White Cliff’s Rae continues to deliver stellar copper hits

White Cliff drilling at the Rae project keeps uncovering more high-grade copper mineralisation and evidence of an open system.

Further assays from the Danvers target confirm a shallow, high grade copper system. Pic: Getty Images

• White Cliff receives latest results from RC drilling at the Rae project

• Highlights include 63m at 2.23% copper

• Discussions continue with contracting partners for an airborne geophysical survey at Danvers

Special report: Assay results from a recent RC drilling campaign at White Cliff’s Rae project continue to exceed expectations, confirming a shallow, high-grade copper system as the explorer works to prove extensions to mineralisation.

Hot on the heels of a copper strike regarded as one of the most significant globally ‘in 50 years’, highlights from the continued program include a 63m intersection grading 2.23% copper from 914m, including a high-grade intercept of 15m at 5% copper and 16.9g/t silver from 18.29m.

Another hole, DAN25004, returned two significant copper intervals including 38m at 1% copper and 1.89g/t silver from 7.62m as well as 72m at 1.08% copper and 4.22g/t silver from 62.

Meanwhile, pre collar drilling at the Hulk target has wrapped up after targeting large-scale sediment hosted copper with follow up diamond drilling now in the works.

This follows the return of a thick intercept earlier this month at the Danvers target, striking 17m at 2.5% copper and 8.66g/t silver from 76m which also included 3.9% copper and 14.96g/t silver over its last 60m and 4.46% copper at the end of the hole.

A second hole delivered 52m at 1.16% copper and 3.43g/t silver from surface, including 7.6m at 3% copper and 9.5g/t silver from 18.28m.

White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) sees its ongoing drilling program as an indicator of the project’s potential to scale up a non-JORC resource.

Its share price surged last week on a hit that clocked in at 175m at 2.5% copper from DAN25008, with the Canadian copper junior now trading at a seven year high.

Copper’s long game

Copper futures in the US are currently around $4.60 per tonne, historically high levels that would support strong margins for high grade projects.

Long-term copper outlooks point to looming copper supply deficits, driven by a slowdown in major new discoveries and relentless demand growth from electrification and urbanisation.

That puts a premium on any new discoveries made by companies like White Cliff in Canada’s prospective Nunavut region, fast becoming a hub for ASX listers.

The Rae project, acquired in 2023, is home to several historical non-JORC and ‘blue sky’ mineral estimates, as well as up to 54.12% copper from rock chip assays, indicating widespread outcropping copper throughout the 805km2 licensed area.

It represents a district-scale opportunity, underpinned by the presence of high-grade volcanic-hosted copper-silver lodes and the prospect of a large tonnage sedimentary hosted copper deposit.

‘Rare’ intersections from surface

WCN’s Troy Whittaker said these latest high-grade intersections from surface are rare in the exploration world, as explorers over recent times have had to go deeper and deeper to identify additional copper resources.

“Being the first mover into this highly prospective location, after more than a decade of inactivity due to political constraints – securing the licences organically and now having undertaken our first drill program, positions us well both for future work programmes and facilitate further discoveries,” he said.

“We are not surprised by the increased attention into the broader region by many players.

“Infrastructure enhancements at Yellowknife and increased activity along the north-west passage provide far easier access than in previous decades when the last serious exploration was undertaken,” Whittaker added.

“More recently we have seen increased state and federal conversations around road and port infrastructure development in this area to support regional development.

“Logistics that will positively impact the Rae Project. Given the project area is less than 80km by road to the deep-water port of Kugluktuk, these results will surely focus the spotlight on the development opportunities and benefits to the local and regional stakeholders.”

Listen: Troy Whittaker and Barry FitzGerald dig into a new copper frontier

What’s next?

White Cliff is advancing discussions with its contracting partners to undertake targeted airborne geophysical surveys at Danvers across the 9.1km target fault zone and to also utilise the proven down hole electromagnetic survey across the broader Rae project which will support and help target these future campaigns.

Further assays are anticipated pending release from the laboratory.

This article was developed in collaboration with White Cliff Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

Originally published as White Cliff’s Rae continues to deliver stellar copper hits