en.Wedoany.com Reported - New Frontier Minerals (ASX:NFM) has detected copper grades of up to 6.88% in rock samples collected from the Mt Storm copper prospect at the NWQ Copper Project in northwest Queensland, Australia.

During geological mapping, the company collected eight rock chip and grab samples from historical pits, waste dumps, and surrounding wall rocks. Analysis results from ALS Perth laboratory showed copper grades ranging from 0.49% to 6.88% in samples from pits and waste dumps. Sequential leaching tests further confirmed that in the highest-grade sample with 6.88% copper, acid-soluble copper values reached 6.83%. New Frontier stated that these results indicate copper is primarily hosted in oxide and secondary minerals.

Chairman Gerrard Hall said that surface copper grades of 6.88%, combined with acid-soluble copper recovery, confirm the credibility of historical results, with the prospect previously producing ore at approximately 6% copper grade. Historical mining activities at Mt Storm produced approximately 1,100 tonnes of ore with grades between 4.5% and 7% copper. Previous sampling also detected up to 10.4% copper over 0.6 meters in a western siliceous malachite vein.

New Frontier has outlined an exploration target of 500,000 to 3.7 million tonnes of ore at copper grades of 0.5% to 1.5%, containing between 2,500 and 55,500 tonnes of copper. The company noted that this estimate is conceptual in nature and that insufficient exploration has been completed to estimate mineral resources. The company plans to resume geological mapping at Mt Storm this month to refine the geological model and support future drilling planning, while continuing to advance landowner engagement, cultural heritage planning, and site access arrangements.