CopperCorp Intersects 43.0m at 0.62% Cu in Initial Drilling at Alpine Stellar Zone

Rhea-AI Summary

CopperCorp Resources Inc. announced preliminary assay results from its first four drill holes at the Stellar Zone in Tasmania, revealing significant copper mineralization. Key findings include:

• AP022: 43m at 0.62% Cu and 31m at 0.25% Cu
• AP023: 17.7m at 0.54% Cu
• AP024: 42.1m at 0.60% Cu
• AP025: 18.3m at 0.59% Cu

The drilling program aims to confirm historical copper grades and explore continuity of mineralization. The company plans to expand its drilling program to 10,000m due to positive results.

Positive

• Significant copper mineralization confirmed in multiple drill holes with grades consistent with historical results.
• Plans to expand the drilling program to 10,000m indicate confidence in uncovering more mineralization.
• Discovery potential for a large-scale Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) system at the Alpine Prospect.

Negative

• Delays in laboratory processing times for assay results.

VANCOUVER, BC, May 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - CopperCorp Resources Inc. (TSXV: CPER) (OTCQB: CPCPF) ("CopperCorp" or the "Company") is pleased to announce preliminary assay results from its first four drill holes (holes AP022, AP023, AP024 and AP025) at the Stellar Zone, part of the Alpine Prospect target area located at the southern end of the Company's 100% owned , 1,066 km² AMC Project located in western Tasmania, Australia.

Highlights

• Best significant mineralized intercepts include:

Hole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)1	Cu (%)	Co (ppm)
AP022	135.0	178.0	43.0	0.62%	257
And	225.0	256.0	31.0	0.25%	87
AP023	148.3	166.0	17.7	0.54%	293
AP024	55.9	98.0	42.1	0.60%	252
And	133.0	139.0	6.0	0.96%	283
And	157.0	200.0	43.0	0.33%	174
AP025	147.0	165.3	18.3	0.59%	254

1Note that true widths are uncertain. Initial interpretation by the Company is that the copper mineralization is hosted in steeply dipping zones of mineralization implying true widths in the range of 70% to 95% of reported intervals.

• These results further confirm the Company's interpretation from historic drilling of multiple continuous zones of copper mineralization at the Stellar Zone over a strike length of 700m (open) and to a vertical depth of 300m (open). 
• The Stellar Zone forms part of the larger Alpine Prospect target at the southern end of the Company's 1,066 km² AMC Project. Copper mineralization at the Stellar Zone is interpreted to be Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) in style and occurs within a strong, regional, north-south striking magnetic zone associated with the Arthur Metamorphic Complex that continues over 100 km of strike length within the AMC Project.
• Additional high-priority exploration drill targets, Alpine West and Alpine North, have been identified at the Alpine Prospect through surface sampling and geophysical surveys. These new targets cover an area of approximately 1km by 300m at Alpine North and 800 by 300m at Alpine West (Figure 2). The Company is particularly encouraged by the discovery potential of these additional targets due to interpreted similarities with the geochemical and geophysical expressions over the drilled copper mineralization at the Stellar Zone.
• The Company's ongoing drilling program is focused on step-out drilling to depth and along strike at the Stellar Zone, and will also begin sequential drill testing of additional targets at the Alpine Prospect.
• Assays from a further seven drill holes from the initial Stellar Zone drilling are pending.  There has been significant delay in processing times at the laboratory and the additional seven holes will be reported shortly after they are received.

Stephen Swatton, President and CEO of CopperCorp, stated, "The Company is very encouraged by these first drill assay results received from the Stellar Zone at Alpine which is the first exploration drilling to be conducted in the area in 14 years. The results are consistent with the historical drilling and, importantly, confirm continuity of mineralization between historical holes. Mineralization at the Stellar Zone is open along strike and at depth and results from recent geophysical and surface geochemical work has confirmed potential for a large-scale Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) system at Alpine which the Company plans to continue testing as recently announced with the Alpine Phase 1 drilling program being expanded to 10,000m. The results further highlight the prospectivity of the Arthur Metamorphic Complex for IOCG style mineralization over which the Company has a dominant land holding."

