BOA Resources Ltd
- ASX Code: BOA
- Market Cap: $17,146,713
- Shares On Issue (SOI): 290,622,246
BOA Resources Neds Creek Copper Drilling Start in August 2026
BOA Resources Limited (ASX: BOA) has cleared the final operational steps ahead of its maiden drilling campaign at the Neds Creek Copper Project in Western Australia's Murchison district, with drilling expected to begin in early August 2026. According to the ASX announcement, heritage surveys are complete, Programme of Works (PoW) approvals have been received, and drill contracts have been signed for a 7,500m, 53-hole reverse circulation (RC) program.
The update matters because BOA is moving from project consolidation into active field execution. It comes shortly after the company announced the acquisition of the Thaduna and Green Dragon copper deposits, which together host a JORC Mineral Resource of 5.3Mt at 2.3% copper for 121kt contained copper.
With Ricci Lee confirmed as the first priority target, the upcoming campaign is framed by management as the first step in expanding BOA's copper inventory within the broader Neds Creek project.
"After months of planning, we're excited to be a couple of weeks from the start of our maiden drill program at Neds Creek," said Graeme Purcell, Managing Director.
"We're well funded to execute our drilling and other exploration activities, and we look forward to getting this drill program under way, with Ricci Lee as our initial priority. Together with the existing Thaduna and Green Dragon Mineral Resources, we believe this drilling represents the first step in growing BOA's copper inventory to economic scale."
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All Prerequisites Are Now in Place
The announcement sets out a straightforward operational milestone: BOA has completed the approvals and contracting needed before drilling can begin. In practical terms, that means the maiden program at Neds Creek has moved beyond planning and into mobilisation.
According to the update, the completed prerequisites include:
- Heritage surveys completed
- PoW permits approved
- Drill contracts signed
- Integration of the recently announced Thaduna and Green Dragon acquisition
For investors, this reduces uncertainty around timing. Exploration companies can outline ambitious drill plans, but schedules often depend on approvals, heritage processes and contractor availability. In BOA's case, the announcement indicates these hurdles have been addressed, supporting the company's expectation of an early August 2026 start.
Neds Creek Now Combines Existing Resources With Exploration Upside
Neds Creek covers approximately 1,378km² in the Murchison Province of Western Australia. The project already includes two established copper deposits, Thaduna and Green Dragon, following the transaction announced by BOA in June 2026.
The reported combined resource base is summarised below.
| Deposit | Resource (Mt) | Grade (% Cu) | Contained copper (kt) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thaduna | 4.1 | 2.5% | 103 |
| Green Dragon | 1.2 | ~1.5% | ~18 |
| Combined | 5.3 | 2.3% | 121 |
The Green Dragon figures above are inferred from the combined total disclosed in the announcement and the separately cited Thaduna resource.
This existing copper inventory is central to the investment case. BOA is not approaching Neds Creek as a purely early-stage exploration play. Instead, the company is combining a defined resource base with multiple advanced prospects that, according to the announcement, offer potential for further resource growth.
That distinction matters. Existing JORC-compliant resources can provide geological context and scale benchmarks for nearby targets. They also give investors a clearer basis for assessing whether new drilling could expand an already established project footprint.
Ricci Lee Becomes the First Target for Resource Definition Drilling
What Makes Ricci Lee a Priority?
The ASX update identifies Ricci Lee as the first priority target in the maiden program. The prospect is described as an advanced, drill-ready copper target hosted in the Thaduna Formation, approximately 2km south-west of the Thaduna Copper Deposit.
According to the announcement, Ricci Lee comprises a 500m long mineralised structure defined by historic workings, eight RC holes and shallow RAB drilling. Importantly, the mineralisation is reported to remain open along strike to the north and south, and at depth.
Historical drilling results cited by BOA include:
- 5m at 3.48% Cu
- 10m at 5.12% Cu
These intersections were reported from the deepest RC hole, THC035, at approximately 200m vertical depth from two separate structures. The company stated that the interval was logged in fresh rock containing chalcopyrite and bornite, both of which are primary copper sulphide minerals.
How Does Ricci Lee Compare to Thaduna?
BOA's planned drilling at Ricci Lee is aimed at testing extensions to known mineralisation while delivering enough drill density to support a maiden Mineral Resource estimate. That is a more advanced objective than broad regional scouting, suggesting the company sees Ricci Lee as a prospect with the potential to move into the formal resource inventory if drilling confirms continuity and scale.
The geological interpretation adds further context. BOA describes Ricci Lee as a geological analogue to the nearby Thaduna deposit. In simple terms, that means the prospect is considered to sit within a similar rock sequence and structural setting. The company reports that the main structural orientation at Ricci Lee is northwest-striking and west-dipping, which aligns with the geometry seen at Thaduna.
For investors, the relevance is clear: if Ricci Lee behaves geologically like Thaduna, it may represent a logical candidate for additional copper resources within the same project area. That remains an exploration objective rather than a confirmed outcome, but it helps explain why the target has been given priority.
Understanding RC Drilling and Why It Matters at Neds Creek
What Is RC Drilling?
