Buxton Resources has refined the location of a significant off-hole conductor at its Madman copper-gold project and secured a rig to drill-test this high-priority target in the coming months.
- Downhole electromagnetic survey completed on two drill holes
- Large untested conductor located 250m north-northeast of MD003DD
- Follow-up drill hole planned to 800m depth from existing pad
- Rig mobilisation scheduled for late September 2026
- Assays pending for latest drill hole; further geophysical surveys planned
Refined Geophysical Target Emerges at Madman
Buxton Resources Ltd (ASX:BUX) has sharpened the focus of its exploration at the Madman copper-gold project after completing downhole electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys on its two maiden diamond drill holes, MD002DD and MD003DD. The combined data modelling has pinpointed a large, untested off-hole conductor approximately 250 metres north-northeast of MD003DD, with dimensions ranging from 400 x 400 metres to as much as 1,000 x 1,000 metres and moderate conductance estimated between 400 and 1,000 Siemens.
This conductor, interpreted to align with the structural model of fault-hosted gold mineralisation observed in MD002DD, remains the highest-priority target for follow-up drilling. Buxton’s managing director Marty Moloney highlighted the significance of this conductor’s scale and location, noting that it lies in a completely untested position and offers a substantial exploration opportunity.
Drilling Campaign to Test Conductor in October
With McKay Drilling confirming rig availability and mobilisation scheduled for late September 2026, Buxton plans to drill a follow-up hole from the existing MD003DD drill pad. The proposed hole will be angled at -70 degrees toward 015 degrees, aiming for a planned depth of 800 metres to intersect the conductor between 600 and 700 metres down the hole trajectory. This targeted approach is designed to intersect the conductor at a high angle, improving the chances of meaningful geological insight.
Assays for MD003DD are expected in October, following the completion of sampling and laboratory analysis. These results will be critical to validating the prospectivity of the Madman Project and informing further exploration steps.
Additional Geophysical Surveys and Heritage Considerations
Buxton has lodged heritage work program notices with the Native Title Holders to facilitate planned ground gravity and ground electromagnetic surveys. These surveys aim to identify additional conductive anomalies beyond the approximately 350-metre detection range of the current DHEM coverage. The company’s exploration tenure lies within the Birriliburu Determination Area, with access governed by a Land Access Agreement and ongoing heritage survey and monitoring obligations.
The Madman Project remains in an early exploration phase, with no mineral resource yet defined. The current exploration strategy leverages detailed geophysical modelling and structural interpretations to guide drilling and maximise the prospectivity of this Paterson Orogen margin target.
Geological Context and Previous Work
The Madman Project is situated about 375 kilometres northeast of Wiluna, accessible via established highways and improved seismic line tracks. Initial drilling intersected quartz-carbonate veining, brecciation, and sulphide mineralisation within the basement rocks beneath the Officer Basin cover sequence. Notably, pyrrhotite; a highly conductive mineral associated with the magnetic anomaly; was identified, providing a plausible source for the geophysical signatures detected.
Buxton’s maiden drilling and DHEM surveys have laid the groundwork for targeted exploration, refining the structural and conductive framework that will guide upcoming drilling campaigns. The company continues to await assay results and heritage approvals as it prepares for the next phase of fieldwork.
Bottom Line?
Buxton’s upcoming drill test of a large off-hole conductor at Madman will be a key milestone, with assay results and heritage clearances shaping the project’s near-term trajectory.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the follow-up drill hole confirm the presence of significant mineralisation within the large off-hole conductor?
- How might pending assay results from MD003DD influence Buxton’s exploration strategy at Madman?
- What impact will heritage clearance outcomes have on the timing and scope of planned geophysical surveys and further drilling?