Breakthrough Minerals (ASX: BTM) has reported high-grade copper-gold results from the first holes into a down-plunge target at its Turpentine deposit in North Queensland.

The company said the assays confirmed mineralisation on the interpreted northern extension, validating a target generated by its gravity inversion modelling.

Managing director Nigel Broomham the results reinforced the resource growth story across both of the company’s cornerstone deposits.

“At Turpentine, the first assays since drilling commenced have directly validated the down-plunge target generated from our gravity inversion modelling – that’s exactly the outcome we were hoping for from this program.

‘Turpentine is already our largest deposit, hosting 101,000 tonnes of contained CuEq, and these results reinforce our view that there is significant potential to grow the resource down-plunge to the north. With six further holes already drilled into this target and awaiting assay, and drilling continuing, we are very encouraged by what we are seeing from the program.

‘With drilling continuing at Turpentine and further results to come, our focus remains firmly on growing the existing 200,000 tonne CuEq resource base across our North Queensland Copper-Gold Project.”

Hole 26TUR002 returned 16 metres at 1.30 per cent copper-equivalent from 180 metres, including six metres at 2.18 per cent.

Hole 26TUR003 cut 19 metres at 1.03 per cent copper-equivalent, including four metres at 2.83 per cent.

A third hole returned 31 metres at 0.52 per cent, with the grades combining copper and gold.

Breakthrough said the results were downhole lengths, and that the drilling had outperformed its current resource model.

Six further holes had been drilled into the down-plunge zone and were awaiting assay, with drilling continuing.

At its Barbara deposit, further drilling extended the mineralised system deeper and along strike, beyond three holes reported in June.

Hole 26BAR006 returned seven metres at 1.08 per cent copper-equivalent within a wider 39-metre zone.

Another hole confirmed mineralisation to at least 575 metres depth, the company said.

Breakthrough held a global resource of 18.8 million tonnes at 1.07 per cent copper-equivalent, or about 200,000 tonnes of contained metal.

The company said the resource was entirely uncommitted, and that the deposits lay near third-party processing in the Mt Isa region.