Cooper Metals has kicked off a five-hole diamond drill program at its Brumby Ridge copper-gold prospect in north-west Queensland.

Interest has been stoked by RC drill results last year of up to 71m at 2.80 per cent copper and 0.05 g/t gold from 115m downhole, including 24m at 5.37 per cent copper and 0.10g/t gold.

“It’s great to be back out at Brumby Ridge again so early in the field season to follow up our spectacular drill hits from last year,” Cooper Metals managing director Ian Warland said.

“The initial diamond holes are important for planning the rest of the follow-up RC and diamond holes in the coming weeks and months. We will provide further updates as results come to hand.”

The company plans to complete five diamond holes for about 1200m of drilling at Brumby Ridge.

RC pre-collars have been drilled into the overlying rock with diamond tails planned to test the mineralised target zone.

Related: Rock chip results expand Brumby Ridge search area

The initial diamond drilling will consist of scissor holes (i.e., two holes drilled in opposite directions) to test width and dip of the mineralisation.

Following this, diamond holes will be drilled along strike and possibly down dip as required.

Up to 2000m of RC drilling is also planned at Brumby Ridge to help ascertain the size and grade potential of the mineralisation. This will begin after the diamond drilling is finished sometime in March.

Brumby Ridge lies within Cooper Metals’ Mount Isa East copper-gold project.