Javelin Minerals has concluded the first phase of its maiden drilling program at the Coogee copper-gold project near Kambalda, Western Australia. The program covered 2,921 meters of drilling and uncovered significant gold indicators along a 950-meter-long strike trend, marking a promising start to the company’s exploration efforts.
Key Discoveries and Objectives
The 18-hole reverse circulation (RC) drilling program recovered 1,698 samples, which have been sent for assay. Preliminary findings revealed a copper-gold mineralised trend extending from approximately 270 meters south of the southern rim of the Coogee open pit to about 450 meters north of the northern rim. The primary aim of the program was to identify potential extensions to the mineralisation below the current open pit floor, which lies about 70 meters deep in the partially flooded Coogee open pit.
In addition, the program sought to explore mineralisation south of the original Coogee resource. This deposit was last mined in 2013 by Ramelius Resources, which extracted approximately 147,000 tonnes of ore, yielding 20,400 ounces of gold. Javelin’s efforts mark the first systematic drilling campaign at the site since Ramelius ceased operations in 2014.
Building on Historical Data
Previous exploration by Ramelius defined a shallow, JORC-compliant resource containing an estimated 126,685 ounces of gold and 4,133 tonnes of copper. Javelin is optimistic that additional drilling will expand this resource, particularly by targeting areas with inferred mineralisation.
The company’s exploration efforts include investigating northward and northwestward extensions of the Coogee pit mineralisation. This effort is guided by a pronounced “bullseye” magnetic anomaly, referred to as CG-01, situated about 300 meters north of the original pit. Javelin also identified a second magnetic target, CG-02, located 400 meters west of CG-01. This target is believed to represent additional mineralisation diving beneath the Coogee North zone.
Phase One Achievements
The first phase of drilling varied in depth from 70 meters to 275 meters. It also followed up on anomalous gold mineralisation detected by earlier air core (AC) and RC drilling programs conducted at various pattern densities along the strike trend.
Javelin Minerals’ Executive Chairman Brett Mitchell expressed satisfaction with the progress made during this initial phase. “We are pleased with the rapid completion of the first phase of drilling over our Coogee project. We have identified key gold indicators along the 950-meter strike from drill hole CORC154 south of the pit to CORC166 about 450 meters north of the current pit,” Mitchell said. “Once we receive the assays, which we expect to start coming in over the coming weeks, we will plan phase two of the program. This means we will have ongoing drilling activity and news flow from both Coogee and Eureka during the first half of 2025.”
Looking Ahead: Phase Two Drilling
The second phase of the drilling campaign is anticipated to commence in late January or early February 2025, following the receipt and analysis of phase one assay results. The program will focus on expanding the mineralised footprint between the Coogee open pit and Coogee North.
The Coogee North zone is currently estimated to contain 2.95 million tonnes of material, with over 96,000 ounces of gold and 4,000 tonnes of copper. Phase two will also aim to define additional gold extensions below the existing pit. Current modeling suggests that this area holds approximately 360,000 tonnes of material at an average grade of 1.29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, equating to an additional 15,000 ounces of gold.
Exploration during phase two will extend to new targets along the northwest trend. This includes magnetic signatures and a northwest-trending shear zone parallel to the Coogee Shear, which previously hosted high-grade gold mined by Ramelius.
A Target-Rich Environment
Javelin Minerals is conducting its exploration in a region abundant with prospective targets. The company’s focus on structural and magnetic data has provided a strong foundation for identifying high-potential zones.
Indications so far suggest that gold-copper mineralisation is present across various points along the explored trend. This positions Javelin well for continued success as it prepares to build on the results of phase one and initiate phase two drilling in early 2025.
Conclusion
The Coogee copper-gold project represents a promising opportunity for Javelin Minerals as it seeks to uncover significant mineral resources. The results of the maiden drilling program highlight the potential for substantial resource expansion, with early discoveries paving the way for further exploration. As the company awaits assay results and prepares for phase two, it remains focused on unlocking the full value of the Coogee project and its surrounding prospects.