QMines Hits 32m at 2% Copper in One of Widest Intercepts at Mt Chalmers to Date
Key Takeaways
- Hole 26MCRD006 returned 32m at 1.99% Cu, 0.39g/t Au from 138m — one of the widest continuous copper intersections of the current 10,000m program — with a high-grade core of 7m at 4.18% Cu peaking at 11.3% over 1m.
- Hole 26MCDD008 delivered the highest gold and silver grades of the entire current program: 25m at 2.08g/t Au, 92g/t Ag and 2.56% Zn from just 56m depth, with a 7m core at 5.79g/t Au and 147g/t Ag.
- Silver, lead and zinc grades in the shallow hole between 68m–76m are flagged as potentially understated due to barite interference, with re-assay underway — reported grades may improve on confirmation.
- Four consecutive high-grade holes now confirm both the upper polymetallic lenses and the deeper copper-gold feeder zones of the Mt Chalmers VHMS system are present and being mapped.
- Ten holes remain in the laboratory with assays pending, and metallurgical testwork at ALS Burnie is actively feeding the Definitive Feasibility Study — the near-term news pipeline is full.
Broad high-grade copper and gold hits keep flowing at QMines’ Mt Chalmers project
QMines Limited (ASX:QML) has received assays from two further holes at its 100%-owned Mt Chalmers Copper and Gold Project, approximately 25km north-east of Rockhampton, Central Queensland. Headline result: 32m at 2.0% Cu, 0.39g/t Au and 2.6g/t Ag from 138m (26MCRD006) — one of the widest continuous copper intersections of the current 10,000m program. A second hole delivered a shallow polymetallic lens: 25m at 2.08g/t Au, 92g/t Ag, 2.56% Zn and 0.19% Cu from just 56m (26MCDD008). Mineralisation remains open and 10 holes are currently in the laboratory. Two distinct high-grade styles are being defined within the same system — copper-gold at depth, precious-metal-rich lenses near surface.
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Two distinct mineralisation styles emerge from the latest drilling
Broad copper zone at depth (26MCRD006)
The deeper hole intersected 32m at 1.99% Cu, 0.39g/t Au, 2.6g/t Ag from 138m. The intersection contains a high-grade copper core: 7m @ 4.18% Cu, with a peak 1m @ 11.3% Cu. Gold grades strengthen toward the base of the zone, returning 7m @ 2.14% Cu and 1.00g/t Au, including 1m @ 5.63g/t Au. Lead and zinc are negligible, supporting interpretation of the intersection as a copper-dominant stringer/semi-massive sulphide position beneath historic workings.
Shallow gold-silver-zinc lens (26MCDD008)
The shallower hole delivered 25m at 2.08g/t Au, 92g/t Ag, 2.56% Zn, 0.19% Cu from 56m. The high-grade core returned 7m @ 5.79g/t Au, 147g/t Ag, 5.16% Zn. Peak 1m assays hit 12.6g/t Au, 260g/t Ag, 10.75% Zn — the highest gold and silver grades from the current program to date. The company has flagged that silver, lead and zinc results between 68m–76m are “low biased by barite interference and are also expected to increase on re-assay” — grades may be understated, with additional analytical work underway.
| Hole ID | Interval (m) | Cu (%) | Au (g/t) | Ag/Zn Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26MCRD006 | 138-170 | 1.99 | 0.39 | 2.6 g/t Ag |
| 26MCRD006 | 152-159 (incl) | 4.18 | 0.51 | 4.3 g/t Ag |
| 26MCRD006 | 163-170 (incl) | 2.14 | 1.00 | 3.1 g/t Ag |
| 26MCDD008 | 56-81 | 0.19 | 2.08 | 92 g/t Ag, 2.56% Zn |
| 26MCDD008 | 56-63 (incl) | 0.35 | 5.79 | 147 g/t Ag, 5.16% Zn |
What the results reveal about the Mt Chalmers system
Understanding a VHMS system
Mt Chalmers is a Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulphide (VHMS) deposit — upper zinc-lead-silver-gold-rich massive sulphide lenses transitioning downward into a copper-gold stringer/stockwork feeder zone. The two contrasting metal signatures in these holes confirm both parts of the system are present and being mapped. A better-defined system geometry supports mine planning and points to potential for further discovery.
Building on an established resource base
Mt Chalmers is a historic mine that produced 1.2Mt @ 2.0% Cu, 3.6g/t Au and 19g/t Ag between 1898–1982. The project now carries combined Reserves of 9.6Mt and Resources of approximately 22Mt across Mt Chalmers, Develin Creek and Mt Mackenzie. These two holes were drilled within the existing resource footprint for metallurgical/geotechnical data supporting the Definitive Feasibility Study, not step-out exploration. They add local definition to the DFS and geological picture rather than extending the resource.
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Management view and what comes next
Director commentary
Tom Bartschi, QMines Exploration Manager
“These results are giving us a better understanding of the broader Mt Chalmers system. In hole 26MCDD008 we intersected the shallow gold-silver-zinc-rich polymetallic zone including individual metres of up to 12.6g/t gold and 260g/t silver. Deeper in the system, hole 26MCRD006 returned a 32m interval at 1.99% copper through the copper-dominant stringer and semi-massive sulphide zone. The sharp margins and internal high-grade zones are giving us a much clearer picture of the geometry and metal zoning of the feeder system beneath the historic workings. Taken together with holes 26MCRD002 and 26MCDD007 announced earlier this month, the current campaign is now intersecting both the upper polymetallic lenses and the deeper copper-gold-dominant parts of the Mt Chalmers VHMS system. With further holes completed and assays still to come, we are continuing to strengthen our understanding of system for both mining and deeper extensions.”
Near-term catalysts
- 10 holes currently in the laboratory with assays awaited — strong near-term news pipeline
- Re-assay work to resolve barite interference on silver/lead/zinc grades
- Comminution and flotation metallurgical testwork (ALS Burnie) feeding the Definitive Feasibility Study
- In-pit pontoon drilling beneath the flooded historic pit; continued Woods Shaft resource drilling
- Integration of new drilling into the geological and Mineral Resource models
Mineralisation remains open and drilling continues unabated as QMines advances toward its stated objective of sustainable copper production.
Ready to Learn More About QMines’ Mt Chalmers Copper-Gold Project?
QMines has now delivered four consecutive high-grade holes across both shallow precious-metal lenses and deeper copper-gold feeder zones—defining a complete VHMS system within an existing 22Mt resource base. With 10 holes still in the laboratory and metallurgical testwork underway for the Definitive Feasibility Study, the near-term news pipeline remains active.
To track the company’s progress toward sustainable copper production and review full drill results, visit the QMines investor centre.