https://www.mining-journal.com/copper/news/1373754/bhp-quietly-reports-strong-oak-dam-resultsA further 10 diamond holes for 12,441m, drilled between February and June, returned "encouraging" results. Intersections included a standout 205m at 2.04% copper and 0.43 grams per tonne gold from 1,247m, including 44m at 5.77% copper and 1.2gpt gold. Other hits included 80m at 2.73% copper and 0.44gpt gold from 1,209m, including 24m at 4.7% copper and 0.41gpt gold; 230m at 1.79% copper and 0.52% copper from 1,071m, including 42m at 3.06% copper and 0.92gpt gold; and 71m at 2.2% copper and 0.28gpt gold from 810m. The intersections also contained silver and uranium mineralisation. "Further optimism from continuing drilling of Oak Dam, the copper discovery to the south of Olympic Dam," Morgans analyst Adrian Prendergast said. "Only 14 holes drilled to date, but encouraging results showing good grades." BHP said recent drilling continued to confirm IOCG-style alteration and mineralisation, with a core of barren hematite-quartz breccias approximately central to the gravity anomaly, surrounded by high-grade chalcocite and bornite mineralisation, which grades outwards to more dominant chalcopyrite and pyrite mineralisation towards the contact with the host granite.