Alpine Prospect Drilling

At the time of reporting, the Company has completed drilling of 11 diamond core holes for a total of 3,925m at the Alpine Stellar Zone, with a 12^th hole in progress. The drill program comprises confirmation and infill holes designed to confirm historical copper grades, test continuity of mineralization, and provide geological and structural context to the mineralization.

Assay results from the first 4 drill holes have been received. All 4 holes intersected broad zones of copper mineralization and significant mineralized drill hole intercepts are listed in Table 3. The overall grade and width of the mineralized intercepts are consistent with historical intersections (Table 4) and provide support for the continuity of mineralization between historical drill holes.

Drilling to date has intersected up to three zones of mineralization at the Stellar Zone and has confirmed a steep southeast to east dipping trend of the mineralization.

Location Data for Alpine Prospect Drillholes (CopperCorp)

Drillhole ID	Easting GDA94	Northing GDA94	mRL	Final Length (m)	Dip	Azimuth	Company
AP022	341205	5376625	173	268.5	-75	340	CopperCorp
AP023	341206	5376626	173	286.9	-50	340	CopperCorp
AP024	341310	5376670	176	303.8	-55	340	CopperCorp
AP025	341275	5376575	178	348.9	-62	340	CopperCorp

Table 1. Alpine Prospect CopperCorp drill hole location and summary data.

Alpine Prospect CopperCorp Drill Hole Significant Mineralized Intervals (0.1% Cu cut-off)

Prospect	Drillhole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	Cu (%)	Co (ppm)
Alpine	AP022	135.0	178.0	43.0	0.62	257
		212.2	217.0	4.8	0.48	214
		225.0	256.0	31.0	0.25	87
	AP023	104.0	110.0	6.0	0.46	329
		148.3	166.0	17.7	0.54	293
		170.5	176.0	5.5	0.43	363
	AP024	55.9	98.0	42.1	0.60	252
		133.0	139.0	6.0	0.96	283
		157.0	200.0	43.0	0.33	174
	AP025	147.0	165.3	18.3	0.59	254
		262.0	268.0	6.0	0.45	83
		331.0	340.0	9.0	0.12	20

Table 2: Alpine Prospect significant drillhole mineralized intercepts (CopperCorp Drill Holes). Reported grades are calculated as down-hole length weighted averages. A 0.1% Cu lower cut-off grade is applied. Intercepts are downhole intervals.

About the Alpine Prospect

The Alpine Prospect was discovered by CRA Exploration in the early 1980's after following up an airborne magnetic survey with gridding, ground magnetics, and soil geochemistry followed by two diamond drill holes in 1985. Stellar Resources drilled a further 19 holes between 2006 and 2008. The historical, wide-spaced drilling intersected significant IOCG-style copper mineralization, with significant intercepts including (See Table 4):

• AP004: 38.2m @ 0.79% Cu from 57.7m, including 28.2m @ 1.03 % Cu from 58.7m and 41.8m @ 0.3% Cu from 111.0m
• AP007: 86.0m @ 0.50% Cu from 62.0m
• AP008A: 41.0m @ 0.48% Cu from 29.8m
• AP017: 24.7m @ 0.52% Cu from 222.0m

Mineralization at Alpine is hosted in intensely deformed and metamorphosed amphibolites, mafic and pelitic schists, graphitic phyllites and carbonates belonging to the Bowry Formation of the Arthur Metamorphic Complex. Copper mineralization is associated with up to three sub-parallel magnetite-hematite-sulphide lenses in strongly silica-siderite altered chlorite schists (see examples in Figures 7 and 8). Mineralization consists mainly of chalcopyrite with lesser covellite and bornite. Additional chalcopyrite-pyrite breccia mineralization is hosted in silica-siderite altered and veined quartzites and schists adjacent to the ironstone lenses. Anomalous levels of cobalt is associated with the copper mineralization, typically averaging 200 to 300ppm Co and locally reaching up to 0.1% Co over short intervals.

