en.Wedoany.com Reported - AIC Mines Ltd (ASX:A1M, OTC:IAUFF, FRA:HLS) has obtained high-grade copper, gold, and silver drilling results from the Jolly zone at the Jericho copper deposit in northwest Queensland, Australia, from resource definition and extensional drilling in the area. Jolly is the earliest planned mining zone at Jericho, and its development is a key component of AIC's plan to increase overall production at the nearby Eloise mine.
A program of eight surface drill holes primarily tested the extension of mineralization in the basement beneath overlying sediments. Drilling confirmed that high-grade mineralization is continuous up-dip and to the south, covering previously undrilled upper portions of the zone. Key surface results include hole JEDD106, which intersected 9.2 meters at 3.2% copper, 1.3 g/t gold, and 3.0 g/t silver from 105 meters, for a copper equivalent of 4.4%; and hole JEDD105, which intersected 8.1 meters at 2.5% copper, 1.1 g/t gold, and 2.5 g/t silver from 122.6 meters, for a copper equivalent of 3.5%. The highest-grade copper interval came from hole JEDD109, which intersected 2.2 meters at 7.1% copper, 1.0 g/t gold, and 5.9 g/t silver from 161.4 meters, for a copper equivalent of 8.0%.
AIC also completed underground resource definition drilling from the Jericho decline and mine development platforms, primarily targeting the Jolly zone south of the decline, with some holes intersecting inferred resources north of the decline. Results from south of the decline include hole JY027, which intersected 6.6 meters at 3.6% copper, 1.4 g/t gold, and 3.1 g/t silver, for a copper equivalent of 4.8%; and hole JY028, which intersected 4.8 meters at 3.3% copper, 1.7 g/t gold, and 3.9 g/t silver, for a copper equivalent of 4.9%. Hole JY023, north of the decline, intersected 3.4 meters at 4.4% copper, 1.5 g/t gold, and 2.8 g/t silver, for a copper equivalent of 5.8%.
Jericho is located 4 kilometers south of AIC's operating Eloise copper mine and processing plant. Mineralization has been confirmed over a strike length exceeding 5 kilometers, remaining open at both the northern and southern ends. The deposit begins approximately 50 meters below surface, with drilling reaching a vertical depth of 700 meters. Mineralization occurs primarily in two parallel lenses, J1 and J2, with high-grade zones including Jumbuck, Matilda, Jolly, and Billabong. The Jolly zone has grown in importance since its discovery in late 2024 due to its proximity to the Jericho decline. The zone was intersected in February 2026 and development began at the 4975 level in the March 2026 quarter.
Managing Director Aaron Colleran said Jericho has exceeded expectations in terms of strike length, continuity, and grade. AIC owns the Eloise high-grade underground copper mine southeast of Cloncurry in north Queensland and is developing Jericho to support expansion. The company plans to increase annual copper concentrate production from approximately 12,500 tonnes to around 20,000 tonnes through the development of Jericho and the expansion of the Eloise processing plant. Drilling continues on the inferred resource portion north of Jolly, with further deep definition drilling planned from surface and underground platforms during the 2026 calendar year.
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