True North Copper Ramps Up Queensland Drilling Efforts
True North Copper has significantly increased extension drilling activities at its Cloncurry copper project in Queensland, as part of a strategic push to enhance resource confidence in preparation for an upcoming pre-feasibility study. This initiative also focuses on refining mine design and processing plans to optimize future operations.
Project Overview and Drilling Details
The Cloncurry project, located just south of the township of the same name, encompasses multiple deposits, including the underexplored Great Australia Mine, along with the Taipan and Orphan Shear prospects. Drilling is currently underway, with a program designed to cover approximately 2700 metres across 14 combined diamond and reverse circulation (RC) holes.
Six diamond holes will concentrate on metallurgical and geotechnical studies, while an additional six RC holes will investigate mineralisation extensions across all three deposits and test a series of near-mine priority targets.
Resource Estimates and Confidence Levels
Following successful drilling efforts last year, the Great Australia Mine now boasts a resource of 5.29 million tonnes, grading 0.86 per cent copper, 0.07 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, and 0.03 per cent cobalt. The Taipan deposit contributes a 5.21-million-tonne resource, grading 0.57 per cent copper, 0.13g/t gold, and 0.02 per cent cobalt, with indicated material recently increasing to 95 per cent of the total resource, boosting confidence.
Meanwhile, the Orphan Shear prospect adds another 1 million tonnes at 0.56 per cent copper. Collectively, these three deposits total 11.53 million tonnes, grading 0.71 per cent copper and 0.09g/t gold, equating to 80,000 tonnes of copper, 34,000 ounces of gold, and 2000 tonnes of cobalt.
Advancements and Future Exploration Plans
Matt Varvari, general manager of operations at True North Copper, emphasized that the commencement of diamond drilling at Great Australia marks a critical step in advancing the Cloncurry Copper Project toward development. Additionally, the company's Wallace North deposit, situated about 35 kilometres southeast of Great Australia, is scheduled for a new round of drilling once current rigs complete work at Cloncurry.
Although mining at Wallace North concluded in 2024, the open pit still holds a substantial 2 million tonnes grading 1.28 per cent copper and 0.77g/t gold. Recent exploration efforts have yielded promising results, including a best hit of 19 metres grading 2.18 per cent copper and 1.76g/t gold from 106 metres, with an impressive 9 metres running 4.33 per cent copper and 3.64 g/t gold from 108 metres. This intercept, located 60 metres along strike from the existing resource, represents the best intersection ever drilled at Wallace North.
Testing New Prospects and Geophysical Insights
RC drilling will also target priority areas at True North's Whip and Coppermine Creek prospects, positioned 500 metres along strike southwest of the Great Australia Mine. The Whip prospect features an intense induced polarisation (IP) anomaly, interpreted as potentially hosting mineralisation. A previous single drill hole intersected 6 metres grading 0.31 per cent copper from 142 metres downhole in a non-optimised position near the core of the IP anomaly, but no follow-up work was conducted. Drilling in 2026 aims to test the downward continuity of this anomaly.
Similarly, Coppermine Creek has another IP anomaly, which could be a deep extension of the Great Australia Mine. Previous drilling near the edge of this anomaly intersected 12 metres running 0.64 per cent copper from 124 metres. The anomaly also straddles the Coppermine Creek fault, a potential feeder zone for mineralisation at the Great Australia Mine.
IP geophysics has proven to be a valuable prospecting tool in the Cloncurry region, with copper resources at Great Australia and Taipan both identified using this method due to their sufficient copper and iron sulphide content to generate an IP response. The targets at Whip and Coppermine Creek may further expand the list of copper discoveries utilizing IP technology.
Strategic Outlook and Market Context
True North Copper is preparing for a busy 2026, with fresh green fields exploration programs set to test new drill targets at Wallace North, Whip, and Coppermine Creek, alongside brownfields targets aimed at increasing the resource base at Great Australia. The company is confident in its ability to deliver the next major Queensland copper story as it progresses toward project development.
With copper prices on the rise and the metal firmly established on critical mineral lists, the timing appears increasingly favourable for True North's expanding footprint in Queensland, positioning the company for potential growth and success in the resource sector.
