Hawk Resources Extends Near-Surface Copper at Cactus Corridor Utah

Hawk Resources Drills More Near-Surface Copper at Cactus Corridor in Utah

Hawk Resources (ASX: HWK) has reported another broad near-surface copper intersection from the Cactus copper-gold project in Utah, USA, with assay results from hole DD26CT004 extending mineralisation to the southeast along the Cactus Corridor. According to the ASX announcement, the hole returned 72.9m at 0.36% copper and 2.0ppm silver from 18m below surface, adding to a growing set of drill results that support continuity of shallow copper mineralisation across this part of the project.

The latest result matters because it fills a gap between earlier Hawk drilling and historical holes at the old Cactus mine area. In the announcement, the company said the mineralised interval in DD26CT004 is interpreted to have an estimated true thickness of about 44m, while nearby holes suggest the broader zone may range from 35m to 50m true width.

For investors following copper exploration stories, shallow depth and consistent thickness are often key indicators of whether a target could justify further resource drilling.

The Headline Result from DD26CT004

In the announcement, Hawk outlined a broad copper-silver interval with a higher-grade internal zone and a separate molybdenum-rich interval. The hole was drilled from the same pad as DD26CT003 and DD26CT005, but at a steeper angle to avoid the historical open pit.

Key reported intersections from DD26CT004 include:

• 72.9m @ 0.36% Cu, 2.0ppm Ag from 18m below surface
• Including 33.6m @ 0.49% Cu, 1.9ppm Ag from 58m below surface
• Including 10.4m @ 0.97% Cu, 3.0ppm Ag, 0.059% Mo from 78m below surface
• 39.2m @ 0.027% Mo from 42m below surface

The company also highlighted the best single sample in the hole, reported as 0.97m @ 5.09% Cu, 0.5g/t Au, 12.4ppm Ag and 0.086% Mo from 89.66m down hole.

Furthermore, the company stated that copper mineralisation begins at 18m below surface, placing the zone within a shallow part of the system. That does not define economics or a resource, but it does improve geological interest as Hawk tests whether the corridor hosts a larger volume of near-surface mineralisation.

How DD26CT004 Fits into the Broader Cactus Corridor Drilling Picture

The latest hole is not a stand-alone result. In the announcement, Hawk positioned DD26CT004 as part of a systematic drilling programme across the approximately 1km northwest-trending Cactus Corridor, which runs from the historical Comet deposit through the Cactus mine and toward the New Years prospect.

Three holes drilled from the same pad now show a broadly consistent style of shallow mineralisation:

Taken together, these holes suggest the mineralised zone drilled at Cactus may be thicker than earlier interpretations based mainly on older vertical holes. Hawk said the three holes indicate a true width of 35m to 50m.

Managing Director's Commentary

"Hole DD26CT004 has extended the near surface copper mineralisation intersected in DD26CT003 to the southeast and traverses a gap in drilling between historical hole R-12 and hole DD26CT003," said Scott Caithness, Managing Director of Hawk Resources.

"It has highlighted that the mineralisation in hole DD26CT003 continues to the southeast into the Cactus deposit where historical holes such as R-12 intersected high grade copper."

That statement is central to the current exploration thesis. Hawk is not only reporting another hole with copper — it is using the result to support a continuity model along strike toward the historical mine area and, potentially, toward Comet.

Historical Mine Context Adds Geological Support

The Cactus project sits in a district with historical production, which provides useful context for modern drilling. According to the announcement, historical records indicate the Cactus mine produced 1.3 million tonnes grading 2.0% Cu, 0.33g/t Au and 7ppm Ag between 1905 and 1920.

Hawk also referenced several historical holes within about 100m southeast of DD26CT004 that reported stronger copper grades near surface. These holes are not JORC-compliant, and the company noted they should be treated as indicative of exploration potential only. However, they help explain why Hawk is focusing current drilling on this corridor.

In addition, Hawk said the shallow copper zone drilled in holes DD26CT003 to DD26CT005 has potential to extend 500m southeast through Cactus to the Comet deposit, and 350m northwest to New Years, where earlier Hawk drilling reportedly intersected 26m @ 1.3% Cu and 30m @ 0.78% Cu near surface. There is also a 250m gap in drilling between Cactus and New Years, which remains an obvious area for future testing.

