Helix Expands Copper Footprint

Wedoany.com Report-Nov 15,  Helix Resources has entered into a deal to acquire 51 per cent of a portfolio of copper projects in Western Australia.

The portfolio comprises seven new projects covering 320km² within the Bryah Basin region, which is known to host volcanogenic massive sulphide copper-gold deposits.

A total of four of the projects are located on the highly prospective geological trend directly along strike of Sandfire Resources’ DeGrussa copper mine.

The Doolgunna and DeGrussa West tenements specifically provide exposure to 12km of largely unexplored geology with demonstrated contained copper mineralisation located 18km along strike from the DeGrussa copper mine.

“We are excited to announce the acquisition of a portfolio, covering the same highly prospective host sequences in which the high grade Degrussa copper deposits occur, formerly mined by Sandfire Resources,” Helix managing director Kylie Prendergast said.

“These transactions are part of our strategy to diversify and expand our copper exploration footprint into the Bryah Basin. The acquisition consolidates key landholdings within one of the most prospective copper regions in Australia and positions Helix for significant exploration upside.”

Under the binding letter agreements with OD4 Tom Price and Omni GeoX, both private companies, Helix could potentially earn up to 90 per cent in each of the projects.

Helix will pay Omni GeoX a $60,000 upfront non-refundable cash deposit and a cash payment of $100,000 for the Doolgunna project.

It will also pay an additional $300,000 cash or 75 million fully paid ordinary Helix shares, the latter of which is subject to shareholder approval.

Helix’s technical team are expected to deploy a multidisciplinary focused approach to exploring the projects, incorporating multi-element geochemistry, new geophysics and drill testing. It will start with the Doolgunna-Degrussa West consolidated project, then will test other projects and targets as they are produced.

“With copper and zinc mineralisation already identified in surface samples and geophysical surveys, we believe the Bryah Basin projects represent an outstanding opportunity for Helix,” Prendergast said.

“The staged earn-in structure provides us with a clear path to increasing our interest in these projects as exploration advances.”