Litchfield builds momentum across Northern Territory copper hunt

Litchfield Minerals has kept the drill bit spinning at its Oonagalabi copper-zinc-gold project in the Northern Territory, while also adding extra firepower to its crew with the appointment of well-regarded Territory geologist Matt McGloin as senior exploration geologist.

McGloin is one of the few geologists with deep experience across the NT’s Aileron and Irindina provinces, having spent more than five years with the Northern Territory Geological Survey and seven years with IGO Limited on a swag of Top End exploration projects.

Litchfield says his regional know-how will strengthen the company’s technical capability as it looks to build out the Oonagalabi mineral story.

On the ground, the company has completed three diamond holes and one reverse circulation hole across multiple targets at Oonagalabi.

‘The pace of exploration on the ground has remained extremely strong.’

Litchfield Minerals managing director Matthew Pustahya

These include one diamond drill hole to a depth of 800 metres and one reverse-circulation (RC) hole to 364 metres at the Bomb-Diggity target and

a 300-metre diamond drill hole to test a feature identified in the Main Zone’s principal magnetic target.

The third diamond hole in this phase of work was drilled to 118m depth at the Main Zone to follow up on a 15m run of gold mineralisation identified in a previous RC hole drilled during Litchfield’s maiden drilling program.

With logging, cutting and sampling across its Bomb-Diggity and Main Zone diamond holes wrapped up, both batches are now on their way to the lab for assay.

Next cab off the rank, Litchfield plans to drill seven RC holes for a phase three field program at Oonagalabi, with timing currently dependent on rig availability and road suitability for rig access. Six new drill pads have been built across the VT1 and VT2 electromagnetic (EM) anomalies and at Oonagalabi’s Main Zone in readiness for the rig.

At VT1, the truth-teller will test multiple electromagnetic (EM) conductors measuring up to 3000-siemens – some of the most compelling geophysical features identified anywhere across the project.

At the VT2 EM anomaly, three holes will be plunged into the prospect to test the biggest induced polarisation (IP) chargeability anomalies coincident with its electromagnetic conductors, including one aimed at probing a potential down-dip and along-strike conductor extension.

An additional drill pad has been established north of the Main Zone to test for potential northward mineralisation extensions between 400 and 500 metres beyond known mineralisation.

The latest work follows a recent healthy run of exploration momentum. In early February, Litchfield reported thick, stacked copper and zinc mineralisation from its phase two reverse circulation drilling in the project’s Main Zone.

One RC drillhole delivered a standout intercept of 128 metres at 0.60 per cent copper and 1.0 per cent zinc from 23 metres, boosted by multiple higher-grade internal zones to a maximum of 29m assaying 0.89 per cent copper, 2.14 per cent zinc and 6.7 grams per tonne (g/t) silver.

Early March IP results further reinforced the company’s mineral systems model, mapping four distinct chargeability trends and highlighting a prospective corridor extending five kilometres, linking the VT1 and VT2 EM anomalies.

Litchfield Minerals managing director Matthew Pustahya said: “Drilling has now been completed across multiple targets at Oonagalabi including Bomb-Diggity and the Main Zone, while logging, cutting and sampling across several holes has been progressing steadily as access conditions improve. In addition, the team has continued advancing the project through the construction of multiple new drill pads across VT1, VT2 and the Main Zone in preparation for the next phase of drilling.”

Litchfield says its recent pace of market updates has eased off a touch thanks to a wet-season reality check, with several significant bouts of rain causing temporary station and road closures and leaving tracks boggy. This has created some delays that have flowed through to logging and sampling workflows.

Despite the temporary disruptions, Litchfield says field activity has remained robust and the company remains well-positioned for its broader field season across Oonagalabi, Silver Valley and Lucy Creek.

With more assays due shortly and a Schramm 450 RC drill rig in its sights to knock over the next seven planned holes, Litchfield looks set for a fresh burst of news as it steps out to chase extensions and tests those big geophysical targets.

If the weather plays nice, Litchfield’s Northern Territory venture should stay firmly on the watchlist.

Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au