West Cobar Metals Completes Blind Freddie Drilling at NSW Copper Prospect

West Cobar Metals Completes Drilling at Blind Freddie, Assay Results Pending

West Cobar Metals (ASX: WC1) has completed its first subsurface drilling program at the Blind Freddie Prospect, located approximately 50 km west of Cobar in central New South Wales. West Cobar Metals Blind Freddie drilling completed at NSW copper prospect marks a significant step forward in the systematic exploration of one of Australia's historically significant base metals regions. According to the company's ASX announcement, assay results from the program are expected within four to six weeks.

First Drill Campaign Targets a Promising Copper Anomaly

The Blind Freddie air-core program comprised 15 drill holes totalling 801 metres, designed to test the source of surface copper anomalism previously identified through rock-chip and lag sampling. The target mineralisation sits within Winduck Group siltstones and sandstones, a sedimentary rock sequence known across the broader Cobar region to host base metal systems.

This represents the first time West Cobar has drilled beneath the surface expression at Blind Freddie. The assay results, once received, will provide new geological data on whether the surface signals correspond to meaningful mineralisation at depth.

Managing Director Matt Szwedzicki commented: "The Blind Freddie program has now been completed, providing the first subsurface test of the surface copper anomalism identified at the prospect. Samples have been submitted for laboratory analyses and the results will assist the Company in assessing the geological significance of the surface anomaly and determining whether further work is warranted."

Understanding Air-Core Drilling and Why It Matters for Early-Stage Exploration

What Is Air-Core Drilling?

Air-core drilling is a relatively fast and cost-effective method commonly used in early-stage mineral exploration. A rotating drill bit breaks up rock while compressed air forces the resulting rock chips back to the surface for collection and analysis.

Compared with deeper, more expensive reverse circulation or diamond drilling, air-core drilling is generally suited to shallow targets, typically in the range of 50 to 150 metres, and is well suited to testing geochemical anomalies and sampling near-surface rock.

Why Does It Matter to Investors?

Air-core drilling offers a capital-efficient way of testing exploration targets before committing to larger, more expensive programs. Rather than progressing directly to deep drilling ahead of supporting evidence, programs such as the one completed at Blind Freddie allow companies to screen prospects cost-effectively and prioritise the most promising targets.

Should the assays return elevated copper values at depth, subsequent exploration decisions can be made with a stronger evidentiary basis.

Glossary of Key Terms Used in This Announcement

• Geochemical anomalism: an area where element concentrations in soil, rock, or sediment sit above background levels, potentially indicating nearby mineralisation
• Rock-chip sampling: the collection and analysis of surface rock fragments to detect metal content
• Lag sampling: sampling of surface residual material, often transported by wind or water, to detect geochemical signals
• Winduck Group: a sequence of sedimentary rocks in the Cobar region known to host base metal mineralisation
• Copper-gold geochemical trend: a linear zone of elevated copper and gold readings in surface samples, suggesting a potential structural or mineralised corridor beneath the surface

The Broader Cobar West Project Extends Well Beyond Blind Freddie

The Blind Freddie program forms part of West Cobar's larger Cobar West Project, a district-scale landholding of approximately 1,091 km² covering roughly 120 km of strike across prospective Cobar stratigraphy. The scale of this tenure reflects the company's stated strategy of securing exposure to a geological corridor that has historically produced significant base metal discoveries in the region.

Furthermore, according to the company, the project extends well beyond a single target. Multiple concealed copper targets have been defined across the tenure using geological, geophysical, and geochemical datasets, with the company stating its intention to systematically advance these toward drill testing.

Bulla Park Stands as the Project's Anchor Asset

At the centre of the Cobar West holding sits the Bulla Park copper-antimony-silver deposit, which the company describes as both a proof of concept for the region's mineral potential and an asset carrying its own exploration upside.

Bulla Park was discovered beneath 60 to 120 metres of barren cover with only subtle surface geochemical expression, a characteristic that illustrates both the challenge and the opportunity associated with exploring this style of concealed terrain. The deposit is associated with a prominent gravity high, which West Cobar interprets as reflecting dense siderite-barite alteration linked to the mineralisation.

