Kantra Copper Extends High-Grade Spitfire Mineralisation at Kanmantoo
Kantra Copper has successfully expanded the Spitfire lode at its Kanmantoo mine, intersecting significant high-grade copper-gold mineralisation beyond previous resource boundaries. This underground drilling breakthrough sets the stage for a substantial resource update later this year.
- High-grade copper-gold intersections extend Spitfire lode beyond 2025 resource limits
- 10-hole underground drilling program completed from new 740 Level diamond drill cuddy
- Over 34,000m drilled in 2026 to date, with 80,000m feeding into December Mineral Resource update
- Four new underground drill platforms established to enhance drilling flexibility
- Complex stacked lens mineralisation confirmed, supporting resource growth potential
New Drilling Unlocks Deeper Spitfire Mineralisation
Kantra Copper Limited (ASX:KAN) has pushed the boundaries of its Kanmantoo Copper Mine’s resource base with a fresh underground drilling campaign that has revealed high-grade copper-gold mineralisation extending beyond the 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE). The company’s 10-hole resource expansion program, drilled from a newly established diamond drill cuddy on the 740 Level, has intersected multiple stacked lenses of mineralisation in the structurally complex Spitfire lode, a zone previously difficult to access.
Notable results include intercepts such as 30 metres at 1.32% copper and 0.17 grams per tonne gold from 110 metres downhole, and a standout 6.71 metres at 1.96% copper and 0.25 grams per tonne gold from 330 metres. These high-grade intersections confirm the presence of mineralisation well below the current resource envelope, pointing to meaningful resource growth potential.
Strategic Underground Development Drives Targeted Drilling
The breakthrough comes after Kantra completed record underground development in the first half of 2026, enabling the establishment of four new diamond drill cuddies across key areas including East and South West Kavanagh, North Kavanagh, Spitfire, and Nugent. This enhanced drill platform network provides the flexibility to target mineralisation more precisely and gather data critical for future resource updates.
The 740 Level drill cuddy, in particular, allowed access to the Spitfire lode’s down-dip extensions that were previously inaccessible due to active stoping and infrastructure constraints. Drilling from this vantage point confirmed the lode’s complex geometry, characterised by multiple stacked lenses and variable dip, consistent with the broader Kanmantoo structural system.
Implications for the 2026 Mineral Resource Update
Kantra’s CEO Bob Fulker emphasised the significance of these results, stating they “strengthen our confidence in the ongoing growth potential at Kanmantoo and demonstrate the value of the development investment made this year.” The company plans to incorporate these new drill results into its 2026 Mineral Resource Estimate update, scheduled for release in the December quarter.
With over 34,000 metres of underground diamond drilling completed to the end of July, including more than 6,700 metres focussed on Spitfire, the upcoming resource update will integrate approximately 80,000 metres of drilling data. This volume of new information is expected to provide a more comprehensive picture of Kanmantoo’s mineral system and underpin future mine planning and development.
Technical Rigour and Compliance with JORC Standards
The drilling program adhered to rigorous sampling, assay, and QAQC protocols, with assays conducted by ALS Adelaide and detailed geological logging by Kantra geologists. The company confirmed that all data collection and reporting meet the 2012 JORC Code requirements, ensuring the reliability of the exploration results disclosed.
Kantra’s ongoing underground development and targeted drilling strategy at Kanmantoo highlight a methodical approach to resource expansion, leveraging new infrastructure to unlock previously constrained zones. The confirmation of multiple stacked lenses within Spitfire adds a layer of complexity but also opportunity as the company refines its geological model ahead of the resource update.
Bottom Line?
Kantra’s targeted drilling from new underground platforms is expanding Kanmantoo’s high-grade footprint, setting up a potentially significant resource upgrade in December.
Questions in the middle?
- How materially will the expanded Spitfire mineralisation impact Kantra’s overall resource and reserve base in the December update?
- What are the operational implications of the complex stacked lens geometry for mining and grade control?
- Could further underground development unlock additional high-grade zones beyond those currently targeted?
