TechGen Metals acquires promising Blue Devil copper-gold project in Western Australia
TechGen Metals (ASX: TG1) has expanded its asset portfolio with the addition of the Blue Devil copper-gold project in Western Australia.
The under-explored project, located 45 kilometres east-north-east of Halls Creek, was acquired by the company in its entirety for minimal outlay.
While no work has been conducted on the project area since 2020, previous explorers include Pickands Mather International in the late 1960s, Navigator Resources, Sipa-Gaia NL and Spartan Exploration.
Large system
Historic exploration at Blue Devil uncovered mineralisation trending along east-north-east and north-west structures within the regional Olympio Formation and the Eliot Range Dolomite.
The mineralisation within these structures is believed to continue sporadically over a distance of about 10km across the tenement and suggests that a large system with significant fluid flow may have been involved in the mineralising event.
Exploration has previously returned rock chip values of 50.5% copper, 6.9 grams per tonne gold, and 53 g/t silver but there has been no drill testing of higher-grade copper-gold occurrences.
Of the 34 historic samples, 15 returned assays above 1% copper while ten showed an association with favourable gossan mineralisation, as well as malachite, chalcocite, cuprite (copper carbonates) within boxwork goethite and haematite (iron) gossanous occurrences over the length of the tenement.
Exploration plans
TechGen’s initial exploration plans at Blue Devil are likely to include rock chip sampling and a geophysics program comprising heliborne electromagnetic and ground gravity surveys to rapidly identify targets for drill testing.
Managing director Ashley Hood said the company would target intrusion, volcanogenic massive sulphide and shear-related copper-gold-silver mineralisation.
“The Blue Devil project boasts exceptional quality, which is evident in the style of mineralisation targets, geology, and quality of previous work,” he said.
“It provides us with a strong foundation for further advancement, particularly with modern heliborne geophysics anticipated to test for conductors well below the surface.”
“Identifying robust bedrock conductors would present us with ideal walk-up drilling targets.”