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Andrew Todd
Litchfield Minerals has outlined additional large copper-zinc targets and a whopping 5km mineralised corridor at its emerging Oonagalabi project in the Northern Territory. The latest findings have confirmed strong chargeability trends, hinting at further discoveries beneath its rugged terrain.
The company’s new induced polarisation (IP) work built directly on its earlier geophysical surveys, with the prospective rock layers likely extending at depth and to the south of its already sizeable copper-zinc system.
Six lines of IP for 15 kilometres of testing were run directly southwest from the main Oonagalabi area through the company’s Silverado prospect, while two more lines targeted its standout VT1 area.
Litchfield says what is clear is the match between the new chargeability responses and the magnetic structures already mapped.
Four separate chargeability trends have now been picked up across the project. Two of them extend straight southwest from the known mineralised zones at Oonagalabi.
A third forms an impressive five-kilometre-long corridor linking the VT1 target all the way to the company’s VT2 target, where strong copper drilling has already been reported. It opens up the possibility of a much larger continuous mineralised trend than previously appreciated.
The fourth prospect, dubbed Silverado Deeps, is a brand-new deeper feature, starting around 300m below surface and continuing for hundreds of metres. The deeper feature supports the view that current drilling may still be intersecting only the upper levels of the broader system, with room for stronger mineralisation developing further down.
Since the survey lines are long and the target sits deeper at Silverado, the raw numbers, at first blush, might look less enticing than the main Oonagalabi zone near surface. However, the company views it as a highly encouraging prospect worthy of drill testing.
Similarly, at VT1, where the IP lines cross directly over strong electromagnetic conductors, big chargeability anomalies now sit right next to mapped gossanous base metals at the surface.
These rusty iron-rich outcrops – often sitting above buried sulphide systems – are great indicators for chasing discoveries at depth and the company says its targets remain open in both directions along strike.
Litchfield says its drilling has been temporarily paused for two weeks due to heavy rainfall in the Top End, which has made roads and pads too slippery for safe operations.
Two diamond holes were completed to test an intrusion-related target, Bomb Diggity, to the north of its grounds and at the centre of the main Oonagalabi zone, to improve overall geological understanding.
‘Our focus is on systematically testing additional targets to refine and expand our understanding of the broader mineral system.’
Litchfield Minerals chief executive officer Matthew Pustahya
The company says the diamond rig has now returned to site and operations are set to resume immediately.
Two more diamond holes are planned straight away, including a follow-up at the Bomb Diggity target. Another will be plunged into the Central Main Zone, looking to chase up a promising gold hit of 15m running 0.45 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 0.17 per cent bismuth within strongly developed magnetite alteration.
The aim is to get a much clearer look at how the gold, bismuth and magnetite fit together, how they formed, what controls their structural development and where this mineralisation sits within the bigger, evolving system. That gold-bismuth-magnetite mix is important because it appears closely linked to the same alteration that surrounds the copper-zinc zones.
Litchfield Minerals chief executive officer Matthew Pustahya said: “With drilling recommencing this week, our focus is on systematically testing additional targets to refine and expand our understanding of the broader mineral system.”
With the new IP data now in hand, Litchfield will integrate the chargeability trends and magnetic models to fine-tune its next round of targeted drilling at the emerging discovery.
Initial reverse circulation drilling last year unveiled the hidden system, with thick intercepts up to 128m in width, grading 0.60 per cent copper and one per cent zinc, including multiple higher-grade internal zones.
The results were enough to catch the eye of the bigger end of the mining market. Just last month, Litchfield was accepted into BHP’s elite 2026 Xplor accelerator program, bringing welcomed non-dilutive funding and exploration expertise to push the limits at Oonagalabi.
The BHP partnership is already helping the company sharpen its geological concepts and prepare for the next phases of work.
With diamond drilling restarting this week, targeted reverse circulation work continuing where possible and the BHP Xplor technical support now fully engaged, Litchfield looks set to keep its big copper momentum building.
An ever-expanding footprint suggests the project is developing into something substantial in the Northern Territory’s critical metals landscape, just as global demand for dependable supplies of copper and zinc continues to grow.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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