Solstice Hits 722m of Copper-Gold at Nanadie Extending System Past 700m Depth
Key Takeaways
- Diamond drillhole NANRCD005 returned 722.3m @ 0.44% Cu, 0.13g/t Au from the granite margin to end of hole, extending Nanadie mineralisation more than 700m below surface and over 500m below the current Mineral Resource boundary.
- High-grade zones persist at depth, including 28m @ 1.31% Cu, 0.30g/t Au from 630m and 43.3m @ 0.91% Cu, 0.35g/t Au from 761.7m — both sitting well below the existing 40.4Mt Inferred Resource.
- NANRCD005 and previously reported NANRCD004 (629.1m @ 0.50% Cu, 0.17g/t Au) together define a drill section comparable to large-scale global porphyry copper-gold systems, with the deposit remaining open at depth, north, and south.
- Solstice holds $45 million cash and no debt, funding an accelerating programme that includes a second RC rig arriving imminently, 14 completed diamond tails and 20+ RC holes with assays pending, and first drilling planned at the nearby Stark Prospect.
- The current MRE of 40.4Mt @ 0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au (2012 JORC, Inferred) has not been updated — the intercepts reported today extend well beyond its boundaries, pointing to material upside in both grade and volume when a resource upgrade is eventually completed.
Solstice extends high-grade copper-gold to +700m depth at Nanadie
Solstice Minerals has reported wide, high-grade copper-gold intercepts from diamond drillhole NANRCD005 at the 100%-owned Nanadie Copper-Gold Project in the WA Goldfields. The combined RC and diamond intercept returned 722.3m @ 0.44% Cu, 0.13g/t Au from the granite margin to end of hole, extending mineralisation more than 700m below surface and over 500m below the current Mineral Resource boundary.
NANRCD005 was a diamond tail extending prior RC hole NANRC005. The intercept is comparable to previously reported hole NANRCD004, which returned 629.1m @ 0.50% Cu, 0.17g/t Au from surface. Together, these two holes establish a drill section comparable to large-scale global porphyry copper-gold systems, and the deposit remains completely open at depth.
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Standout intercepts confirm grade persists at depth
The new diamond tail returned multiple high-grade zones demonstrating both grade and scale continuity at depth. NANRCD005 and NANRCD004 are beginning to define what appears to be an important higher-grade position towards the eastern margin of the host gabbro.
| Interval (m) | From (m) | Cu (%) | Au (g/t) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79.9 | 362.8 | 0.47 | 0.19 | — |
| 89.3 | 504.7 | 0.64 | 0.17 | incl. 16m @ 1.24% Cu, 0.27g/t Au from 509m |
| 28 | 630.0 | 1.31 | 0.30 | — |
| 19.4 | 693.0 | 0.99 | 0.27 | — |
| 43.3 | 761.7 | 0.91 | 0.35 | incl. 10.3m @ 1.25% Cu & 8m @ 1.49% Cu, 0.86g/t Au from 794m |
NANRCD005 extended previous RC hole NANRC005, which returned up to 57m @ 0.60% Cu, 0.16g/t Au. The company noted that assays continue to correlate closely with zones of visible chalcopyrite logged in core, allowing follow-up drilling to proceed ahead of laboratory results.
Higher-grade zones (>1% Cu) at depth demonstrate the deposit carries meaningful grade at scale, not just wide, diluted tonnage. The 28m @ 1.31% Cu, 0.30g/t Au zone from 630m and the 43.3m @ 0.91% Cu, 0.35g/t Au zone from 761.7m sit well below the current 40.4Mt Inferred Resource boundary and point to material upside in both grade and volume.
Why porphyry-scale copper-gold systems matter
A large-scale copper-gold system is defined by three characteristics: grade, width, and depth continuity. Nanadie is delivering all three. The system remains open to the north, south, and at depth, which means the resource could keep growing with every drill programme.
The close correlation between visible chalcopyrite logging and assay results is operationally significant. It allows Solstice to drill follow-up holes ahead of lab results, accelerating the programme and reducing time between drilling and decision-making.
For investors, open and expanding systems in tier-one jurisdictions are what attract re-rates and, potentially, corporate interest. Nanadie sits on a granted Mining Lease in flat WA Goldfields terrain, approximately 100km northwest of Sandstone, in an infrastructure-rich setting. That combination of geology, jurisdiction, and tenure de-risks the path from exploration toward development.
A growing system in a tier-one WA Goldfields setting
The Nanadie system is now defined over at least 1.2km of strike, 100–200m wide, and remains open in multiple directions. The current Mineral Resource Estimate sits at 40.4Mt @ 0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au, containing 162,000t copper and 130,000oz gold (Inferred, 2012 JORC).
The resource sits on a granted Mining Lease in flat terrain, approximately 100km northwest of Sandstone. The company noted it is yet to drill a blank hole across the >1.2km drillout, which tells you the deposit has consistent continuity along strike.
The results from NANRCD005 demonstrate clear potential to materially expand the current 40.4Mt MRE. The company has not upgraded the resource at this stage, but the intercepts reported today extend mineralisation well beyond the current resource boundary, both vertically and laterally.
Key details of the system include:
- System defined over 1.2km strike, 100–200m width, open to north, south, and depth
- Current MRE: 40.4Mt @ 0.4% Cu, 0.1g/t Au (Inferred, 2012 JORC)
- Granted Mining Lease in flat WA Goldfields terrain
- Infrastructure-rich location ~100km northwest of Sandstone
- Company yet to drill a blank hole across >1.2km drillout
CEO points to a defining moment at Nanadie
Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Nick Castleden described NANRCD005 as a defining moment for the project.
Nick Castleden, CEO & Managing Director
“NANRCD005 is an extraordinary drillhole that marks another defining moment in the rapidly unfolding story at Nanadie… we now have strong drill-supported evidence that Nanadie is a rare, large-scale copper-gold system in an infrastructure-rich WA Goldfields setting with the potential to take Solstice beyond exploration.”
Castleden noted that assays continue to correlate closely with visible sulphide logging, and that NANRCD005 and NANRCD004 are defining a higher-grade position on the eastern margin of the host gabbro. This zone could feed future MRE upgrades and appears to be strengthening at depth.
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What comes next — accelerating drilling and steady news flow
Solstice holds $45 million cash and no debt, which removes near-term funding pressure and allows the company to keep growing Nanadie without immediate dilution risk. The company has outlined a clear forward roadmap with multiple catalysts over coming months.
The programme includes:
- Assays pending from a further 14 completed diamond tails and over 20 RC holes — steady results expected over coming months
- RC program extended beyond 15,000m, with a second RC rig arriving in coming days
- Multiple RC and diamond rigs expected operating through the balance of the year following completion of expanded camp and core processing facilities
- First drilling planned at the nearby Stark Prospect plus testing of geophysical (IP) targets
- Priority to increase drilling density and step down below the existing resource, plus test up-plunge into the current MRE area
Strong balance sheet combined with a dense catalyst calendar creates sustained news flow without a near-term dilution overhang. The company is well positioned to keep drilling and defining a materially larger system at Nanadie.
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