West Cobar firms up NSW copper model

West Cobar Metals says maiden drilling at its Bulla Park copper and silver project on the western edges of the mineral-rich Cobar Basin in New South Wales has confirmed its geological model for stratabound copper mineralisation at its namesake prospect. The company says all four holes drilled so far intercepted zones of disseminated copper mineralisation, with the rig now set to test other compelling targets at its tenure.

An initial four diamond holes have now been completed at the prospect where a copper-silver stratabound mineralised system intersected by historical drilling is being tested by the company.

West Cobar’s first hole was drilled about 400 metres south-west of a broad 135m historical copper hit grading 0.24 per cent copper, including 33m at 0.45 per cent copper.

The company says its hole has now intercepted visible copper mineralisation over 16m from 289m depth, corresponding to the position of an upper mineralised horizon projected through past drilling.

Management says the hole also contains a 58.2m interval of intense siderite-barite veining and brecciation from 168m, confirming the presence of a large alteration system at the prospect.

Assays from the hole returned a 17m mineralised interval going 0.13 per cent copper and 7 grams per tonne silver from 289m, with 6m at 0.56 per cent lead and 25 g/t silver also intercepted from 305m.

Three other diamond holes drilled to date tested the lateral extent of the mineralised horizon to the north-west and the south-east along strike. The company says each of the holes intersected zones of disseminated copper mineralisation.

A fifth hole testing for downdip extensions of shallow lead and silver mineralisation intercepted by historical RAB drilling at the prospect is currently underway.

Once the hole is completed, the company plans to shift the rig some 7.5km north-west where two diamond holes will test a geochemical anomaly at its Mountain prospect. Curiously, drill chips taken from a water bore at Mountain returned 0.35 per cent copper and 0.28 per cent zinc.

Assays from the remaining holes at Bulla Park and the upcoming drilling at Mountain are anticipated for release in December.

West Cobar also plans to drill-test an aeromagnetic “bullseye” anomaly at its 100 per cent owned Mount Jack project, 120km north-west of Bulla Park.

One historical drill hole at the exciting target was ceased due to mechanical problems at 162m depth, failing to reach the interpreted anomaly at about 200m below surface.

Intriguingly, the final 42m of the historical hole intersected a cobble and boulder conglomerate that returned elevated gold and copper mineralisation, with 1m at 0.29 g/t gold and 386 parts per million copper reported.

The company believes a deeper mineralised system where the magnetic body was modelled may have leached upwards, resulting in the elevated copper and gold in the final section of the hole.

West Cobar initially plans to test the target anomaly at Mt Jack with one hole.

West Cobar Metals Chief Executive Officer, David Pascoe said:“We have rapidly instigated the diamond drill program at the Bulla Park prospect, with the first four holes intersecting the mineralised zone close to the positions expected. While we are in the very early stages of testing a large system, the results from the one hole assayed to date have provided encouraging validation of our modelling. As planned, the drill rig will next move to the Mountain prospect, and then Mount Jack, as we look to continue to unlock the potential of this underexplored region.”

With a 150-year history of mining, the Cobar region has become one of Australia’s most prominent mineral districts having produced significant amounts of copper, lead, zinc, silver and gold along the eastern sector of the mighty Cobar Basin.

Today, the district continues to be a major copper producer with Anglo-Swiss mining giant, Glencore, churning out some 50,000 tonnes of copper in concentrates each year from its CSA mine.

Notably, West Cobar sees the modelled magnetic anomaly at Mount Jack as representing a ‘Cobar style’ copper and gold target.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au