Metallurgical testwork cited in the announcement has, moreover, returned the following recovery rates:

• Copper recovery: 94.6%
• Antimony recovery: 84.1%
• Silver recovery: 82.6%

These recovery figures are considered encouraging for a polymetallic deposit of this style and suggest that, should the resource base grow, the project could potentially support processing operations, subject to further studies confirming economic viability.

Attention Now Shifts to the Salazar Project in Western Australia

With West Cobar Metals Blind Freddie drilling completed at NSW copper prospect and samples submitted for laboratory analysis, the company's operational focus is moving toward Western Australia. Szwedzicki confirmed in the announcement that the next exploration program is the Salazar Scandium and Critical Minerals Project, with an air-core drilling program described as upcoming.

This means West Cobar has two separate exploration fronts generating news flow in relative succession.

The company's broader portfolio also includes the Mystique Gold Project in Western Australia, adding a further commodity dimension alongside its NSW copper-antimony-silver holdings and WA critical minerals interests.

Investment Considerations Across a Multi-Asset Exploration Portfolio

West Cobar Metals presents as an early-stage explorer with exposure to copper, antimony, silver, scandium, and gold across its combined project portfolio. Several factors are relevant to how investors might assess the company's positioning.

District-scale ground position
With more than 1,091 km² of tenure and 120 km of strike across prospective Cobar stratigraphy, West Cobar holds a substantial landholding in a historically productive base metals jurisdiction.

An existing resource with stated expansion potential
The 20 Mt Bulla Park Inferred Resource provides an established asset base. The company has stated the deposit remains open, with additional targets continuing to be defined across the wider tenure.

Metallurgical testwork results
Recovery rates of 94.6% for copper, 84.1% for antimony, and 82.6% for silver, as reported from prior testwork, are indicators that the Bulla Park mineralisation responds favourably to conventional processing methods, according to the company.

Near-term news flow
The combination of pending Blind Freddie assay results and an upcoming Salazar drilling program means the company has multiple catalysts scheduled over the coming weeks and months.

A staged exploration approach
The use of air-core drilling at Blind Freddie reflects a methodology of testing surface anomalies before committing to more capital-intensive follow-up programs, consistent with a cost-disciplined exploration strategy.

Summary of the Current Position

West Cobar Metals Blind Freddie drilling completed at NSW copper prospect represents one of several active work streams progressing in parallel. The Blind Freddie assay results, expected within four to six weeks, will determine whether the surface copper anomaly extends to depth and whether further drilling is warranted, according to management.

At the same time, the Salazar program in Western Australia will introduce a critical minerals dimension to the company's news flow. The Bulla Park deposit, supported by its stated metallurgical recoveries and open resource classification, provides an existing asset base underpinning the broader Cobar West exploration program.

With over a thousand square kilometres of tenure still to be systematically tested, the company has indicated further targets remain in its exploration pipeline.

"The Blind Freddie program has now been completed, providing the first subsurface test of the surface copper anomalism identified at the prospect." — Matt Szwedzicki, Managing Director

Key takeaway: West Cobar Metals has established a district-scale exploration position in the Cobar region, anchored by the Bulla Park resource and supported by multiple active exploration programs. With Blind Freddie assay results due within weeks and the Salazar drilling program described as upcoming, the company has consequently outlined a series of near-term catalysts for investors to monitor closely.

Want to Learn More About West Cobar Metals and Its Growing Project Portfolio?

With Blind Freddie assay results due within weeks and the Salazar air-core drilling program on the horizon, West Cobar Metals (ASX: WC1) has a series of near-term catalysts investors will want to follow closely. From the district-scale Cobar West Project anchored by the 20 Mt Bulla Park resource, to its expanding critical minerals and gold interests in Western Australia, the company is actively advancing a multi-asset exploration portfolio. To learn more about West Cobar Metals, its projects, and its upcoming exploration milestones, visit www.westcobarmetals.com.au.