White Cliff Minerals Strikes Globally Significant Copper Intersection at Rae Project
White Cliff Minerals (ASX: WCN) has announced extraordinary copper results from its drilling campaign at the 100% owned Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, with a drill hole producing one of the most significant copper intercepts in recent decades.
Remarkable 175m Copper Intersection Positions WCN Among Global Leaders
White Cliff’s latest drilling results have delivered an exceptional 175m @ 2.5% copper and 8.66g/t silver from just 7.6m depth, including a high-grade zone of 14m @ 7.55% Cu & 25.8g/t Ag from 138m. Most impressively, the hole ended in high-grade mineralisation with the last 1.5m recording 4.46% Cu & 11.58g/t Ag, indicating the system remains open at depth.
This remarkable intersection from drill hole DAN25008 was prioritised for assay due to abundant visual sulphides observed during drilling, and the results have validated the company’s geological model. According to Managing Director Troy Whittaker, this intersection “ranks among the most significant copper intersections globally within the last 50 years and comfortably sits within the top 10 globally reported ‘grade-metre’ copper results.”
The final 60m of the hole averaged an impressive 3.9% Cu & 14.96g/t Ag to the final depth of 182.88m, suggesting significant potential for resource expansion at depth.
Another hole, DAN25001, returned 52m @ 1.16% Cu & 3.43g/t Ag from surface, including 7.6m at 3% Cu & 9.5g/t Ag from 18.28m – a strong result that now appears modest compared to the DAN25008 intercept.
“This discovery and outstanding results from Danvers is a clear testament to our technical team’s expertise and geological understanding. With our work updating the geological understanding at Danvers, we adapted our drill targets and DAN25008 resulted in mineralisation at least 30 metres below historical limits,” said Managing Director Troy Whittaker.
Danvers Target Shows Potential for Major Copper System
The drilling at Danvers has demonstrated potential for significant expansion to the historic non-compliant resource. The results suggest a mineralised system that extends from surface over more than 175m vertically and potentially 7km in strike length – both to the northeast and southwest.
The company plans to use these new drilling results to develop a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource for the project.
| Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | Cu (%) | Ag (g/t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAN25008 | 7.6 | 182.88 | 175.26 | 2.5 | 8.66 |
| Including | 138.0 | 152.0 | 14.0 | 7.55 | 25.8 |
| Final 60m | 122.88 | 182.88 | 60.0 | 3.9 | 14.96 |
| DAN25001 | 0.0 | 52.0 | 52.0 | 1.16 | 3.43 |
| Including | 18.28 | 25.88 | 7.6 | 3.0 | 9.5 |
Understanding Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits
Sediment-hosted copper deposits like those found at the Rae Project account for approximately 20-25% of the world’s copper production. These deposits form when copper-rich fluids migrate through sedimentary rocks and precipitate copper minerals in reduced environments.
What makes these deposits particularly valuable is their typically high grades and continuity. The Rae Project shows characteristics similar to world-class copper districts like the Central African Copperbelt, with copper occurring primarily as chalcocite and bornite – high-grade copper minerals that are generally amenable to conventional processing.
Sediment-hosted copper deposits typically form in sedimentary basins that contain thick sequences of fine-grained sediments. These sediments often contain organic matter that creates a reducing environment, which is crucial for copper precipitation. When oxidised, copper-bearing fluids encounter these reducing conditions, copper sulphide minerals precipitate out of solution.
The presence of silver as a by-product (8.66 g/t Ag over the main intersection) adds further economic potential to the project. Silver commonly occurs alongside copper in these types of deposits and can significantly enhance project economics.
Strategic Advantages for Development
The Rae Copper Project possesses several strategic advantages that could accelerate its development pathway:
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- Near-surface mineralisation: With significant copper grades starting from just 7.6m below surface, the deposit offers potential for initial open-pit mining operations, significantly reducing capital expenditure requirements.
- Excellent infrastructure: The project benefits from its location just 80km from an open water port, which would facilitate the shipping of copper concentrate to global markets.
- Expanding global copper deficit: This White Cliff Minerals copper discovery comes at a time when copper supply constraints are becoming increasingly acute, with Goldman Sachs forecasting a 7-million-tonne annual deficit by 2030.
- Growing area play: The Rae Project is situated in an emerging copper district with multiple high-grade copper occurrences including samples of up to 64.02% copper from rock chips at the Vision prospect.
“In the context of global copper supply constraints, the Company is well positioned to leverage these results with mineralisation from surface, supporting potential open pit mining activities and an open water port less than 80km from the deposit,” stated Troy Whittaker.
Next Steps in the Exploration Campaign
The company has outlined an aggressive exploration program to expand and define the Danvers discovery:
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- Assay results from an additional five holes drilled along strike from DAN25008 are expected in the coming weeks, potentially expanding the mineralised footprint.
- Follow-up diamond drilling is being planned to drill out the mineralisation boundaries at Danvers.
- The company will also begin testing the massive sedimentary structure at the Hulk target, which may host a different style of copper mineralisation.
- The ongoing work will feed into a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource, which will be a significant catalyst for the company.
Why Investors Should Track White Cliff Minerals
White Cliff Minerals has positioned itself at the forefront of copper exploration at a time when the market fundamentals for copper have never been stronger. The exceptional grades and thickness of mineralisation at the Rae Project place it among the most significant White Cliff Minerals copper discovery in recent decades.
With mineralisation open in all directions, a substantial strike length of 7km to test, and a clear pathway to resource definition, White Cliff offers investors exposure to a potentially world-class copper asset in a mining-friendly jurisdiction.
The company’s technical team has demonstrated their geological expertise in identifying and targeting this high-grade system, and with multiple exploration catalysts on the horizon, White Cliff represents a compelling opportunity in the copper exploration space.
The next several months should see a steady flow of news as additional assay results are received and resource development progresses, providing multiple potential value-creation moments for investors.
Copper Market Dynamics
Copper prices have shown resilience in recent years despite global economic challenges, highlighting the metal’s essential role in the energy transition. The growing demand from renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and grid modernisation continues to drive long-term bullish sentiment for copper.
The International Energy Agency has reported that a typical electric vehicle requires approximately four times more copper than a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle. Additionally, renewable energy systems like solar panels and wind turbines require two to five times more copper than traditional power generation systems.
These market fundamentals, combined with declining ore grades at existing mines and a lack of new major discoveries, have created a favourable environment for high-grade copper projects like White Cliff’s Rae Project.
The significance of White Cliff’s Danvers discovery is magnified when viewed against this backdrop of growing copper demand and constrained supply, potentially positioning the company to benefit from strong copper prices as it advances the project toward development.
Want to Capitalise on This World-Class Copper Discovery?
White Cliff Minerals has delivered an exceptional copper discovery at its Rae Project with a remarkable 175m @ 2.5% copper intersection – positioning the company among global leaders at a time of increasing copper demand.
With mineralisation from surface, nearby port infrastructure, and multiple exploration catalysts ahead, this emerging story offers significant investment potential. To learn more about White Cliff Minerals and their transformational Rae Copper Project, visit their website for the latest investor information.