The mineralization strikes east-northeast and dips steeply to the southeast, forming an interpreted fault-bound boudinage within the highly deformed schists of over 600m in strike length. Drilling completed to date indicates that the thickest part of the Stellar mineralized zone is over 100m in width, thinning to the west and thickening towards an interpreted faulted fold hinge in the east. The deposit remains open down dip and along strike to the west. 

As previously reported¹, results from recent geophysical modelling indicate that the drilled IOCG style mineralization at the Alpine Stellar Zone is defined by coincident gravity and magnetic anomalies (see Figure 1). The model further indicates additional areas of high IOCG prospectivity indicated by coincident, partially coincident, or offset gravity and magnetic anomalies – the Alpine West and Alpine North targets (Figures 2 & 3) which the Company plans to drill test.

Next Steps

The drilling program at the Stellar Zone is ongoing with assays from a further 7 drill holes awaited.  As previously announced¹, the Company plans to expand the diamond drilling program from 4,200m to 10,000m. The expanded drill program will be focused on vectoring towards potential zones of thicker and higher-grade mineralization in the Stellar Zone, testing the Stellar Zone at depth, and step-out drilling to test high-priority targets at Alpine West and Alpine North. Planning and permitting for the Alpine West and Alpine North exploration drill programs is underway. The Company currently has one drill at Alpine and plans to source another to expedite the planned drilling. Further infill and extension gridding and soil sampling programs are also planned.

About AMC Project

The AMC Project covers a total of 1,066 km² along approximately 100 km of strike length and establishes CopperCorp as the dominant owner of prospective ground in the district. The rocks are Neoproterozoic-Cambrian age and comprise a regional-scale metamorphic structural deformation zone that is host to widespread magnetite-sulphide-silicate alteration and mineralization indicative of a large Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG)-style system and includes the Savage River 498 Mt @ 46% DTR magnetite mine (owned by Grange Resources Limited)³ and CopperCorp's Alpine copper prospect.

The Alpine Prospect is located 30 km northwest of the local mining hub of Zeehan and within 5 km of two large-scale operating wind and hydro-electric renewable energy plants.

About CopperCorp

CopperCorp is a well-financed mineral exploration company with approximately C$8.8M targeting world class copper-gold discoveries in western Tasmania, Australia. The Company is currently undertaking confirmation and infill drilling and ground exploration programs at the Alpine Prospect (our initial target on the larger AMC Project, formerly the Alpine Project) where wide spaced historical drilling delineated IOCG-style mineralization over a 700m strike length.

Figure 9. Location plan showing CopperCorp's exploration licenses and project areas in western Tasmania, Australia.

Quality Assurance / Quality Control on Assay Results

Full information on historical exploration activities and results at the Alpine Prospect and AMC Project are included in the Technical Report (NI 43-101) dated 18 April 2021². 
CopperCorp's diamond core drill holes are drilled at HQ and NQ core diameters using triple tube to maximize recovery. Core recovery is generally good in mineralized zones (95-100%) with poorer recoveries associated with brittle faulting on zone margins. Sample collection is supervised by CopperCorp geological staff. Mineralized zones are marked up for sampling by an experienced geologist. Half core is split by diamond saw on nominal 1.0m sample lengths while respecting geological contacts. Samples are bagged and ticketed prior to delivery by Company personnel to the ALS commercial laboratories in Burnie, Tasmania, for sample preparation. The half core samples are crushed to 80% passing 2mm, riffle split to 500g and then pulverized to pass 75um. Coarse duplicate sampling is conducted every 20 samples to assess variability of the coarse crush. Cu and multi-element assay is by 4-acid digest followed by ICP-MS at ALS laboratories by method ME-ICP61a). Au assay is by 30g fire assay at ALS laboratories by method Au-AA25. Certified reference materials (CRMs), blank and duplicate QAQC samples are included in sample submissions at 20 sample intervals. All QAQC samples were within acceptable limits (2 standard deviations for CRMs, duplicates <5%).

