Cooper Metals (ASX:CPM) reports 5.36% Cu and 5.16 g/t Au at Ardmore North
Cooper Metals has reported final assay results from surface rock chip and trench sampling at the Ardmore North and Attina prospects within its Mt Isa East Project in Queensland.
At Ardmore North, rock chip sample 2606RK-055 returned 5.36% Cu and 5.16 g/t Au from a quartz vein containing malachite along fractures, while assay results from the completed RC drilling program remain pending.
Highlights
52 surface samples were collected at Ardmore North prior to RC drilling, comprising 48 samples from a 96m trench and 4 rock chip samples.
Sample 2606RK-056 returned 1.66% Cu and 0.30 g/t Au, while reconnaissance sample 2509RK-001 returned 0.82% Cu and 2.25 g/t Au.
Trench sampling returned a peak of 0.42% Cu and 0.13 g/t Au over 2m from sample 2606RK-029, coincident with hematite-magnetite ironstone.
At Attina, sample 2605RK-001 returned 0.45% Cu and 0.29 g/t Au from hematite-rich gossan and quartz vein material.
Rock chip and shallow trench sampling at Ardmore North was completed in June 2026 before commencement of the maiden RC drilling program.
Two rock chip samples were collected from the cleared RC drill pad, while 2 additional samples were collected during an earlier reconnaissance visit, with the second reconnaissance sample returning background values.
Cooper states that rock chip samples are selective by nature and may not be representative of the style, width or grade of mineralisation across the prospect.
All trench and rock chip samples collected at Ardmore North and Attina and assayed under certificates BR26234765 and MI26181164 are reported in Tables 1, 2 or 3, including those returning background values.
Shallow trench sampling was undertaken on 14 June 2026 along a cleared drill access line and comprised 48 continuous 2m composite intervals over 96m.
The samples consisted of rock, subcrop and transported surface material excavated using hand tools to approximately 5cm to 10cm depth.
The company states that surface material may have been disturbed or displaced laterally during clearing, with the trench results used as a relative indicator of the position of anomalism rather than as an absolute measure of grade.
At Attina, 5 rock chip samples were collected from surface outcrop and float at separate locations within the prospect area, with all 5 samples reported in Table 3.
Cooper Metals Executive Director Tim Armstrong said,
“RC samples are with the laboratory and we look forward to reporting those results as they come to hand.”
Cooper describes Mt Isa East as its flagship Cu-Au project, covering approximately 1,200km² of tenure with numerous historical Cu-Au workings and prospects identified for immediate follow up exploration.
Cooper will compile and report results from the completed RC drilling program at Ardmore North and Attina, with assay results anticipated approximately 6 to 8 weeks from submission.
The company will integrate drilling results with existing geological, geochemical and geophysical datasets to plan follow up work.
Further surface sampling and geological mapping are proposed at Attina and along strike of the Ardmore North anomaly.
The announcement states that surface rock chip and trench sampling tests material exposed at or near surface and that results are not necessarily indicative of the grade, width or continuity of mineralisation at depth.
Further work, including assaying of the RC drill samples, is required to determine whether mineralisation of economic significance is present.