Antipa Minerals hits high-grade copper-gold-silver at Minyari; regional drilling shows ‘growth potential’
The Minyari Dome drill programme consisted of 45 RC drill holes and focused on identifying new mineralisation in close proximity to the existing high-grade mineral resources of Minyari and WACA.
Junior explorer Antipa Minerals (ASX: AZY) has intersected a new band of thick high-grade copper-silver-gold mineralisation during a reverse circulation drilling program at the Minyari Dome prospect, located within its wholly-owned North Telfer project in Western Australia’s Paterson province.
The mineralisation was encountered at the Judes target, 2 kilometres north of the existing Minyari resource, over a 150 metre defined strike length which remains open in all directions with widths and grades increasing to the south.
The 45-hole (7241m) drill program focused on identifying new deposits in close proximity to existing high-grade mineral resources at North Telfer’s Minyari and WACA prospects, which host a combined 723,000 ounces gold, 26,400 tonnes copper and 4000 tonnes cobalt.
Results have so far been received for 27 holes, with assays from the remaining 18 holes still pending.
Best result to date has been 45m at 0.56% copper, 0.10 grams per tonne gold and 2.21g/t silver from 72m, including 10m at 2.05% copper, 0.19g/t gold and 9.11g/t silver from 106m; and 4m at 3.03% copper, 0.25g/t gold and 13.41g/t silver from 108m.
Antipa said the high-grade intercepts – in combination with earlier assay results including 18m at 3.05g/t gold, 0.32% copper and 0.05% cobalt from 47m – demonstrate the potential to add new zones of high-grade mineralisation to the Minyari resource.
Judes drilling
The majority of drilling conducted so far across the Judes target has been shallow with an average depth of 35m and rarely penetrating below the base of oxidation and copper depletion.
Recent assays suggest the mineralisation increases in width and grade toward the south, and Antipa has earmarked this improving trend for possible follow-up drill testing.
The exploration potential at Judes has been underpinned by “exceptionally high grades”, with maximum intercepts of 5.71% copper, 4.67g/t gold and 50.88g/t silver.
Previously reported drill intercepts include 6m at 1.32% copper, 0.14g/t gold and 3.57g/t silver within 26m at 0.53% copper, 0.07g/t gold and 3.27g/t silver from 189m.
Other target areas
Antipa said drilling at other targets have shown North Telfer’s potential for high-grade gold and copper mineralisation, particularly in the Minyari South and Judes areas.
Results from those activities have also confirmed the proximal growth potential to the existing Minyari Dome resources.
“[Minyari South] results have shown a significant new region of high-grade gold-copper-cobalt mineralisation… and confirm the growth potential proximal to existing mineral resources,” the company said.
“We are reviewing results to systematically rank high-priority targets, which may result in a follow-up program in late 2018.”
Drilling at Minyari West has so far been broad spaced and shallow, and further exploration is pending a review of preliminary results.
Meanwhile over at Minyari North, Antipa has determined that while high-grade mineralisation may be present, it is situated beyond reasonable open pit limits and the prospect has not been prioritised for follow-up drilling.
The company plans to conduct 3D geological modelling during the remainder of the year, with a view to locking in a mineral resource estimation for Minyari Dome.