Castillo Copper Limited’s (CCZ) chief geologist, Joel Logan, has devised a comprehensive, three-day surface sampling campaign that will concentrate on eight areas across the Big One deposit in Australia.
The focus is on historical anomalous surface copper and high conductivity zones.
Of particular interest for follow up work are the findings from an inaugural induced polarisation survey undertaken by the company a couple of years ago.
This survey showed significant incremental copper mineralisation located along north-trending fault structures rather than constrained in the trachyte dyke, and significant untested bedrock conductor north of the line of lode, materially larger than the high-grade anomaly drilled in 2020.
Based on historic surface observations, circa 200m north from the line of lode there also exists a sizeable, potentially mineralised gossan. This is earmarked for thorough sampling.
Once geochemical data from the upcoming campaign is reconciled with historical geophysics and surface observations, high-conviction targets for test-drilling can be formulated to potentially extend known mineralisation north of the line of lode.
"Our goal is to undertake a systematic surface sampling campaign that targets the most conductive IP anomalies north of known mineralisation at the Big One deposit,” said Logan.
"Further, we will re-sample areas with elevated historical copper readings at surface. In turn, the combined area will be mapped, and structural measurements collected, with an emphasis on noting haematite-altered and copper-bearing faulting. This data should aid in confirming earlier observations from soil and rock chip sampling, where similar mineralised faulting through the Big One deposit trends north directly through the focus area.”
View from Vox
The upcoming soil sampling campaign will cover eight highly prospective areas across the Big One deposit - north and south of the 1,200m line of lode. The results will act as an aid in allowing the company to zero in on potential drill targets. The opportunity here is significant, as the Big One deposit is already known to contain a JORC resource of 2.1m tonnes of mineralised ore grading 1.1% copper. That’s a grade that any exploration company would bite your hand off for, and if Castillo can find more of it, then the economics at Big One will begin to look highly attractive.