CopperCorp Confirms High-Grade REE at Darwin Zone with Assay Grades up to 18.58% TREO at Razorback Property
CopperCorp Confirms High-Grade REE at
Darwin Zone with Assay Grades up to 18.58%
TREO at Razorback Property
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - November 15, 2023) - CopperCorp Resources Inc.
(TSXV: CPER) (OTCQB: CPCPF) ("CopperCorp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce an update
on exploration activities at its Razorback property located in western Tasmania, Australia.
Highlights
Preliminary assay results from reconnaissance surface sampling confirm high-grade REE in
outcrop up to
18.58% TREO
. The outcrop occurs 1km southeast of previously drilled REE
mineralization (see figure 4 below).
Significant widths of REE mineralization confirmed by resampling of historical drill core at Darwin
prospect, with intercepts including:
SDD005:
72.0m @ 1.13% total rare earth oxides (TREO)
from 286m, including
30.0m @ 2.26% TREO
from 296m, including
10.0m @ 3.0% TREO
from 307m
SDD001:
105.0m @ 0.46% TREO from 110.0m, including
8.0m @ 1.05% TREO
from 129.0m
REE and associated IOCG style Cu-Au mineralization remains open along strike and at depth with
only 10% of a 7km long highly prospective Darwin Zone currently drill tested.
Distribution of REE grades in drill holes suggests an inner and deeper core of high-grade REE
mineralization is enveloped by a wide outer halo or shell of lower-grade REE mineralization.
REE expert Dr Phillip Hellman has been engaged as an advisor to the Company.
Permits for surface geological work and exploration diamond drilling programs have recently been
awarded to CPER. Field crews have initiated mapping and sampling programmes and planning
for diamond drilling at Darwin prospect is underway.
Stephen Swatton, President and CEO of CopperCorp commented:
"The resampling program has been successful in confirming previous surface and drill results. Over
the past month the Company was issued a work and drill permit by the government and has already
started its ground exploration program which will be primarily targeting a 2km x 2km zone of
prospective ground (identified by magnetic and thorium anomalies) where there has been no previous
work undertaken.
"REE exploration and production are pivotal aspects of Australia's critical minerals strategy as well as
an important source of supply for countries such as the United States. Most recently, major Australian
companies such as Iluka Resources Limited and Lynas Rare Earths, Ltd. have received government
support to build REE processing facilities in Australia and Texas to help reduce the over reliance on
limited locations worldwide for the processing of REEs. CopperCorp looks forward to advancing the
Darwin Prospect over the coming months."
Darwin Zone Cu-Au-REE Target Area
The Darwin zone target area is defined by a 7km long north-south trending coincident magnetic and
potassium-thorium radiometric anomaly (Figure 4).
Historical drilling
1
into part of this extensive anomaly
at the South Darwin prospect intercepted significant IOCG style Cu-Au and REE mineralization
associated with north-south trending hydrothermal breccias comprised of magnetite-hematite-pyrite-
chalcopyrite-bornite mineralization hosted in intensely K-feldspar-chlorite-tourmaline altered volcanics
proximal to granitic and porphyry intrusives. The mineralization at South Darwin remains open at depth
and along strike. Previous drilling has tested less than 10% of the 7km-long magnetic-radiometric
anomaly suggesting significant potential to expand the REE and Cu-Au discovery at Darwin Zone.
The IOCG style mineralization drilled at South Darwin comprises vein, breccia and semi-massive to
massive magnetite-pyrite-chalcopyrite. The previous drilling returned a best intercept of
13.0m @ 1.2%
Cu and 0.45g/t Au
from 345m (SDD005)
1,3
and the same hole also intercepted significant REE
mineralization
1,3
which has been resampled as part of the Company's verification of historical assays.
South Darwin Drill Core Resampling Program
Assay results have been received for the partial re-sampling of six historical diamond drill core holes
(SDD001 to SDD006) from the South Darwin prospect area. Significant mineralized intercepts are
listed in Table 3.
Historical drilling at the South Darwin prospect comprises 8 diamond core holes totaling 2,293m, drilled
between 1971 and 2018. Only 6 of the historical drill holes were available for resampling. Previous
explorers sampled the drill core using a range of gold and multi-element analytical techniques (commonly
not consistent between successive drill campaigns). However, due to the historical focus on Cu-Au
mineralization, previous sampling did not include routine assaying for full suite rare earth elements.
