Ballymore Resources (ASX:BMR) has commenced an inaugural drilling program at its Maniopota lead–zinc–copper–silver–gold target in North Queensland, marking a significant step in advancing exploration within the company's 100%-owned Ruddygore Project near Chillagoe.
The Maniopota prospect is located about 10km west of the Torpy's prospect and lies along the same northwest-trending structural corridor that hosts the historic Red Dome and Mungana gold and base metal mines.
Previous surface exploration by Ballymore has outlined a large hydrothermal system with extensive skarn alteration, supported by a strong and continuous copper–lead–zinc ± silver–gold soil anomaly extending for more than 6km.
Rock chip sampling has returned highly anomalous grades of up to 22.20% copper, 31.20% lead, 13.80% zinc, 1.07 g/t gold and 585 g/t silver.
Geophysical work, including a CEI-funded heli-borne electromagnetic survey completed in 2024 and reprocessed historic induced polarisation data, has identified multiple conductive and chargeable targets coincident with geochemical anomalies.
Limited historic drilling carried out more than 30 years ago intersected shallow, high-grade mineralisation, including 3m at 10.72% lead and 20.63% zinc, highlighting the prospect’s potential.
The current program comprises five reverse circulation holes for approximately 650m and will test a combination of geological, geochemical and geophysical targets near historic workings.
Concurrently, Ballymore has mobilised a diamond drill rig at the nearby Torpy's prospect to further evaluate high-grade silver–lead–zinc–indium mineralisation following a successful earlier RC drilling campaign.
At the time of reporting, Ballymore Resources' share price was $0.31.