Whundo Copper Project Reveals Massive Scale with New Exploration Target
GreenTech Metals (ASX: GRE) has unveiled a significant Exploration Target at its Whundo Copper Project, revealing high-grade copper, suggesting the potential for a much larger mineral system than previously identified. The new exploration target for GreenTech Metals suggests an additional 15-23 million tonnes at grades between 0.9-1.4% copper and 0.2-0.4% zinc, representing a substantial expansion beyond the existing JORC resource.
Exploration Target Highlights Major Growth Potential
The newly defined Exploration Target outlines potential metal content of 176,000-265,000 tonnes of copper and 46,000-69,000 tonnes of zinc. This target is entirely separate from the existing JORC Mineral Resource Estimate of 6.2Mt at 1.12% copper and 1.04% zinc, representing a quantum leap in the project's scale.
"We are very pleased with the potential of the Whundo Project," commented GreenTech's Executive Director, Tom Reddicliffe. "Our work to date has highlighted both shallow and deep mineralised areas for further drill testing. The shallow mineralisation is of immediate interest as the company looks to identify and evaluate near-term production opportunities."
The Exploration Target encompasses multiple mineralised shoots including Ayshia, Yannery, Whundo East, Whundo West, Austin and Shelby, creating a cluster of potential deposits that could significantly enhance the project's economics.
Fast-Tracking Near-Term Production Potential
GreenTech is taking decisive steps to evaluate near-term production possibilities, focusing on:
- Shallow defined resources at Whundo (East & West) and Ayshia
- Known shallow mineralisation at Yannery
- Updating resource models to incorporate gold contributions
- Conceptual mining studies immediately below previously mined historic open cut pits
The project benefits from its proximity to existing infrastructure, with the Radio Hill processing plant located just 12km away being evaluated as a potential processing option.
Understanding the Exploration Target
The new exploration target for GreenTech Metals was developed using extensive datasets including:
- 1,135 drill holes totaling 83,298 meters
- Surface and downhole electromagnetic (FLTEM & DHTEM) surveys
- Geological modeling
- Historic mining data
Fourteen hard-boundary domains were defined using inverse distance methodology to identify broad mineralised trends. The company used a conservative bulk density value of 3.4g/cm³ and applied a cut-off grade of 0.5% copper.
This approach has revealed substantial potential in areas that extend beyond current drilling, particularly at depth and along strike.
What is an Exploration Target?
An Exploration Target represents a volume of rock where initial exploration has identified the potential for significant mineralisation, but where insufficient sampling has occurred to estimate a Mineral Resource.
Exploration Targets are expressed as ranges (both tonnage and grade) and are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration completed to define a Mineral Resource, and it remains uncertain whether further exploration will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource.
In the case of the Whundo Project, the new exploration target for GreenTech Metals indicates zones of copper-zinc mineralisation that warrant further drilling to potentially convert them to JORC-compliant resources.
Gold Factor Could Enhance Economics
GreenTech is fast-tracking its assessment of gold contribution to the previously reported Mineral Resource. Recent drilling has intercepted high-grade gold discoveries in Western Australia alongside copper mineralisation, which could significantly enhance the project's economics.
If confirmed, this gold content would be incorporated into updated resource models and could positively impact the project's financial viability.
Historic Mining Validates Potential
The Whundo Project's history of successful mining operations provides compelling evidence of its economic viability:
- Open pit mining in 1976 yielded 6,200 tonnes of supergene oxide ore at 26.98% copper
- Mining by Fox Resources in 2006-2007 produced 25,812 tonnes of copper concentrate at 20.86% grade
- Artemis Resources generated revenue through heap leaching of surface ore in 2017
- Historic underground production at Yannery yielded high-grade ore averaging 12-21% copper
These historic operations occurred at much lower copper prices than today's market, suggesting enhanced economic potential under current conditions.
Next Steps: Drilling and Development
GreenTech is planning its next phase of work, which includes:
- Drill testing for continuity between Austin and Shelby (EIS Co-funded)
- Testing the down-plunge extent of the Ayshia shoot
- Evaluating shallow high-grade oxide mineralisation at Yannery
- Completing updated Mineral Resource Estimates incorporating gold values
- Advancing conceptual mining studies and Whittle optimisations
- Evaluating the Radio Hill processing site as a processing option
- Commencing mining permit applications
Furthermore, the company will be analysing historic drill samples for scandium to potentially add another valuable element to the project's resource inventory.
What This Means for Investors
The Whundo Copper Project is rapidly emerging as a significant copper asset in Western Australia's Pilbara region. With copper prices remaining strong due to global electrification trends, GreenTech is positioning itself to potentially move from explorer to producer.
The combination of:
- A substantial existing JORC resource
- A large exploration target suggesting significant growth potential
- Proximity to processing infrastructure
- Potential gold credits
- History of successful mining operations
Creates a compelling investment case as GreenTech advances toward production decisions.
In addition to the copper-zinc potential, investors should note that companies in the region are increasingly acquiring high-grade antimony-gold projects and making copper-gold discoveries in tourist zones, highlighting the broader mineral prospectivity of the area.
The Whundo Project represents a key part of GreenTech's strategy to discover, develop and acquire projects containing minerals essential to the battery storage and electric vehicle sectors, aligning perfectly with the ongoing global energy transition.
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