The
Company undertook resampling and assaying of a full suite REE elements from the available drill holes
in order to further assess the REE potential of the Razorback property.
Sample intervals were selected based on anomalous Ce and La values from previous multi-element
assay results.
A total of 504 samples of well-preserved half- and quarter-core were collected from six drill
holes and submitted to ALS Global laboratories in Australia.
Samples were taken on nominal 1-meter
intervals.
All samples were assayed by analytical method ME-MS81h which incorporates a lithium borate
fusion prior to acid dissolution and ICP-MS analysis.
The resampling assay results confirm that the high-grade REE mineralization at South Darwin is
enriched in critical listed and valuable REE minerals including a high-value component of approximately
25m at 0.57% MREO
in SDD005 (see Table 1).
DH ID
From
To
Width
TREO
CeO2
La2O3
Nd2O3
Pr6O11
Sm2O3
Gd2O3
Dy2O3
Eu2O3
Er2O3
Tb4O7
Ho2O3
Tm2O3
Lu2O3
Yb2O3
m
m
m
%
%
%
%
%
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
SDD005
296
326
30
2.26
1.07
0.56
0.36
0.11
532
326
137
48
34
35
17
4
3
22
Table 1. Rare earth oxide values from significant drill hole intercept in SDD005 30.0m @ 2.26%
TREO (1.0% TREO cut-off).
Values have been rounded. Magnet Rare Earth Oxides (MREO) are
bolded.
South Darwin Outcrop Sampling
Preliminary assays from reconnaissance field sampling has confirmed high-grade REE mineralization in
outcrop at the South Darwin prospect with rock chip samples returning
14.28% to
18.58% TREO
in the
vicinity of historical samples that assayed up to 16.2% TREO (Table 2).
The high-grade mineralization
appears to be associated with a biotite-allanite-monazite bearing late-stage intrusive rock, however,
follow-up field mapping and mineralogy work is in progress to develop a better understanding of the style
and controls to the REE mineralization.
Importantly, these rocks chip samples were taken approximately 1km southeast of the high-grade REE
intercept in drill hole SDD005. These recent results and historical rock chip sampling (see Figure 4)
illustrating the exploration potential of the project to deliver further REE discoveries.
Sample
ID
TREO
CeO2
La2O3
Nd2O3
Pr6O11
Sm2O3
Gd2O3
Dy2O3
Eu2O3
Er2O3
Tb4O7
Ho2O3
Tm2O3
Lu2O3
Yb2O3
Y2O3
%
%
%
%
%
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
ppm
63118
14.28
6.62
3.58
2.34
0.68
3282
1994
868
369
203
220
105
21
14
114
3441
63120
18.58
8.29
4.86
3.11
0.91
4395
2697
1126
441
266
290
136
28
20
153
4534
Table 2. Rare earth oxide values from rock chip samples of outcropping high-grade REE
mineralization at South Darwin prospect.
Values have been rounded. Magnet Rare Earth Oxides
(MREO) are bolded.
Next Steps
The Company has commenced field mapping and sampling programs at Razorback. Drilling programs
proposed to test for extensions to REE and Cu-Au mineralization at the South Darwin prospect were
recently permitted and the Company has commenced preparatory access work.
Hole ID
From (m)
To (m)
Interval (m)
TREO %
SDD001
110.0
215.0
105.0
0.46
including
117.0
143.0
26.0
0.72
including
129.0
137.0
8.0
1.05
SDD002
83.0
111.0
28.0
0.4
including
100.0
101.0
1.0
1.0
and
103.0
104.0
1.0
1.46
SDD003
21.0
34.0
13.0
0.43
SDD004
20.0
39.2
19.2
0.35
SDD004
156.0
258.0
102.0
0.47
including
205.0
249.0
44.0
0.68
including
205.0
207.0
2.0
1.26
and
213.0
215.0
2.0
1.24
and
217.0
218.0
1.0
2.2
and
227.0
229.0
2.0
1.11
and
245.0
246.0
1.0
1.22
and
248.0
249.0
1.0
1.15
and
274.0
275.0
1.0
1.38
SDD005
40.7
43.1
2.4
2.1
SDD005
286.0
358.0
72.0
1.13
including
288.0
289.0
1.0
2.41
and
296.0
326.0
30.0
2.26
including
207.0
217.0
10.0
3.0
SDD006
No significant intercept
Table 3. Significant mineralized intercepts (total rare earth oxides - TREO) from resampled drill holes
at the South Darwin prospect, Darwin Zone, Razorback property.
