Three historical stockpile samples from Narryer Metals’ Redhill Copper Project returned copper grades of up to 14.9%, alongside elevated silver and bismuth. The results strengthen the case for follow-up mapping and drilling, but do not yet demonstrate comparable grades in undisturbed mineralisation.
- 14.9% copper assay from the Cutters Vein stockpile
- Bismuth reached 1,830 parts per million in one sample
- Results came from three historical stockpile samples, not drilling
- Cutters Cove carries a 4.3Mt inferred resource at 1.7% copper
- Follow-up structural mapping and diamond drilling are planned
Stockpile samples return exceptional copper grades
Narryer Metals Limited (ASX:NYM) has found copper grades as high as 14.9% in three samples collected from historical mine stockpiles at the Cutters Cove area of its Redhill Copper Project in southern Chile. The strongest result came from the Cutters Vein, accompanied by 176 grams per tonne of silver and 1,830 parts per million of bismuth.
A second sample from the Cristina Vein returned 8.7% copper, 209 grams per tonne of silver, 0.227 grams per tonne of gold and 400 parts per million of bismuth. A third sample from the Angelica workings assayed 14.35% copper, with 131 grams per tonne of silver. Narryer said the results support historic drilling and underground back-channel sampling that identified zones grading above 4% copper.
High-grade targets now move toward drilling
The immediate geological question is whether these high grades reflect broader, structurally controlled zones of massive sulphide mineralisation rather than isolated pieces of stockpiled ore. Narryer intends to use structural mapping and further investigation to identify controls on the mineralisation before targeting future drilling.
The work gives an early exploration boost to a project that Narryer agreed to acquire in September. That Redhill acquisition deal includes a 4.3 million tonne inferred resource at Cutters Cove grading 1.7% copper, 33 grams per tonne of silver and 0.3 grams per tonne of gold, as well as a much larger conceptual Exploration Target. The acquisition remains conditional on regulatory conditions precedent being satisfied by 31 December 2026.
Bismuth adds a potential by-product angle
Bismuth is the second thread in the results. The 1,830 parts per million assay is not included in Redhill’s current Mineral Resource Estimate, and Narryer plans further investigation to determine whether it could be recovered alongside copper, silver and gold in a future concentrate. The company describes bismuth as a critical mineral, with China accounting for about 88% of global production and export controls introduced in 2025 and 2026.
The excitement needs to be kept in proportion. These were only three samples, each weighing roughly 0.5 to 1 kilogram, taken from historic stockpiles rather than fresh drill core or in-situ mineralisation. Sample locations were recorded by handheld GPS to an accuracy of about five metres, and no standards, blanks or duplicates were submitted, although the Perth laboratory applied internal checks. The next meaningful test will be whether short diamond holes and broader exploration can reproduce the stockpile signal in the rock beneath it.
Bottom Line?
The assays sharpen Redhill’s exploration story, but follow-up drilling must establish whether the headline grades represent a scalable in-situ zone and whether bismuth can survive the metallurgical test.
Questions in the middle?
- Can structural mapping identify a consistent geological control for the high-grade copper zones?
- Will future diamond drilling confirm comparable grades and widths in undisturbed mineralisation?
- Can bismuth be recovered as a saleable by-product without complicating the future copper concentrate?