HIGHLIGHTS

  • First 2026 assays confirm copper mineralisation across 1.5km of strike at Danvers 2, with total assayed and mineralised footprint now exceeding 5.4km.
  • DAN26004 returned 15.24m at 1.51% Cu from 225m depth, including 1.52m at 5.18% Cu and 41.8g/t silver.
  • Copper sulphides observed in every hole into the main Teshierpi Fault Zone, with up to 15% visible chalcocite in DAN26012.

 

White Cliff Minerals Limited (ASX:WCN) released its first assay results from the 2026 regional drilling campaign at its Danvers project within the Rae Copper Project in Nunavut, Canada, on Monday. Despite the geological significance of the results — which confirm copper mineralisation across 1.5 kilometres of strike at the Danvers 2 area and bring the total assayed and mineralised footprint to more than 5.4 kilometres — the stock retreated 6.25% to A$0.015.

The Danvers 2 area was discovered by drillhole DAN25019, which returned an exceptional 30.5 metres at 2.49% copper in the 2025 campaign. The 2026 regional drilling program was designed to test the extent of mineralisation around that discovery using wide-spaced step-out holes, with an average spacing of approximately 348 metres between holes — a configuration that prioritises footprint assessment over resource definition. The first assays from this wide-spaced campaign have confirmed that mineralisation is present across all tested intervals, establishing a 1.5-kilometre copper-bearing footprint for Danvers 2 alone.

Headline Results: Broad and High-Grade Intervals

The most significant result from the first 2026 assays comes from DAN26004, which returned multiple intervals including 15.24 metres at 1.51% copper from 225.55 metres downhole, including a higher-grade zone of 1.52 metres at 5.18% copper and 41.8 grams per tonne silver. A shallower interval of 9.14 metres at 1.02% copper from 36.58 metres was also recorded. DAN26002 returned two separate zones of copper mineralisation, with 39.62 metres at 0.42% copper from 82.3 metres — including 3.05 metres at 1.35% copper — and a second zone of 36.58 metres at 0.29% copper from 190.5 metres.

DAN26005, which ended prematurely before reaching its planned depth, still returned several copper intervals including 3.05 metres at 1.5% copper and 3.05 metres at 1.91% copper. DAN26003 ended in mineralisation, recording 3.05 metres at 1.34% copper at the bottom of the hole, within a broader interval of 9.15 metres at 0.55% copper. The fact that multiple holes terminated in mineralisation — meaning the system remains open at depth — is an encouraging indicator of continuity and scale.

The Strike Rate: Every Hole Hits Sulphides

One of the most compelling observations in the announcement is the company's characterisation of a "remarkable strike rate" — every hole drilled into the main Teshierpi Fault Zone has returned visible copper sulphides. Recent holes not yet assayed reinforce this trend: DAN26009 intersected 15 metres of combined copper sulphides, DAN26010 returned 26 metres of combined sulphides and ended in 3% chalcocite, DAN26011 delivered 41 metres of combined sulphides, and DAN26012 — which targeted the central portion of a geophysical anomaly — intersected 21 metres of combined sulphides including up to 15% visible chalcocite from 154 metres downhole, described as the strongest mineralisation observed to date.

The consistent presence of copper sulphides across the entire tested width of the fault zone, combined with the significant apparent thicknesses now being observed, supports the company's thesis of a district-scale copper system. The wide spacing between holes — up to 583 metres between DAN26005 and DAN26008 — means there is substantial untested ground between completed holes, offering considerable upside for further mineralisation discoveries as the program progresses.

Upcoming Program: Diamond Drilling and Expansion

The 2026 program remains well underway, with approximately 2,600 metres drilled to date and a further approximately 6,000 metres planned along the Teshierpi Fault and approximately 4,000 metres of expansion drilling to the northeast of the Danvers 1 area. This work is on track for completion by end of July 2026. A diamond drill rig is expected to arrive in early June, which will add the capability for step-out and infill drilling and will generate core samples critical for detailed geological analysis and structural interpretation. Samples continue to be dispatched to ALS Laboratories with assay turnaround of approximately four weeks.