A lower cut-off of 0.15% TREO was
used.
Intercepts are downhole intervals, true width is currently unknown.
Figure 1. Location plan showing CopperCorp's exploration licenses and project areas in western
Tasmania, Australia.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8950/187441_4a4a464cc4ae08d5_002full.jpg
Figure 2. Skyline Project properties and priority prospects with TMI magnetics image.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8950/187441_4a4a464cc4ae08d5_003full.jpg
Figure 3. Exploration target areas, Razorback property.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8950/187441_4a4a464cc4ae08d5_004full.jpg
Figure 4. Magnetics (left) and thorium in radiometrics (right) image with Ce in historical surface rock
sampling, Darwin Zone target area.
Historical rock chips samples were mostly not assayed for full
suite REE and Ce values are used as an indicator for REE mineralization.
The magnetic anomalies
are due to magnetite associated with IOCG style mineralization, while thorium is a common indicator
for possible REE mineralization.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8950/187441_4a4a464cc4ae08d5_005full.jpg
Figure 5. Photograph of high grade REE mineralized intrusive rock taken from outcrop in the South
Darwin prospect area. Samples from the outcrop assayed up to
18.58% TREO
.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 5, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8950/187441_figure5.jpg
About the Razorback Property
The Razorback property covers 171km
2
of highly prospective ground situated directly south of the Mt
Lyell copper project. The property was awarded to the Company following its submission through the
state's Exploration Release Area (ERA) competitive application process
3
and was formally granted the
exploration licence for a period of 5 years (renewable) commencing 23
rd
August 2023.
CopperCorp has identified three high-priority exploration target areas as well as other lower priority
areas within the Razorback property (Table 1, Figure 3).
The high-priority Jukes, Hyde and Darwin zone
target areas will be the focus of initial exploration efforts commencing soon.
About CopperCorp
CopperCorp is a well-financed mineral exploration company with approximately C$5.2M in working
capital as of June 30, 2023 and is exploring in locations that could host world class size copper-gold and
REE deposits in western Tasmania, Australia.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control on Assay Results
Information on historical and recent prospecting, mining, and exploration activities at the Razorback
property contained within this news release has been reviewed and verified by the Qualified Person.
Historical and recent data is considered sufficiently consistent between generations of past explorers,
and sufficiently consistent with recent results, to provide confidence that compiled and reviewed assay
results are indicative of the tenor of the samples. In the opinion of the Qualified Person, sufficient
verification of historical and new data has been undertaken to provide sufficient confidence that past
exploration programs were performed to adequate industry standards and the data reported is fit for
substantiating the prospectivity of the project in general, supporting the geological model/s proposed,
planning exploration programs, and identifying targets for further investigation. The Company has
undertaken resampling and analysis of available historical drill core in order to independently verify
historical results.
Mineralized Interval Calculations
Reported rare earth element significant mineralized intervals in this news release are calculated as
down-hole length-weighted intercepts using a 0.15% TREO lower cut-off grade and generally carry a
maximum internal dilution of 4m.
High-grade mineralized intervals were calculated using a lower cut-off
grade of 1.0% TREO. No top-cut grade was applied. True widths of drill hole intercepts are yet to be
determined; however, it is estimated that true widths are in the range of 70% to 95% of reported
intervals.
Rare Earth Element Calculations
TREO (Total Rare Earth Oxides) values were calculated by the formula: TREO = CeO2 + La2O3 +
Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 + Sm2O3 + Gd2O3 + Dy2O3 + Eu2O3 + Er2O3 + Tb4O7 + Ho2O3 + Tm2O3 +
Lu2O3 + Yb2O3 + Y2O3.
MREO (Magnet Rare Earth Oxides) values were calculated by the formula: TREO = Nd2O3 + Pr6O11 +
Sm2O3 + Gd2O3 + Dy2O3 + Tb4O7 + Ho2O3.
Standard element to oxide conversion factors have been used in the calculation of rare earth oxide
values from elemental assay values.