Future Metals NL (ASX: FME) has announced a significant copper-nickel discovery at its Eileen Bore prospect in Western Australia, identifying a newly defined 4.5km-long mineralised intrusion. The discovery marks a major step forward for the company’s exploration program within the Alice Downs Corridor.
Key drilling results confirm mineralisation
Drilling at Eileen Bore has returned strong copper-nickel intersections, confirming the presence of a sizeable magmatic sulphide system. Key results include:
- 30m at 1.06% copper, 0.45% nickel, and 1.14g/t platinum group metals (PGM 3E) from 88.9m (hole EBDD002)
- 7.4m at 0.46% copper, 0.51% nickel, and 0.3g/t PGM 3E (hole EBDD003)
A total of four diamond drill holes, covering 1,195m, were completed under a co-funded exploration incentive scheme (EIS) grant. Two holes targeted extensions at the historically drilled Eileen Bore, while two additional holes provided the first-ever drilling at the newly identified ‘Target 2’ zone.
Ground gravity survey identifies major intrusion
A concurrent ground gravity survey has revealed that the Eileen Bore mineralisation is a faulted extension of a much larger 4.5km-long intrusion, located 300m to the north. This newly defined intrusion extends the potential scale of mineralisation well beyond previously known boundaries.
The survey data suggests that previous geological interpretations underestimated the true extent of the mineralised zone. The presence of high-density anomalies within the intrusion supports the potential for further copper-nickel sulphide discoveries across the strike length.
Future exploration plans
Future Metals sees considerable scope for expanding the known mineralisation both laterally and at depth. The next phase of exploration will include additional drilling, ground electromagnetic (EM) surveys, and geochemical sampling, particularly at the untested southeastern extent of the intrusion (Target 3).
Commenting on the results, Future Metals stated that the scale of the discovery represents “a significant advancement in the potential of the Eileen Bore prospect,” positioning the company for further resource growth in the region.
The company’s next steps will focus on refining high-priority drill targets and further delineating the extent of the copper-nickel system.