The planned reverse circulation drilling is a technical detail with direct significance for investors. RC drilling is a common mineral exploration method that uses compressed air to lift rock chips to surface through an inner tube. This process is designed to produce cleaner and more representative samples than some shallow reconnaissance techniques, which are then sent for laboratory analysis to determine metal grades.
Because BOA is targeting resource definition rather than simply testing whether copper is present, RC drilling is the appropriate method. It can provide sufficient sample quality and drilling coverage to support a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource estimate, provided the results and geological continuity are adequate.
Furthermore, by contrast, Rotary Air Blast (RAB) drilling and aircore (AC) drilling are often used earlier in the exploration cycle. They are generally lower-cost methods suited to broader target generation or testing near-surface mineralisation, but they are not usually the preferred basis for detailed resource estimation.
Key Technical Terms Explained
A few key terms in the BOA update are worth clarifying:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| RC drilling | A drilling method that returns rock chip samples suitable for grade analysis and resource work |
| PoW | Programme of Works, the permit required in WA before ground-disturbing exploration can proceed |
| JORC | The Australasian reporting code used for mineral resources and reserves |
| Mineral Resource estimate | A formal estimate of mineralisation with reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction |
| Chalcopyrite / bornite | Copper-bearing sulphide minerals commonly associated with copper deposits |
| Strike | The surface length or trend of a mineralised structure |
| RAB drilling | A shallow reconnaissance drilling method used in early exploration |
This technical framing is important because it shows the first drilling at Ricci Lee is intended to add definition, not just generate exploration targets.
The Broader 2026 Exploration Program Extends Beyond Ricci Lee
Although Ricci Lee is the first focus, BOA's 2026 program is broader than a single target. The announcement states that the first phase of exploration at Neds Creek will include both 7,500m of RC drilling and 7,500m of AC drilling, targeting known structurally controlled copper mineralisation.
The planned drilling mix is outlined below.
| Drilling type | Metres planned | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| RC drilling | 7,500m | Resource definition and testing advanced targets |
| AC drilling | 7,500m | Earlier-stage target testing across the project |
| Total | 15,000m | Multi-target 2026 exploration program |
Management also stated that the 2026 program includes drilling at:
- Ricci Lee
- Rooney's
- Four additional priority prospects
The company noted that Neds Creek hosts two principal structural styles:
- Northwest-striking, west-dipping structures consistent with Thaduna
- East-west-striking, north-dipping structures consistent with Green Dragon
This matters because different structural orientations can control where copper mineralisation is located and how it extends at depth. In practical terms, BOA is not relying on one geological model alone. It is, however, testing multiple target types within a large tenure package.
That broader approach may also support ongoing news flow. If work progresses to schedule, the market could receive drill updates from several prospects over the remainder of the 2026 field season, rather than from a single isolated campaign.
What the Neds Creek Update Means for Investors
The announcement presents a clear sequence in BOA's copper strategy. First came project consolidation through the proposed acquisition of Thaduna and Green Dragon. Now the company is moving into drilling with the aim of adding to that copper base.
Several elements stand out from an investor perspective.
Existing resource base
The combined 121kt contained copper across Thaduna and Green Dragon provides an established starting point. That gives BOA a more substantial platform than a standalone greenfields explorer.
Near-term operational readiness
The company has indicated that approvals, heritage work and contracting are complete. That reduces execution uncertainty compared with programs that are still awaiting permits.
Focused first target
Ricci Lee is not being presented as a conceptual anomaly. It is described as an advanced target with historical ore-grade intersections, known strike extent and a specific goal of supporting a maiden resource estimate.
Multiple 2026 catalysts
The broader 15,000m drilling program across at least six prospects suggests the investment story is not limited to a single set of results.
Funding confidence from management
Purcell stated that BOA is "well funded" to execute its drilling and exploration activities. Whilst the announcement does not quantify cash balances in this release, the statement is relevant because it signals management's view on operational capacity for the planned work program.
There are also natural limits to what can be concluded at this stage. The announcement does not report new assay data, updated resource estimates or economic studies. The immediate significance lies in execution readiness and the increased probability of near-term exploration news.
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Why BOA's Maiden Drill Program Is a Key Step at Neds Creek
According to the ASX update, BOA has shifted the Neds Creek Copper Project into an active exploration phase with a maiden program that is now fully permitted and contracted. The company is starting from a stronger position than many explorers because the project already includes the Thaduna and Green Dragon Mineral Resource estimates, whilst also offering multiple advanced targets for follow-up.
Ricci Lee remains the main focus. Historical intersections such as 10m at 5.12% Cu and the comparison with Thaduna help explain why BOA is targeting the prospect for resource definition work. If drilling confirms continuity and scale, the prospect may contribute to the company's stated goal of building copper inventory within the project area.
For the market, the next milestone is practical rather than theoretical: the start of drilling in early August 2026. From there, investor attention is likely to move to assay timing, evidence of mineralisation continuity at Ricci Lee, and the pace at which BOA advances the wider set of targets across the 1,378km² Neds Creek Copper Project.
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