Antares Metals has kicked off a second phase of drilling at its Surprise copper project, 80km north-east of Mount Isa. 

The 1500m reverse circulation program aims to extend the footprint of the project’s known mineralisation envelope.

First-phase drilling intersected mineralised intervals including 11m at 1.8 per cent copper and 1.3g/t gold from 68m, including 4m at 3.8 per cent copper from 71m.

None of the targets to be tested by the second phase of drilling have ever seen exploration drilling before.

When completed, this phase of drilling will have tested targets up to 1.2 km north of the historical Surprise copper mine.

Antares – formerly NickelSearch— intends to test several additional targets north and south of the mine in a third phase of drilling later in the season once access is available.

Related: NickelSearch ready to roll at Mount Isa North ground

“We are excited to head to the field and man the rig for this important second phase of drilling on Surprise,” chief executive officer Johan Lambrechts said.

“We aim to expand the project’s current known mineralised footprint by testing geophysical targets and beneath outcropping copper mineralisation.”

The company also plans to explore and advance several other structurally controlled and intrusion-related copper-gold targets within its Mount Isa North tenements this season, including Conglomerate Creek.

Antares late last year acquired tenements covering 2003sq km of ground held by Capella Metals and Bacchus Resources, collectively dubbed the Mount Isa North project.