- 01Three Baird holes hit broad visible copper zones.
- 02Assays due November; visuals don’t confirm grade.
- 03Expanded drilling planned from March 2027.
Lux Copper (ASX: LUX) has completed its first three diamond drill holes at the Baird Project in Alaska, with each intersecting broad zones of visible copper mineralisation from or close to surface as well as additional mineralisation at depth.
Near-surface logged zones ranged from 25.7 metres to 32.2m, while deeper visible mineralisation was encountered from depths between 39.6m and 159.1m down-hole.
The drilling targeted the high-priority Omar prospect, where the observed mineralisation occurs within Devonian carbonate sediments and is associated with brecciation, fracturing, and alteration.
Historical drilling at Omar previously returned intersections including 37.7m at 2.45% copper containing 4.9m at 10.23%, providing a reference point for the current program as Lux awaits laboratory results from its maiden drilling.
Lux is processing drill core for laboratory analysis, with initial assay results expected in November and the company cautioning that visual estimates are preliminary and cannot substitute for chemical assays of copper concentration or grade.
Drilling has now paused for 2026 as Lux prepares a larger multi-rig campaign scheduled to restart field activities in March 2027.
Two Distinct Settings
Logging identified copper mineralisation in two distinct settings at surface and at depth, with varying proportions of primary sulphides and associated oxidation products hosted in dolostone and dolomitised carbonate rocks.
The mineralised intervals are structurally controlled by brecciation and fracture development, while alteration is dominated by dolomitisation and carbonate recrystallisation with local quartz and barite in veined and brecciated zones.
“Importantly, the mineralisation observed aligns with our geological expectations and provides further confidence in both the historical exploration data and the broader prospectivity of the system,” chief executive officer James Warren said.
“Significant logistical progress has been made that puts us in an excellent position to recommence drilling at Baird next year, with substantial infrastructure now established to support an efficient and systematic drilling program.”
“The program will focus on verifying historical data, defining the controls on copper mineralisation, and expanding the known mineralisation envelope through targeted step-out drilling.”
Assays to Guide 2027 Campaign
Lux plans to use the coming assay results alongside geological interpretation and geophysical datasets to refine controls on mineralisation and design systematic step-out drilling for the 2027 campaign.
The company has established an exploration camp and mobilised key infrastructure and equipment to Baird, with much of that infrastructure expected to remain available for next year’s expanded program.
Lux considers the completed mobilisation an operational head start that should allow more of its 2027 effort and capital to be directed towards exploration rather than rebuilding fundamental field infrastructure.
Alongside the exploration program, Lux plans to pursue a US listing, citing the encouraging initial visual observations at Baird and increasing support for critical minerals projects from the current US administration.
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