- 01Potential zinc-lead-silver lens identified beyond Mons Cupri’s resource.
- 02Hit: 16.52m at 2.68% Zn, 1.21% Pb, 32.9g/t Ag.
- 03Four follow-up holes will test continuity.
Anax Metals (ASX: ANX) has identified a potential new zinc-lead-silver lens beyond the classified mineral resource at its Mons Cupri deposit in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Fresh diamond drilling returned a 16.52-metre interval grading 2.68% zinc, 1.21% lead and 32.9 grams per tonne silver from 257.5m, equivalent to 1.06% copper equivalent.
The discovery prospect lies south-west of the Mons Cupri northwest pit within the Whim Creek copper-zinc project, of which Anax owns 80% alongside Develop Global (ASX: DVP).
A four-hole follow-up program is underway to establish whether the intersections form a continuous mineralised lens, with current drilling insufficient to support a mineral resource estimate.
Evidence for a New Lens
The principal intersection included 10m grading 3.62% zinc, 1.74% lead, and 39.5g/t silver, while a second interval further downhole measured 10.29m at 1.77% zinc and 38.3g/t silver.
About 100m to the south, drilling encountered 9m grading 2.31% zinc, although substantially lower lead and silver grades suggest that position may mark the system’s southern margin.
Another hole intersected stacked copper-zinc-silver mineralisation including 7m at 1.32% CuEq, while assays remain outstanding for a deeper 113m interval projecting towards the prospective lens.
“Follow-up drilling is already underway, and every step forward builds the case for the Whim Creek restart,” managing director Geoff Laing said.
“We’ve said Mons Cupri has more to give at depth—now we chase it," added non-executive director and exploration advisor Nick Jolly.
Shallow High-Grade Mineralisation
Separate near-surface drilling encountered high-grade zinc-lead-silver and copper zones, providing further targets around the existing Mons Cupri deposit ahead of any mining restart.
The strongest broad shallow result measured 14.03m at 3.31% CuEq, including 6.66% zinc and 110.1g/t silver, beginning just 24.92m below surface.
Other shallow intervals returned 12.2m at 2.95% CuEq and 5.05m at 3.84% CuEq, underscoring the range of metal-rich zones across the deposit.
Anax may undertake additional drilling during 2027 to improve confidence in the extent and continuity of these silver-rich areas before mining begins.
The company has commenced down-hole magnetometric resistivity surveys after earlier electromagnetic methods failed to respond clearly to the disseminated and stringer zinc sulphides.
Drilling Program Ongoing
By early November, Anax had completed 16 diamond holes totalling approximately 4,760m, with another hole in progress and several assay batches still pending.
The current campaign is scheduled to conclude in early December at approximately 20 holes and 6,200m, with results shaping the extent of work planned for 2027.
A structural review has also begun to refine drill targeting, while the four follow-up holes will test the potential lens for changes in thickness, grade and continuity.
Separately, Anax has received up to $161,000 in WA exploration co-funding, plus a possible $25,000 survey refund, supporting a planned 3,000m reverse circulation drilling program at Evelyn West in 2027.
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