QMines has boosted the Develin Creek resource estimate by a million tonnes with an updated figure of 4.2Mt at 1.07 per cent copper, 1.16 per cent zinc, 0.15g/t gold and 6.0g/t silver.

The company said it now viewed Develin Creek as a key part of QMines’ growth, with potential integration into the Mount Chalmers mine plan to extend mine life and boost economics.

It has started open pit optimisation studies for the Scorpion and Window deposits at Develin Creek following the resource upgrade.

Develin Creek is about 90km west of the Mount Chalmers copper-gold project, near Rockhampton.

A prefeasibility study showed Mount Chalmers to be a technically and financially robust copper project able to support a stand-alone 1Mtpa process plant and mine life of more than 10 years.

The 2025 mineral resource estimate upgrade for Develin Creek includes a substantial increase in the indicated resource category.

The indicated portion now accounts for 70 per cent (2.88 million tonnes) of the total resource.

This reflects the improved drilling density and confidence in the new geological model, and supports the future open-pit mining potential at the Scorpion and Window deposits.

‘Importantly, when combined with the Mount Chalmers resource, the global resource base of QMines has grown significantly, reinforcing the company’s potential to develop a larger-scale operation,’ the company said in an update to the ASX.

‘The strong copper and zinc grades at Develin Creek position the project as a key asset in QMines’ portfolio, complementing the company’s broader development plans.’

The Mount Chalmers and Develin Creek combined mineral resource estimate now stands at 15.5Mt grading at 0.82 per cent copper, 0.47 per cent zinc, 0.35g/t gold and 5g/t silver.

The contained metal estimate stands at 126,750 tonnes of copper, 73,580 tonnes of zinc, 172,843 ounces of gold and 2,447,771 ounces of silver.

QMines recently began a 10,000m drilling program at Develin Creek, with an initial 2000m diamond drilling program underway.

This program is focused on testing down-plunge extensions to the Develin Creek deposits, aiming to identify additional high-grade mineralisation at depth.

A reverse circulation program scheduled to commence later this month will target infill and step-out drilling at the Sulphide City deposit.