- 01Solstice extends Nanadie: 169.3m @ 0.87% Cu, 0.29 g/t Au.
- 0273.3m@1.07%Cu;high-grade8m@2.12%Cu,0.45g/tAu.
- 031.5km strike; system open N/S/depth.
Solstice Minerals (ASX: SLS) has extended the mineralised footprint at its 100%-owned Nanadie copper-gold project after a combined reverse circulation and diamond intercept ran for 169.3 metres at 0.87% copper and 0.29 grams per tonne gold.
The intercept includes 73.3m at 1.07% copper and 0.26g/t gold from 299m, with higher-grade zones of 8m at 2.12% copper and 0.45g/t gold and 6.3m at 2.65% copper and 0.46g/t gold.
Both deep holes reported in the latest drilling returned significant copper-gold mineralisation more than 300m below the current mineral resource estimate boundary, while shallower RC drilling continued to define zones with grades above the existing MRE.
Step-out RC drilling 160m beyond previous work to the north has extended the mineralised system to at least 1.5 kilometres of strike, with Nanadie remaining open to the north, south, and at depth.
Eastern Margin Gaining Focus
Hole NANRCD001 continued east of the expected gabbro contact, returning 4.6m at 1.65% copper and 0.26g/t gold, and 24.9m at 0.56% copper and 0.24g/t gold, in a position Solstice considers a potential emerging eastern zone.
The step-back diamond tail on the same section returned several broad mineralised intervals and ended with 5.8m at 1.00% copper and 2.43g/t gold, after which the hole was extended to a final depth of 729m to test the eastern zone, with assays pending.
Resource-definition RC drilling north of a local cross-fault also expanded a shallow strongly mineralised position, including a 27m interval at 1.23% copper and 0.15g/t gold containing 3m at 5.78% copper and 0.57g/t gold.
“The outstanding combined RC and diamond intercept in NANRCD001 continues to build genuine volume and grade around our stellar NANRCD004 and NANRCD005 drill holes, while the delineation of a shallow, high-grade position north of the cross-fault is a potential game changer for future pit optimisations,” chief executive officer Nick Castleden said.
“We are progressively increasing drilling density throughout the MRE area while continuing to step-down below the existing resource with diamond drilling, […] as well as expanding the overall footprint of the Nanadie system with shallower RC drilling.”
Three Rigs on Site
Further north, a reconnaissance traverse returned 28m at 0.52% copper and 0.17g/t gold from 67m, taking the overall strike length to at least 1.5km and prompting additional infill and step-out RC drilling.
The existing Inferred MRE stands at 40.4 million tonnes at 0.4% copper and 0.1g/t gold, containing 162,000t of copper and 130,000 ounces of gold, with about 90% of the estimate in fresh rock below a weathering profile of less than 40m.
Three drill rigs are operating on site, with multi-rig RC and diamond drilling expected to continue through the balance of 2026 and assays pending from a further 14 completed diamond holes and 28 RC holes.
Recently completed camp and core processing facilities provide Solstice with additional flexibility to expand the drilling program as required through the remainder of the year.
With $45 million cash and no debt, Solstice is positioned to continue drilling and geophysical work at Nanadie, while its updated geological model has opened additional growth targets at the nearby Stark Prospect and along corridors extending north beneath shallow transported cover.
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