A new North-West Queensland copper mine has taken a crucial step forward, with AIC Mines successfully reaching the Jericho deposit underground via an access drive from its Eloise operation.

The development of Jericho underpins the company’s expansion of the Eloise processing plant to 1.1Mtpa, supporting future production in excess of 20,000t of copper per annum at the site.

AIC Mines (ASX:A1M) managing director Aaron Colleran said reaching Jericho mineralisation ahead of schedule reflected the discipline of the company’s operations team and the exploration success achieved at the northern end of the orebody.

“What is particularly impressive, though, is the relatively short timeframe to achieve this milestone,” he said.

“In just three years, we have taken the project from acquisition through permitting, funding, and development. This is a strong endorsement of our development strategy and the supportive operating environment in Queensland.”

Related: Jericho growth potential shines in latest drill results

The company said gaining underground access to Jericho’s J1 lens confirmed the mineralisation style, hanging wall competence and ground conditions consistent with the deposit’s geological model.

This provides a high level of confidence as it advances detailed mine design and planning for Jericho.

AIC will be able to process the material generated from Jericho’s Jolly shoot through its producing Eloise plant, 60km south-east of Cloncurry.

This will support integration planning ahead of the targeted commissioning of the expanded plant in the December quarter.

Located about 4km south of Eloise mine, Jericho hosts a mineral resource of 19.2Mt grading 2.0 per cent copper and 0.4g/t gold for 381kt of copper and 246koz of gold.

AIC Mines acquired the Eloise copper mine from FMR Investments in 2021 and subsequently secured the Jericho copper deposit in 2023 through a takeover of Demetallica.

The State Government granted the Jericho mining lease in May 2024, when AIC started constructing the access drive.

Extending directly from the Eloise decline at about 125m below surface, the drive now stretches about 2350m underground.

One of the benefits of accessing Jericho directly from the Eloise decline, as compared to a surface box-cut and decline, was the ability to rapidly develop future discoveries at the northern end of the deposit, the company said.

This approach has borne fruit, with the discovery of the Jolly shoot in December 2024 and subsequent reorientation of the access drive to hit Jericho mineralisation earlier than originally planned.

Image at top of page: The development face passing through the J1 lens at Jericho, showing visible copper
sulphide mineralisation.

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