White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX: WCN) has confirmed the success of its inaugural diamond drilling program at the Danvers project, reporting strong intercepts from the site’s primary mineralised system. The first diamond drill hole, DAN26026, returned 50.9 metres at 2.81% copper from a shallow depth of 39.7 metres. This result includes several high-grade zones, notably 4.3 metres at 10.93% copper, which validates the geological model the company has developed for the site. The presence of bornite and chalcocite within the chlorite-altered breccia further confirms the high-grade potential of the target area.

"Our first diamond hole at Danvers has delivered an exceptionally broad, near-surface, high-grade copper result, returning more than 50m at 2.81% Cu, including an exceptional 4.3m at 10.93% Cu - the latest intercept at the Danvers to again exceed 10% copper - further demonstrating the exceptional tenor and scale potential of the mineralised system."

"The geological information generated from this hole materially advances our ability to target future drilling, evaluate continuity and build confidence in the broader Danvers geological model, an important step in the evolution of the project."
— Troy Whittaker, Managing Director, and Eric Sondergaard, Executive Director - Technical

The diamond core has provided the company with its first detailed structural framework for Danvers. By identifying the specific geological controls that govern mineralisation, the technical team can now shift from simply identifying copper to systematically targeting extensions to the system. This transition is essential for understanding the overall footprint of the deposit. The company noted that the copper mineralisation extends beyond the central breccia zone into the surrounding basalt, indicating that the system remains open.

Looking ahead, the company is moving toward the final stages of its current exploration efforts. The Phase 1 drilling program, which aims to assess more than 10 kilometres of prospective strike length, is now nearing completion. This regional campaign has been critical in defining the broader geological context of the project area. As the team wraps up these field activities, focus will pivot toward interpreting the latest data to refine step-out drilling targets. Investors should expect further news as the lab processes the remaining backlog of core samples. Results from 21 additional diamond holes are currently pending, with a particular focus on the high-grade zones that were initially identified during the earlier stages of the project. These upcoming assay results are expected to provide further clarity on the scale and continuity of the system.

Read the full announcement: First Diamond Drill Hole Assays 50.9M at 2.81% Cu