The Wyandotte Copper Prospect, located within the Greenvale Project area, is recognized for its shallow, high-grade copper deposit that has remained largely untapped since exploration efforts by Shell Minerals Exploration (Aust.) Pty Ltd in 1975. Historical drilling has revealed copper mineralization within 60 metres of the surface, suggesting potential for additional nearby deposits or connections to a larger copper zone.
This project has been put on hold while the company directs its focus to the development of the Steam Engine Gold Project and drill programs at the Cockie Creek and Bottletree prospects.
To date, 32 historical diamond drill holes totalling 2,941 metres have targeted the deposit, with the bulk of this drilling (27 holes) conducted by Silver Valley Minerals in 1969. Subsequent efforts by Shell Minerals in 1975 added five more holes to the exploration record, focusing on strategic areas along the deposit’s strike and dip, as well as adjacent zones.
The deposit is situated within an epidote amphibolite setting, surrounded by amphibolites, meta-intrusives, and metasediments, indicating a complex geological history of sedimentation, volcanic activity, intrusion, and subsequent deformation and metamorphism. The copper mineralization, predominantly chalcopyrite and bornite, is believed to have been relocated during these processes, with similarities noted to the geological context at the Cockie Creek Copper Prospect. The presence of supergene enrichment around 20-25 metres depth and 3D visualisations suggest a north-plunging orientation of the copper body.
Building on the historical foundation, recent updates have reinvigorated interest in the Wyandotte Prospect. In 2022, the area was reassessed, highlighting its high-grade copper mineralization and its potential linkage to a deeper, possibly intrusion-related system. Utilising historical drill data and modern geological interpretations, Superior delineated an Exploration Target in accordance with the JORC Code 2012, offering a promising tonnage and grade range that underscores the site’s untapped potential. This reassessment led to the planning of a 14-hole drilling campaign, encompassing 1,075 metres, aimed at probing both the established mineralization and its potential down-dip extensions.
In June 2023, Superior announced the commencement of the first drilling campaign at Wyandotte since the mid-1970s, slated for late 2023 to early 2024, although this was suspended as the company directs its focus on the drill programs at the Cockie Creek, Bottletree and Steam Engine prospects.
Preliminary geological surveys and fieldwork significantly enhanced the understanding of the prospect’s porphyry potential. This initiative marked a pivotal phase in the exploration of Wyandotte, with efforts geared towards not only delineating the known mineralization but also uncovering the broader implications of its geological setting.
