Location and regional tenement map
Neighbours, operating mines, geochronology dates (magmatic U/Pb) of mineralisation events of significant deposits in the region – background image solid geology. The Company’s new interpretation** is the Macquarie Arc extends under cover to the northwest of the conventional North-South corridor across to the Byrock Project.
The Byrock Project is prospective for large-scale Cu-Au porphyry deposits in the underexplored northern extension of the Macquarie Arc – Lachlan Fold Belt.
Recently, there has been significant interest in this zone, with AngloGold Ashanti committing $195m to 10-year exploration programs also pursuing the northern extension of the Macquarie Arc – Lachlan Fold Belt.
The project covers 2265 sq km and is located 50km north of the prominent Cobar Mining District in New South Wales – Australia’s second most productive copper mining state.
The Byrock Project is prospective for large-scale Cu-Au porphyry deposits in the underexplored northern extension of the Macquarie Arc – home to the Cadia-Ridgeway and Northparkes Mines
The interpreted northern extensions of the Macquarie Arc are concealed by shallow cover. The Byrock Project area and had not seen modern exploration until careful work by the vendor’s exploration team in 2024. After completing whole rock analysis on historical drill core, the vendor’s geology team recognised the presence of a Cu-Au fertile, high K / shoshonitic quartz monzodiorite intrusion (previously mis-logged) with age dates of 430 Ma +/-3.0 (geochronology completed by Black in 2006) implying a magmatic age equivalent to that of Cadia-Ridgeway and Northparkes. Furthermore, CRA Exploration (CRAE) returned results from 6 petrology samples in 1978, which confirmed significant propylitic alteration and potassic alteration consistent with a porphyry copper environment.
The data support the near-miss nature of the drill hole that was not previously realised when drilled by CRAE in 1978 (drill hole 78KD2). Three other shallow holes were drilled in 1977 to less than 50m did not intersect basement and don’t provide meaningful information. The vendors (Nimrod) conducted closely spaced drone magnetics surveys and surface sampling. The results received in late 2024, support the porphyry model of the T47 Prospect and the potential for other porphyries is under investigation in the area, including the T55 Prospect on ELA8655 (expected grant in March).
Very importantly this work by Nimrod Resources geoscientists has helped to identify a large untested exploration space (a volume of rock where a deposit can exist but has not yet been drilled) where the northern extension of the Macquarie Arc is now interpreted to extend under shallow cover. The Macquarie Arc in the south hosts the world-class operating Cadia Valley Operations and Northparkes Mines. This is a significant opportunity secured for Copper Search shareholders.
Copper Search is pleased to provide a update on our Exploration programs.
Copper Search Ltd (ASX: CUS) is pleased to provide investors with the opportunity to watch an Investor Presentation from CEO Duncan Chessell given in February 2025.
The Byrock Project is prospective for large-scale Cu-Au porphyry deposits in the underexplored northern extension of the Macquarie Arc – home to the Cadia-Ridgeway and Northparkes Mines