Mineralized Interval Calculations

Reported significant mineralized intervals in this news release (including for new and historical drillhole intervals) are calculated as down-hole length-weighted intercepts using a 0.1% Cu lower cut-off grade and carry a maximum internal dilution of 4m (except for AP012A which has a maximum internal dilution of 7m). The calculated intervals for historical drill holes may vary from previously reported interval calculations that used a cut-off grade of 0.3% Cu. The 0.1% Cu cut-off grade is considered to appropriately define the boundaries of mineralized zones and provides for more balanced reporting of drilling results during the exploration stage, enabling reporting of both low- and high-grade intercepts. For consistency, drill hole intercepts from all historical drill holes using the 0.1% Cu cut-off are also displayed in Table 4. No top-cut grade was applied.  True widths of drill hole intercepts are yet to be determined. 

Qualified Person

The Company's disclosure of technical or scientific information related to the Alpine Prospect and AMC Project in this news release was reviewed and approved by Sean Westbrook, VP Exploration for the Company. Mr. Westbrook is a Qualified Person as defined under the terms of National Instrument 43-101. This news release also contains information about adjacent properties on which the Company does not have an interest. Information sources regarding the adjacent properties are listed in the References section of this news release. The QP has been unable to verify the information on these adjacent properties and the information is not necessarily indicative to the mineralization on the properties that is the subject of this news release.

References

¹CPER: TSXV News Release 27^th April 2022.
²Independent Technical Report on EL2/2018 Tasmania Australia. Prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Properties (NI43-101).  Effective date: 18 April 2021.
³Grange Resources Limited, 2021. Update to Savage River Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, ASX Release 31 March 2021.

Additional information about CopperCorp can be found on its website: www.coppercorpinc.com and at www.sedar.com.            

Location Data for Alpine Prospect Drillholes (Historical)

Drillhole ID	Easting GDA94	Northing GDA94	mRL	Final Length (m)	Dip	Azimuth	Company
AP001	341694	5377131	187	106.7	-65	357	CRA Exploration
AP002	341297	5376834	182	85.8	-68	357	CRA Exploration
AP003	341020	5376674	170	149.3	-75	339	Stellar Resources
AP004	341313	5376830	179	152.8	-87	160	Stellar Resources
AP005	341687	5376985	196	170	-65	330	Stellar Resources
AP006	341446	5376875	190	155.6	-65.6	331	Stellar Resources
AP007	341386	5376693	185	173.5	-60.6	334	Stellar Resources
AP008	341225	5376768	176	71.6	-60	328	Stellar Resources
AP008A	341225	5376768	176	139	-70.8	328	Stellar Resources
AP009	341292	5377664	189	140.1	-65.9	348	Stellar Resources
AP010	341643	5377774	188	149.7	-60	350	Stellar Resources
AP011	341292	5376909	189	178.1	-90	360	Stellar Resources
AP012	341460	5376952	193	76.1	-90	360	Stellar Resources
AP012A	341460	5376952	193	269.5	-90	360	Stellar Resources
AP013	341561	5376920	196	353	-90	360	Stellar Resources
AP014	341140	5376626	176	284.1	-60	337	Stellar Resources
AP015	341497	5376717	190	272.3	-60	337	Stellar Resources
AP016	341264	5376637	174	205	-60	337	Stellar Resources
AP017	341418	5376607	191	272.4	-60	337	Stellar Resources
AP018	341084	5376749	174	82	-90	360	Stellar Resources
AP019	341570	5377127	188	62	-50	360	Stellar Resources
AP020	341443	5377016	195	165.5	-75	337	Stellar Resources
AP021	341483	5377097	193	200	-60	360	Stellar Resources

Table 3. Alpine Prospect historical drill hole location and summary data.

