White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX: WCN) has commenced work at its Rae copper, silver, and gold project in Nunavut. Initial visual observations across all sample sites have confirmed numerous vein systems of chalcocite dominant mineralization across significant strike lengths.
The company has reported the identification multiple styles of copper mineralization, indicating potential for district-scale mineralization. At Cu-Tar, massive chalcocite veining has also been observed, while sedimentary-hosted copper and replacement mineralization have been seen at HALO. Additionally, native copper within vesicular basalt flow tops has been discovered at Kilauea. Previous high-grade historical locations have been located, and samples have been taken within an expanded vicinity. At all priority targets, the identifiable strike length has significantly increased.
“The outcropping copper mineralization throughout the project area is visually stunning and exceeds expectations. The focus of our maiden field programme across both Nunavut and Great Bear Lake has been twofold. Firstly, to confirm decades old historical state survey results from multiple project locations and extend the observable strike of each and in parallel undertaking airborne geophysics to further refine these targets. Second is prioritize and prepare project areas for drilling,”
At Halo, multiple mineralized vertical structures have been identified and now constitute priority targets. This deep-seated plumbing acts as conduits for copper rich hydrothermal fluids that have deposited what appears to be significant quantities of copper into the surrounding reactive sandstones. This field observation provides the first direct evidence of extensive high grade sedimentary hosted “red bed” copper on Company ground, something not previously observed by historical exploration. We grow more confident each day of significant results coming from this sampling programme. The recently completed airborne MOBILEMT survey at Great Bear is expected to work well and will add substantially to the understanding of the local and regional mineralizing structures. Integrating this geophysical layer with assay results will eventually allow for a maiden drilling campaign by the company which is scheduled to kick off in the coming months. The same aerial survey is now underway at Rae and expected to complete this week.” Said Tory Whittaker, managing director.
The HALO vein system has now been mapped and sampled over more than 440m of strike length. The discovery of high-grade sediment-hosted copper greatly expands the prospectivity and tonnage potential of the target. Chalcocite-dominant veining has been observed over a ±400m strike length at the Cu-TAR zone, alongside three other chalcocite veins and cemented copper-rich breccia. These veins have been sampled along strike until they disappear under shallow cover.
The DON target has been identified to host two semi-massive chalcocite-bornite veins with over 200m of strike length. The PAT target has now been extended to over 400m of outcropping, semi-massive, vein-hosted chalcocite-bornite mineralization. Field evidence at the CALMAL target area shows copper-bearing hydrothermal fluids mineralizing the Rae Group sediments, indicating potential for bulk-tonnage “Red Bed” copper. Widespread native copper has been traced over 120m at the Kilauea target.
The MobileMT airborne geophysical survey at Great Bear Lake has been completed on time and on budget, with the Rae survey expected to be completed in the next 5-10 days. The first tranche of assays from Great Bear is expected in August. The latest land rush to Nunavut amplifies the first-mover strategic advantage that the company has achieved.
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