Antares Metals Hits Copper in All Six Holes at Debut Conglomerate Creek Drill
Antares hits copper in all six holes at Conglomerate Creek maiden drilling
Antares Metals (ASX: AM5) has intersected copper mineralisation in all six holes of its maiden 6-hole, 780m RC program at Conglomerate Creek Target 2, part of the 100%-owned Mount Isa North Copper Project in northwest Queensland. The standout intercept returned 4m @ 0.81% Cu (8,140ppm) from 84m in hole ACD002.
The drilling intersected the same quartz vein system mapped and sampled at surface, confirming the mineralising system continues at depth and validating the geological model. This is the first sub-surface test of a 2km x 2.5km intrusive complex hosting seven untested geophysical anomalies — only one of which has now been drilled. The discovery runway remains substantially intact across a large target inventory.
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Drilling results confirm copper mineralisation at depth
Copper was returned from all six holes, with the system confirmed at depth via ACD001 (deepest hole at 288m) returning 1m @ 1,060ppm Cu from 169m and 8m @ 651ppm Cu from 176m. Managing Director Terry Topping noted that whilst surface grades of up to 22.0% Cu have not yet been matched at depth, this first-pass program has delivered exactly the result needed to continue exploration.
“This is the first time a drill bit has ever tested the Conglomerate Creek intrusive system, and it has confirmed what we mapped at surface. We have not yet matched the tenor we see at surface, but for a first-pass program across a 2km by 2.5km target, intersecting the vein system at depth is exactly the result we needed to keep going,” said Topping.
Key intercepts at a glance
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Cu (ppm) | Cu (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACD002 | 84 | 4 | 8,140 | 0.81% |
| ACD001 | 169 | 1 | 1,060 | 0.11% |
| ACD001 | 176 | 8 | 651 | 0.07% |
| ACD003 | 44 | 4 | 856 | 0.09% |
| ACD003 incl. | 47 | 1 | 1,310 | 0.13% |
| ACD006 | 56 | 4 | 675 | 0.07% |
Note: All intervals are reported as downhole widths. The mineralised units are interpreted at this stage to be near-vertical, drilled at -60°, meaning downhole widths are expected to be slightly greater than true widths. True widths are not yet known.
One anomaly down, six to go across a district-scale system
The seven high-priority geophysical anomalies at Conglomerate Creek are all interpreted to relate to a single intrusion, first identified in the Company’s 2024 geophysical survey. At surface, the intrusion forms a distinct 2km x 2.5km semi-circular feature, with coincident structures interpreted to control the distribution of mineralisation across the prospect.
Historical exploration over the area has been minimal — limited to scattered stream sediment samples and one rock chip sample. Antares is applying modern exploration methods to ground that previous operators barely touched, using detailed geochemistry, geophysics, and structural interpretation to unlock copper potential that has remained largely untested.
Target 5, immediately north of the drilled area, carries a stronger geochemical response than Target 2. Rock chip sampling at Target 5 by Antares returned grades up to 22.0% Cu (as reported in the 12 August 2025 announcement). Detailed surface electrical geophysics is being finalised ahead of a follow-up RC program.
Managing Director Terry Topping
“We have now tested one of seven anomalies. Detailed electrical geophysics will sharpen our targeting across the rest of the system, and Target 5, where our rock chips ran to 22% copper, is the one we are most keen to get a rig onto. Antares is applying modern exploration to ground that previous operators barely touched, in one of the best copper addresses in the world.”
Why the Mt Isa address matters for investors
Conglomerate Creek sits within Antares’ 1,937km² Mt Isa North landholding, approximately 39km from Glencore’s Mt Isa Operations, one of the world’s prominent copper districts. Location matters in exploration, particularly when testing for sediment-hosted copper deposits — the style of mineralisation that made Mt Isa famous.
Reverse circulation (RC) drilling is a first-pass exploration technique used to test untested geophysical anomalies. A drill bit rotates and breaks up rock, with compressed air forcing the cuttings back to surface through the drill string. Samples are collected at 1-metre intervals and sent for laboratory analysis. This type of greenfields exploration carries high discovery upside but also early-stage risk — results from first-pass programs validate geological models and guide follow-up work.
Antares is testing a 2km x 2.5km intrusive complex within a proven copper district, where modern exploration has barely scratched the surface. The proximity to established infrastructure and a world-class copper endowment enhances the strategic value of any potential discovery.
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What’s next for Antares across QLD and WA
Antares is advancing concurrent field programs at Mt Isa North (QLD) and Quinns (WA). Key upcoming activities include:
- Plan geophysics programs before RC drilling at Conglomerate Creek Target 5 to test depth and lateral continuity of the identified lodes
- Advance drill targeting at Quinns Project (WA), arrange heritage surveys, and continue mapping and expanded soil sampling (Program of Work for maiden drilling approved)
- Complete comprehensive review of geophysical data sets to enhance structural understanding at Quinns
- Ongoing field programs concurrently at Mt Isa North (QLD) and Quinns (WA)
At Quinns, rock chip sampling has returned grades up to 3.7 g/t Au (as reported in the 18 February 2026 announcement), adding a gold dimension to the Company’s multi-commodity exploration portfolio.
Antares is positioning itself as a multi-commodity explorer applying modern methods to under-explored, district-scale ground near established mines. With Target 5 drilling at Conglomerate Creek the near-term catalyst, investors will be watching to see whether the stronger geochemical response and 22.0% Cu rock chip grades at surface translate into mineralisation at depth.
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