 

Alpine Prospect Historical Drill Hole Significant Mineralized Intervals (0.1% Cu cut-off):

Prospect	Drillhole ID	From (m)	To (m)	Interval (m)	Cu (%)	Co (ppm)
Alpine	AP001	78.0	94.75	16.75	0.19	X
Alpine	AP002	44.0	71.4	27.4	0.53	X
Alpine	AP003	82.5	94.6	12.1	0.16	X
Alpine	AP003	124.6	129.5	4.9	0.27	X
Alpine	AP004	57.7	95.9	38.2	0.79	X
	including	58.7	86.9	28.2	1.03	X
Alpine	AP004	111.0	152.8	41.8	0.30	X
Alpine	AP005	No Significant Mineralized Intercepts
Alpine	AP006	40.0	91.0	51.0	0.39	X
Alpine	AP007	62.0	148.0	86.0	0.50	X
	including	105.0	142.7	37.7	0.62	X
Alpine	AP008A	29.8	70.8	41.0	0.48	X
Alpine	AP009	No Significant Mineralized Intercepts
Alpine	AP010	No Significant Mineralized Intercepts
Alpine	AP011	27.0	80.0	53.0	0.38	X
	including	28.1	54.0	27.0	0.47	X
Alpine	AP011	94.0	98.0	4.0	0.23	X
Alpine	AP012A	77.0	112.0	35.0	0.39	X
Alpine	AP012A	121.7	131.8	10.1	0.20	X
Alpine	AP012A	141.4	241.0	99.6	0.14	X
Alpine	AP013	204.6	230.9	26.3	0.25	203
Alpine	AP013	241.0	305.0	64.0	0.31	195
Alpine	AP014	151.0	183.0	32.0	0.47	247
Alpine	AP014	206.0	212.0	6.0	0.20	115
Alpine	AP015	Not Assayed
Alpine	AP016	71.0	88.0	17.0	0.60	242
	including	76.0	84.0	11.0	0.76	252
Alpine	AP016	163.0	205.0	42.0	0.32	144
Alpine	AP017	222.0	246.65	24.7	0.52	211
Alpine	AP018	Not Assayed – hole abandoned
Alpine	AP019	Not Assayed – hole abandoned
Alpine	AP020	85.0	90.0	5.0	0.20	X
Alpine	AP020	146.0	165.5	19.5	0.20	X
Alpine	AP021	No Significant Mineralized Intercepts

Table 4: Alpine Prospect significant drillhole mineralized intercepts (Historical Drill Holes). Reported grades are calculated as down-hole length weighted averages. A 0.1% Cu lower cut-off grade is applied. Intercepts are downhole intervals. X = Cobalt not assayed.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: 

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's ongoing diamond drilling program from the Alpine Prospect Stellar Zone, Alpine Prospect at the AMC Project in western Tasmania, Australia; the potential for a large-scale Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) system at Alpine which the Company plans to continue testing as recently announced with the Alpine Phase 1 drilling program being expanded to 10,000m; the Company plans to expand the diamond drilling program from 4,200m to 10,000m; that the expanded drill program will be focused on vectoring towards potential zones of thicker and higher-grade mineralization in the Stellar Zone, testing the Stellar Zone at depth, and step-out drilling to test high-priority targets at Alpine West and Alpine North; that planning and permitting for the Alpine West and Alpine North exploration drill programs is underway; that the Company currently has one drill at Alpine and plans to source another in order to expedite the planned drilling; that further infill and extension gridding and soil sampling programs are also planned; and other business plans of the Company. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including risks related to: that the Company may experience difficulties in drilling and carrying out related work; the timing and content of upcoming work programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information, and other risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coppercorp-intersects-43-0m-at-0-62-cu-in-initial-drilling-at-alpine-stellar-zone-301544547.html

SOURCE CopperCorp Resources Inc.

FAQ

What are the preliminary assay results from CopperCorp's recent drill at Stellar Zone?

CopperCorp's preliminary results show significant copper intervals including 43m at 0.62% Cu in hole AP022 and 42.1m at 0.60% Cu in AP024.

What is the future drilling plan for CopperCorp at the Alpine Prospect?

CopperCorp plans to expand its drilling program to 10,000m due to encouraging preliminary results from the Stellar Zone.

How does the mineralization in the Stellar Zone compare to historical drilling data?

The current drilling results confirm the continuity of copper mineralization and are consistent with historical drilling findings.

What is the geological significance of the Alpine Prospect?

The Alpine Prospect is interpreted to potentially host a large-scale Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold (IOCG) system, expanding exploration opportunities.