AIC Mines Limited has announced continuity of high-grade mineralisation from resource definition and extension drilling at its Jericho copper deposit in northwest Queensland, a discovery it said would accelerate the mine’s ramp-up schedule.
The seven-hole resource definition program retuned several strong copper-gold intersections, including one from 7 metres at 3.1 per cent copper (Cu), 0.9 grams per tonne (G/t) gold (Au) and 2.7 grams per tonne silver (Ag) from 165 metres. Another discovery was one from 7 metres at 2.6 per cent Cu, 0.8 g/t Au and 2.4 g/t Ag from 205 metres.
AIC Mines managing director Aaron Colleran said the results are important because the Jericho access drive is now expected to intersect the Jolly shoot in the March 2026 quarter.
“This is approximately six months earlier than development is due to commence at the main Matilda shoot,” Colleran said.
“The Eloise processing plant has space capacity to immediately treat any early material and early production will also allow for a good stockpile to be built ahead of commissioning of the expanded processing plant, targeted for the December 2026 quarter.”
Located about 4 kilometres south of AIC Mines’ Eloise copper mine and processing plant, Jericho hosts multiple parallel lenses, the J1, J2, and the newly discovered J0, with high-grade shoots including Jumbuck, Matilda, Jolly and Billabong.
The mineralisation extends over a five-kilometre stroke and remains open to the north and south.
The Jolly shoot, in particular, has gained significance due to its close proximity with the Jericho access drive, which has advanced to within 380 metres of the J1 lens.
Colleran said this location provides an opportunity for early development and ore delivery, giving AIC a smoother transition into full-scale operations at Jericho.
Drilling also confirmed mineralisation at the J0 lens, returning up to 5 metres at 1.7 per cent copper and 0.4g/t gold.
The lens remains open along strike and at depth, with further drilling planned for the March 2026 quarter to define higher-grade extensions.
AIC Mines continues to expand Eloise’s production capacity from roughly 12,500 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate per year, with Jericho key to that plan.
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