White Cliff Minerals drills high-grade copper beneath Bornite Hills

• Maiden diamond drilling returns 11.5m at 2% copper, with a peak 0.56m at 16.3%
• Mineralisation extends more than 60m below historical trenching along a largely untested host structure
• Follow-up drilling planned for early 2027 will test strike extensions and help define higher-grade zones

Special Report: White Cliff Minerals has pinned Bornite Hills on the priority list for its Rae project in Canada after maiden drilling intersected high-grade copper beneath historical surface workings.

Drilling returned top hits of 11.5m at 2% copper from 75.5m, including 1m at 10.16% from 82.5m (BNH26003) and 15m at 1.62% Cu from 57m including 3.5m at 4.14% Cu from 64m (BNH26001A).

The results extend mineralisation more than 60m below a historical trench that returned 3.66m at 46.99% copper, which White Cliff Minerals (ASX:WCN) considers to be an indication that the massive bornite at surface continues at depth.

WCN managing director Troy Whittaker said the results establish Bornite Hills as a key exploration area at Rae.

“We have intersected high-grade copper beneath the historical surface showing, within breccia and vein system that indicates the movement of copper-bearing fluids,” Whittaker said.

“The combination of mineralised breccias, veining and silicification, together with an interpreted connection to the Herb Dixon Fault Zone, points to favourable geological plumbing for copper mineralisation.

“With a target structure traceable for more than 1.3km, there is a clear case to test its extensions and the positions where copper may become more concentrated.”

Follow-up targeting will focus on the system’s geometry, its highest-grade zones and surrounding parallel structures.

“Bornite Hills adds a compelling follow-up opportunity alongside Danvers and strengthens the case for continued exploration across the wider Rae copper project,” Whittaker added.

Following the structure

Bornite Hills sits about 32km from Danvers, where WCN has concentrated much of its drilling at the wholly owned Rae project in Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region.

The assays follow September’s visual observations of copper sulphides, with laboratory results now confirming grades at a separate target beyond the Danvers district.

Bornite Hills contains quartz-carbonate-copper sulphide veins and breccias along a strike length of about 1.3km that trends north-northwest to south-southeast.

It joins the Herb Dixon Fault Zone at its southern end.

WCN says the system remains open along the structure, with several parallel structures also offering targets.

Further drilling will test where copper becomes more concentrated within Bornite Hills.

Somerset Minerals’ Coppermine project includes the Coronation prospect immediately south of Danvers and Ardbeg immediately south of WCN’s Thor and Rocket districts.

Copper demand supports the search

The International Energy Agency’s 2026 outlook projects copper demand will grow by about 7Mt to 2040, driven by electricity networks and next-generation technologies.

Under its Stated Policies Scenario, the agency estimates existing and announced mines would leave a gap of about 25% against primary copper requirements in 2035, after accounting for secondary supply and refining losses.

World Bank data shows the copper spot price averaged US$14,474 a tonne in September 2026, up from US$13,543 in July.

Its April forecast put annual averages at US$12,000 a tonne in 2026 and US$11,000 in 2027, while the September price was already above its 2026 forecast.

WCN expects data from its high-resolution magnetic, radiometric and gravity survey early in 2027 to help rank targets along Bornite Hills and its parallel structures.

The wider volcanic package also hosts undrilled targets with geological and geophysical characteristics resembling Danvers and Bornite Hills.

Drilling is continuing at Danvers to inform an exploration target and progress the project towards a maiden resource estimate, with the company planning to test additional targets in 2027.

At Bornite Hills, follow-up drilling is planned for early 2027 to test strike extensions and establish the geometry of the newly assayed system.

This article was developed in collaboration with White Cliff Minerals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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