Understanding True Width and Why Investors Pay Attention to It

A useful part of this update is the discussion around true width, because this term often appears in drill announcements and can be misunderstood.

What Is True Width?

When a drill hole cuts through a mineralised zone at an angle, the length reported in the assay table is the downhole width. This can be longer than the actual thickness of the mineralised body. True width is the estimated real thickness of the zone after allowing for the angle of the hole and the orientation of the mineralisation.

Why Is This Important?

A hole might report a long interval, but if the hole runs almost along the mineralised structure, the actual thickness could be much smaller. For investors, true width helps provide a better sense of how much rock may be mineralised across the structure, which in turn matters for future tonnage estimates.

At Cactus, Hawk said DD26CT004 has an estimated true thickness of about 44m, and the three key corridor holes suggest a mineralised zone 35m to 50m thick. That is relevant because the company is trying to show the corridor hosts a broad, consistent, shallow copper system rather than isolated narrow veins.

Key Technical Terms Explained

A few technical terms in the announcement are also worth clarifying:

• Chalcopyrite: a common copper sulphide mineral and one of the main sources of copper in hard rock deposits.
• Breccia: a rock made up of broken fragments cemented together. Mineral-rich fluids can move through these broken zones and deposit metals.
• Tourmaline breccia: a breccia containing tourmaline, a mineral often associated with certain copper-gold systems.
• Molybdenum (Mo): a metal used in steel alloys and industrial applications. It can add value if present in meaningful concentrations.

What the Unsuccessful Holes Still Tell the Market

Not every target worked. In the same announcement, Hawk reported that DD26CT001 and DD26WP001, which were drilled into low-resistivity geophysical anomalies, returned only low-order assays with no significant copper mineralisation.

The company said the anomaly in DD26CT001 is interpreted to relate to chlorite alteration in a fault zone, while the anomaly at Wasp in hole DD26WP001 is interpreted to have been caused by subsurface water associated with a fault zone.

Hawk also decided not to submit samples from DD26CP001 at the separate Copperopolis target for laboratory assay after logging showed no visible copper mineralisation and spot pXRF readings only reached 640ppm copper.

For investors, this part of the announcement matters because it shows target ranking is being adjusted in response to actual drilling rather than geophysical interpretation alone. In early-stage exploration, negative holes can be just as useful as successful ones if they help focus capital on the areas with the best geological support.

July 2026 Drilling to Test Continuity Toward Comet

The next catalyst is already defined. According to the announcement, preparations are underway to restart drilling in July 2026, with 10 shallow holes planned at 50m spacing along the corridor between Cactus and the historical Comet mine.

The stated goal is to test the near-surface zone over the 400m gap between DD26CT004 and Comet and assess the broader 550m trend from Cactus toward Comet.

The company also noted that past holes at Comet intersected significant gold mineralisation from surface, including a reported best result of 25.9m @ 1.53g/t gold. That does not change the current copper focus, but it does indicate the corridor may host multiple metals.

Furthermore, the molybdenum-rich zone remains open both northwest and southeast. The presence of molybdenum alongside copper, gold and silver may broaden the project's commodity profile, although further drilling would be needed to define scale and continuity.

Why the Cactus Update Matters for Hawk Resources Investors

This ASX update strengthens the case that Hawk is outlining a coherent near-surface copper target at Cactus rather than reporting isolated intercepts. The latest hole extends mineralisation southeast, matches the style seen in adjacent holes, and supports the company's interpretation of a broad mineralised corridor.

For investors, the key points from the announcement are relatively clear:

• Shallow mineralisation has now been reported in multiple holes, beginning from surface to 18m below surface
• True widths of 35m to 50m suggest a broad zone rather than a narrow structure
• Historical mine and drill data provide geological support for strike continuity
• July 2026 drilling is designed to test whether mineralisation continues toward Comet over several hundred metres
• Molybdenum, gold and silver occur alongside copper, adding geological interest

The project remains an exploration story, not a defined resource. Hawk itself noted that current drilling is insufficient to establish continuity for a Mineral Resource estimate. However, the pattern emerging from DD26CT003, DD26CT004 and DD26CT005 gives the market a clearer framework for assessing the next round of results.

If the upcoming drilling confirms continuity along the corridor, the Cactus copper-gold project in Utah may begin to shift from a historical mine redevelopment concept toward a more defined shallow copper inventory. That is the central question the July programme is expected to test.

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