Aeon Metals is fleshing out its model for a 2.1km strike in a previously untested zone of its Walford Creek prospect in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The company has released assay results of four holes from the recent drilling campaign and said the results ‘reaffirm confidence in the thick intervals of high-grade mineralisation and impressive 10km strike extent to the Walford Creek system.’

Related: Drilling extends Walford Creek mineralisation

Highlights included 65.0m at 1.01 per cent CuEq in PY1 from 276.0m; 12m at 2.28 per cent CuEq from 398.0m; 26.0m at 0.47 per cent CuEq from 298.0m – including 12.0m at 1.14 per cent CuEq from 371.0m; 22.0m at 0.27 per cent CuEq from 401.0m (all within the PY1 unit); and 34.0m at 0.52 per cent CuEq from 616.0m and 10m at 0.99 per cent CuEq from 640.0m (within the PY3 unit).

The company told the ASX that 17 holes were drilled at the Le Mans zone and four at the Amy zone. 

Sixteen of the 21 were completed, all having intersected their targets and accounting for 8200m drilled.

A total of 19,000m is planned for the 2022 season. 

The company said this validated the geological model which would result in a maiden minerals resource estimate for Le Mans later this year. 

Targeted drilling along strike was crucial to gaining an accurate and complete understanding of the extent of the orebody, Aeon managing director and chief executive officer Dr Fred Hess said.

“Our confidence in the Walford geological model is reinforced with the results announced today,” Dr Hess said. 

“With similar, though much more widely spaced, mineral intercepts already reported within the Amy section, the expectation strengthens that the entire 10 km strike from Amy and Vardy may be similarly mineralised. 

“The initial phase of the 2022 Aeon exploration program was designed to demonstrate the potential for significant additional tonnage within the PY1 at the Le Mans zone. 

With this in mind, the company hopes to be able to release a maiden mineral resource estimate for Le Mans this year. 

“In addition to Le Mans, testing the potential for zones of high grade copper at Amy has been a high priority, with visual estimates to date supporting this assessment,” Dr Hess said. 

“A total of 17 more holes have been completed at Le Mans and four at Amy to date in 2022.” 

The importance of correct targeting within the Walford Creek system was fully realised in 2016, where the geological model currently being used was first proposed, the company said in its report.