QMines launches 10,000‑metre drill for copper gold expansion
QMines has launched a 10,000m drilling program at its Mt Chalmers copper‑gold project, aiming to expand the resource and feed a definitive feasibility study for a larger mine.
First holes show promising grades
The initial results include an 18‑metre intercept grading 2.7 g/t gold and 1.7 % copper, according to the report. A separate metre‑scale hit returned more than 20 g/t gold, reinforcing the high‑grade nature of the deposit. The program targets the Woods Shaft deposit, which lies about 800 m southwest of the historic Mt Chalmers pit and currently holds an inferred resource of 0.54 Mt at 0.95 g/t gold and 0.50 % copper.
Diamond hole MCDD003 intersected both the exhalite‑hosted polymetallic zone and a broad copper‑gold stringer zone, confirming the presence of semi‑massive chalcopyrite and veinlets within altered volcanics from 54 m depth. Geotechnical hole 2026_GT03, while drilled for stability data, also sampled mineralised layers, showing that mineralisation extends beyond the anticipated pit boundary.
Resource growth and feasibility focus
QMines says the early grades compare favorably with the existing Mt Chalmers mineral resource, which averages 0.75 % copper and 0.42 g/t gold. They plan to continue drilling at Woods Shaft, hoping to fold the expanded deposit into the broader Mt Chalmers resource base.
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Modern drilling program has already returned surface grades such as 45 m at 2.64 g/t gold and 0.67 % copper, and a higher‑grade core of 37 m at 3.14 g/t gold and 0.82 % copper from just 4 m depth.
Queensland supplies more than half of Australia’s copper, and rising global demand for the metal—driven by AI and renewable‑energy projects—has kept prices near record levels. Gold, while below its recent peaks, remains well above US$4,000 per ounce, supporting interest in dual‑commodity projects like Mt Chalmers.
While the data so far are encouraging, the true test will be whether the expanded resource can meet the economic thresholds required for a viable mine. If the high‑grade zones prove extensive, QMines could position itself as a notable copper and gold producer in Australia, but the outcome will depend on the final resource definition and market conditions.
QMines’ broader portfolio includes the Develin Creek and Mt Mackenzie projects, together holding reserves of 9.6 Mt and combined resources of roughly 20 Mt. Their strategy ties these assets to the Mt Chalmers expansion, aiming for a consolidated operation that leverages existing infrastructure and historical production data.
