OD6 Metals (ASX:OD6) targets high-grade copper repeat structures at Gulf Creek

OD6 Metals (ASX:OD6) has commenced Phase 2 drilling at its 100 per cent owned Gulf Creek Copper Project in New South Wales, pursuing large geophysical anomalies believed to represent repeats of the high-grade mineralisation once mined from the historic Gulf Creek workings.

The program builds on encouraging results from the company’s first phase of modern exploration, which confirmed high-grade copper directly beneath the old mine.

Highlights

• Phase 2 drilling underway at Gulf Creek, testing untested prospects Big Bend, North West and West Limb.

• Approvals in place for up to 25 diamond drill holes, totalling approximately 7,500 metres.

• Phase 1 drilling confirmed high-grade copper up to 4.6 per cent beneath the historic mine.

• More than three kilometres of untested strike along the magnetite–VMS horizon.

• Downhole EM survey planned post-drilling to refine future targets.

The Gulf Creek Copper Project, located near Barraba in northern New South Wales, was once one of the state’s most prolific copper-zinc mines, yielding grades of up to 6.5 per cent copper before operations ceased in 1912.

A century later, OD6 Metals is applying modern geophysics and drilling methods to unlock the project’s untapped potential.

Phase 2 of the drilling program aims to test a cluster of strong magnetic anomalies extending over three kilometres northwest of the old workings.

These anomalies, corresponding with jaspilite units that typically cap mineralised zones, are considered to be associated with a Besshi-style volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VMS) system.

The priority targets: Big Bend, North West, and West Limb, are supported by surface geochemical anomalies, magnetic modelling, and induced polarisation data.

Managing Director Brett Hazelden said the commencement of Phase 2 drilling marks a pivotal point for the project.

“Phase 1 drilling confirmed mineralisation directly beneath the historic Gulf Creek Mine, and we now turn our attention to the greenfield repeat targets at Big Bend, North West, and West Limb. These untested magnetic structures extend over approximately three kilometres, with modelled depths exceeding 500 metres, and were a key driver behind OD6’s acquisition of the project.”

Results from the initial drilling will inform subsequent Downhole Electromagnetic (DHEM) surveys, designed to map conductive zones at depth and identify new follow-up targets.

The company’s first phase demonstrated a strong correlation between magnetism and massive sulphide mineralisation, validating the targeting strategy that combines geophysical modelling with field-based mapping of exhalite jaspilites.

The Gulf Creek program provides OD6 Metals with exposure to copper during a period of strengthening demand for critical electrification metals.

While the company’s flagship Splinter Rock Project in Western Australia remains one of Australia’s largest clay-hosted rare earth resources, Gulf Creek offers a complementary near-term growth avenue anchored in a proven mining district.

Phase 2 drilling comprises seven priority holes totalling approximately 1,750 metres, with the potential to expand to the full 25-hole, 7,500-metre program under existing regulatory approvals.

Following completion of drilling and DHEM work, OD6 plans to assess extensions to mineralisation within the broader Gulf Creek stratigraphy, which hosts more than ten kilometres of prospective terrain across the tenement.

In an industry context, the program underscores a broader trend among junior explorers seeking to revitalise historical copper assets using modern exploration techniques.

With a strong link between magnetic response and sulphide mineralisation now established, OD6’s systematic approach positions Gulf Creek as a potential contributor to Australia’s growing pipeline of advanced copper projects.

As electrification accelerates globally, the company’s dual exposure to rare earths and copper places it strategically within the critical minerals supply chain, with Gulf Creek offering a valuable counterbalance to its Western Australian rare earth portfolio.

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