CuFe Launches 20,100m Drill Campaign at Tennant Creek to Lift Resource Confidence
Key Takeaways
- CuFe has mobilised McKay Drilling to commence a 20,100m program at Tennant Creek comprising 17,500m of RC and 2,600m of Diamond drilling, with work beginning early October 2026.
- The largest component — ~15,400m of RC infill drilling — targets conversion of Inferred resources to the higher-confidence Indicated classification at both Orlando and Gecko, a prerequisite for project financing discussions.
- Diamond core drilling (~2,600m) will supply geotechnical and metallurgical data required for the Orlando Expanded Scoping Study, which has already outlined a $355M NPV.
- Gecko Underground Scoping Study results are expected during the current quarter, representing a near-term catalyst independent of drill results.
- Adam Black joins as Geology and Exploration Manager in early October 2026, bringing a 12-year Rio Tinto career including direct involvement in the Winu Cu-Au Project in Western Australia.
Drill rigs mobilising as CuFe launches major campaign at Tennant Creek
CuFe Ltd has announced the commencement of a significant drilling campaign at its Tennant Creek Project in the Northern Territory, comprising 17,500m of RC drilling and 2,600m of Diamond Drilling. Earthworks and drill pad preparation are already underway, and experienced drilling contractor McKay Drilling has been appointed and is presently mobilising to site.
The program is deliberately multi-purpose. It spans resource definition, feasibility data gathering, and greenfields exploration, making it one of the more substantive field campaigns the company has undertaken at the project.
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Three targets, one program: what CuFe is drilling and why
The total 20,100m program is split across three distinct components, each with a different objective:
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Resource Definition (~15,400m RC): Infill drilling across the Orlando and Gecko Resources, targeting areas not yet closed out, including along-strike, down-dip, and internal gaps. This work also aims to generate additional QA/QC data to support conversion of current Inferred resources to Indicated resource classification.
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Resource Development (~2,600m Diamond): Diamond core for geotechnical and metallurgical test work required for both the Orlando Open Pit and Orlando Underground, which form the basis of the Orlando Expanded Scoping Study. Geotechnical data is also required for new development areas of Gecko Underground, which is currently the subject of a Scoping Study. Results from that study are expected to be released during the current quarter, representing a near-term catalyst for investors to watch.
The Orlando Expanded Scoping Study has already outlined compelling project economics, including a $355M NPV, giving the resource conversion work from this drill program a clear downstream purpose: lifting the confidence tier of the resource base that underpins those numbers.
- Exploration Drilling (~2,100m RC): Testing of historical shallow copper-gold ironstone targets sitting along and within the Gecko Corridor. These targets have had limited prior work undertaken and require further testing and follow-up.
Director’s take on the program
Mark Hancock, Executive Director, CuFe Ltd
“We are eager to commence this drill program at Tennant Creek as we continue to define this exciting project. The drill program is predominantly focused on Orlando and Gecko, closing out and targeting potential extensions within the resource, collecting additional data to support conversion of current inferred resources to indicated classification, and supplying diamond core for geotechnical and metallurgical test work to support development studies. We also have some drilling planned along the Gecko Trend targeting attractive shallow copper-gold targets. Securing drill rigs in the region has been a challenge however we are pleased to have awarded the work to McKay’s Drilling, with drilling to commence imminently. We are also pleased to advise of the appointment of Adam Black as our new Geology and Exploration Manager and look forward to him bringing his experiences from Rio Tinto to CuFe.”
What is resource classification — and why does it matter for investors?
Under the JORC Code (the Australasian standard for reporting mineral resources), a resource is classified by the level of confidence geologists have in the estimate. An Inferred resource is the lowest confidence tier, meaning the geometry, grade, and continuity of the deposit are broadly understood but not yet well-constrained by drilling data. An Indicated resource sits a tier higher, reflecting greater certainty about the deposit’s characteristics based on closer-spaced drilling and better data quality.
The distinction matters practically for investors. Lenders and project financiers typically require a resource to meet at least Indicated classification before they will consider funding a project. Feasibility studies also rely on Indicated (and higher) resources to produce credible economic analyses. Converting Inferred tonnes to Indicated classification generally raises a project’s bankability and can positively re-rate market perception.
For CuFe, a core objective of this drill program is driving that conversion at both Orlando and Gecko, which directly supports the company’s path toward development-stage studies and, ultimately, project financing discussions.
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New leadership and next steps
Alongside the drill program announcement, CuFe has appointed Adam Black as Geology and Exploration Manager, with the role commencing early October 2026. His credentials are well-suited to the task at hand:
- 12-year career at Rio Tinto working in exploration and resource geology
- Roles held across Rio Tinto Iron Ore and Rio Tinto Exploration
- Played an integral part in the development of the Winu Cu-Au Project in Western Australia
- Demonstrated strength in copper exploration and resource development
The appointment adds operational depth at a phase where technical execution is critical. Adam Black will manage CuFe’s resource base, geoscience disciplines, and exploration functions.
Key milestones to watch
- Drilling to commence early October 2026, with RC and Diamond rigs presently mobilising to site
- Gecko Underground Scoping Study results expected during the current quarter
- Resource conversion outcomes as infill drilling at Orlando and Gecko progresses
- Exploration results from shallow copper-gold targets along the Gecko Corridor
| Program Component | Drill Type | Metres | Primary Objective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resource Definition | RC | ~15,400m | Infill + Inferred-to-Indicated conversion at Orlando and Gecko |
| Resource Development | Diamond | ~2,600m | Geotechnical and metallurgical core for Orlando and Gecko scoping studies |
| Exploration | RC | ~2,100m | Shallow copper-gold targets along the Gecko Corridor |
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