QMines has acquired a new tenement to add to its Mount Chalmers copper and gold project, 17km north-east of Rockhampton.

Known as Striker, the tenement hosts robust multi-element soil geochemical anomalies detected during a regional survey by Geopeko in the 1970s.

“We have been waiting for this strategic tenement to become available for some time as it hosts intense sulphide mineralisation, with favourable geology and strong geochemical and geophysical support,” QMines executive chairman Andrew Sparke said.

“There is a clear case for drilling this target now that the tenement has been granted.”

QMines said the area was previously covered by a tenement held by a local landowner, who undertook limited work.

There is also evidence of small-scale alluvial mining in the area.

QMines said Geopeko drilled four holes, two ending in mineralisation and two ending above the mineralised horizon. The mineralised horizon is an intensely pyritic rhyolite tuff below a strong alteration zone.

Results included 18m at 0.88 per cent zinc including 6m at 1.63 per cent zinc, 0.56 per cent lead and 11 g/t silver; 45m at 0.48 per cent zinc and 45m at 0.43 per cent zinc.

A QMines VTEM geophysical survey last year identified an excellent chargeability anomaly at the site.

The company believes this Striker target contains all of the inputs required for a Mount Chalmers-style deposit.