Extensive Drilling Campaign Targets Resource Expansion
True North Copper has recently concluded a substantial drilling initiative across its Queensland holdings, focusing on expanding known copper deposits and identifying new targets. The company completed 3,500 meters of reverse circulation drilling and 2,300 meters of diamond drilling at its Cloncurry Copper Project. This program encompassed several prospects, including the Great Australia Mine (GAM), Taipan, Orphan Shear, and the Wallace North and South areas. Further exploration activities are now concentrated at the Mt Oxide project, situated 140 kilometers north of Mount Isa. Assays, metallurgical, and geotechnical results from the diamond drilling are anticipated to be released through to September.
Aquila Discovery Drives Exploration Focus
The company's Mt Oxide project remains a central point of exploration, currently holding a known resource of 220,000 tonnes of copper, accompanied by cobalt and silver mineralization. A significant driver of this focus is the Aquila discovery, located within a more than 10-kilometer copper, cobalt, and silver corridor that connects to the established Vero resource approximately 4 kilometers to the southwest.
Read More: Maharashtra Halts Bauxite Hearing Due to Villager Protests
Geophysical surveys, particularly induced polarization (IP), have been instrumental in identifying and extending these copper discoveries. The effectiveness of IP surveys is attributed to their ability to detect the mineralogy common in the region's deposits, specifically highly conductive and chargeable chalcocite (copper sulphide). This approach has previously yielded substantial intercepts, including 145 meters at 0.75% copper, 0.12% cobalt, and 2.9 grams per tonne (g/t) silver from 28 meters at Aquila. Another notable intercept from a separate hole was 59 meters at 1.77% copper, 0.04% cobalt, and 5.2 g/t silver from 134 meters.
Further drill results from Aquila have confirmed high-grade mineralization, with one hole returning 33 meters at 1.6% copper, 5 g/t silver, and cobalt, including a higher-grade zone of 4 meters grading 7.09% copper and 9.5 g/t silver from 124 meters. Another yielded 20 meters at 1% copper, 21.8 g/t silver, and 0.26% cobalt, which included 3 meters at 1.93% copper, 0.45% cobalt, and 42.6 g/t silver. This mineralization is developing across a footprint now extending to about 250 meters in depth and 60 meters wide, with the system remaining open.
Read More: Australia Budget 2026: Tax Changes Affect Housing Market
Historical Sites and Strategic Positioning
True North Copper is also working to revitalize the historic Great Australia mine (GAM) in Queensland. A previous 15-hole, 2,900-meter drill program at GAM targeted previously identified copper-gold mineralization and new geophysical anomalies. The company’s strategy suggests that GAM, along with other identified targets like Taipan and Orphan Shear, may be part of a larger, interconnected mineralized system.
The company positions its projects within a region with existing infrastructure, noting that Aquila is located 140 kilometers north of Glencore's Mt Isa copper concentrator and smelter. This proximity is presented as an advantage for operational leverage.
Read More: Endeavour Silver Q1 2026: Record Production, Higher Costs
Background Acknowledgement
True North Copper acknowledges the Mitakoodi, Mayi, and Kalkadoon people as the Traditional Custodians of the land where the company operates in Queensland. The company recognizes their enduring connection to the land, waters, and culture, and respects their elders, past, present, and emerging.
