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold) style mineralisation, which shares similarities with major deposits in the Cloncurry region such as Ernest Henry and Starra.
Next Steps and Exploration Plans
AIC Mines has completed supporting surface geochemical soil sampling and a gravity survey, with results pending. These surveys are expected to refine targeting for upcoming drill programs aimed at extending the high-grade sulphide shoot and delineating the broader magnetite breccia system. The company plans to test the down-dip extensions of the shoot, where copper and gold grades appear to increase with depth.
With Brumby’s mineralisation open in multiple directions and the recent drilling confirming continuity and high grades, AIC Mines is positioned to build on its growing footprint in the region. This complements its ongoing development at Eloise and recent discoveries at other nearby prospects, marking a busy period for the company’s exploration portfolio.
Bottom Line?
Brumby’s high-grade copper-gold shoot offers a compelling exploration target, but the true scale and economic viability hinge on upcoming survey results and follow-up drilling.
Questions in the middle?
- How extensive is the down-dip and lateral continuity of the high-grade shoot at Brumby?
- Will the pending geochemical and gravity survey results identify additional sulphide shoots or extensions?
- How might Brumby’s IOCG mineralisation compare in scale and grade to AIC’s existing Eloise operations?