White Cliff Expands Danvers Copper Zone with New High-Grade Drill Results
White Cliff Minerals (ASX: WCN) has delivered another round of promising results from its Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, with new drilling extending the high-grade Danvers copper zone and revealing significant untapped potential along the trend.
First Batch of Summer Drilling Doubles Danvers Strike Length
The first batch of assays from the company's 2025 summer reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign has more than doubled the strike length of the Danvers copper system, confirming extensive zones of high-grade mineralisation.
Standout results include:
- 49m @ 1.33% Cu from 74.68m in hole DAN25013, including 3m @ 6.6% Cu and 23.95g/t Ag from 88.39m
- 33.53m @ 1.02% Cu in hole DAN25010, including 12.2m @ 2% Cu from 15m
These results follow White Cliff's impressive spring drilling campaign which delivered intercepts including 63m @ 2.2% Cu and 105m @ 2.25% Cu.
"This first batch of results more than double the existing strike and confirms extensive zones of mineralisation along the Danvers trend. Most importantly, recent data integration shows these results occur on the outer edge of newly identified massive conductive anomalies that remain undrilled," said Managing Director Troy Whittaker.
Advanced Geophysics Unveils Undrilled Massive Conductors
The company has employed cutting-edge geophysical methods to guide its exploration, with drone-based Mobile MT and heliTEM surveys completed across the Danvers lease. These surveys represent the first application of modern geophysics in the project area.
The detailed drone-based MT survey has revealed several key findings:
- The survey identified multiple previously unknown large conductive bodies
- Current drilling has only tested the outer edges of these conductors
- A major conductive anomaly appears to be structurally offset 200m to the northwest from the previously interpreted linear Danvers structure
- The newly identified conductive bodies correlate strongly with areas of high copper mineralisation
"New data suggests that these holes were drilled into mineralised halo around these massive conductors and the main anomaly, 200m to the northwest, remains undrilled," Whittaker explained.
Understanding Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits
White Cliff's exploration at the Rae Copper Project is targeting both high-grade breccia-hosted copper systems like Danvers and sediment-hosted copper deposits similar to the prolific copper belts of Central Africa.
Sediment-hosted copper deposits are among the world's most significant copper resources, accounting for approximately 20-25% of global copper production. These deposits form when oxidised, copper-bearing fluids flow through permeable sedimentary rocks and encounter a reducing environment, causing copper minerals to precipitate.
Key characteristics of sediment-hosted copper deposits include:
- Stratigraphic control: Mineralisation typically occurs within specific sedimentary horizons that contain reducing materials like organic matter or pyrite
- Mineral zonation: A typical pattern progresses from chalcocite (near the source) to bornite to chalcopyrite (away from the source)
- High continuity: These deposits often extend for many kilometres along specific sedimentary horizons
- Significant silver credits: Many sediment-hosted copper deposits contain valuable silver alongside copper
- Variable grades: Copper grades typically range from 1% to over 3%, depending on the specific deposit type and location
The high-resolution geophysical surveys now being conducted across the project will help White Cliff target both styles of mineralisation throughout the 1,228km² project area. The company's dual-focus approach provides excellent exploration optionality, targeting both the high-grade breccia systems and potentially large-scale sedimentary copper deposits.
Steady Flow of Results Expected Over Coming Months
With numerous holes completed during the summer drilling campaign and assay results delayed due to heightened exploration activity across Nunavut, investors can expect a steady stream of news over the coming months.
"This announcement now represents the first of what will now be a steady stream of assays across Danvers and the Rae sedimentary targets to be released over the next several months," stated Whittaker.
The company noted that delays in assay reporting were due to heightened exploration activity across the Northern Hemisphere summer, coupled with a land rush in Nunavut following the company's impressive 2024 and 2025 White Cliff Minerals drill results. Laboratory processing times have extended to an average of over nine weeks in the current period.
The Rae Copper Project: Strategic Position in a World-Class Copper Province
The Rae Copper Project encompasses 1,228 square kilometres in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut, comprising 93 mineral claims in three blocks and one mineral lease. The project area includes both the Danvers breccia system, which hosts a historic resource of 4.16 million tons at 2.96% copper, and extensive areas of the Rae Group sediments prospective for sediment-hosted copper mineralisation.
The project benefits from several key advantages:
- Historical high-grade copper resource at Danvers, which is now being expanded through systematic drilling
- First application of modern geophysics in an area with proven copper endowment
- Multiple deposit styles providing excellent exploration optionality
- Strategic first-mover advantage in an emerging copper district
Significantly, the company's recent geophysical surveys mark the first application of modern geophysical techniques in the project area, bringing unprecedented resolution to the exploration effort. This data will allow for targeted drilling of high-priority zones along the entire 10km Danvers strike and within the sedimentary sequence.
Why Investors Should Watch White Cliff Minerals
White Cliff Minerals has positioned itself strategically in a highly prospective copper province with multiple exploration advantages:
- High-grade copper already confirmed with numerous drill intercepts exceeding 2% copper
- New geophysical data unveiling untested targets with potential for significant discoveries
- Multiple copper styles providing exploration optionality across the extensive land package
- Strategic positioning in Nunavut where the company has established a strong first-mover advantage
The company's latest drilling results continue to expand the known mineralised zones at Danvers, while the new geophysical data has identified several untested conductive bodies that could represent additional copper mineralisation. These conductors, located just 200m from current drilling, present compelling targets for future exploration.
For copper-focused investors, White Cliff represents an emerging discovery story with substantial upside as the company continues to expand the known mineralised zones while uncovering new targets through systematic exploration across its district-scale property.
The ongoing integration of drilling results with high-resolution geophysical data is expected to generate numerous high-priority targets for testing in upcoming drilling campaigns, potentially accelerating the company's resource growth trajectory at the Rae Copper Project.
Want to Learn More About This Emerging Canadian Copper Opportunity?
To discover the full potential of White Cliff Minerals' expanding high-grade copper discovery at the Rae Copper Project, where recent drilling has doubled the Danvers strike length and geophysics has revealed massive untested conductors, visit the company's website at https://wcminerals.com.au/ for comprehensive project information, latest announcements and investment opportunities.
