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Highlights
- Develin Creek resource estimate increased to 4.2 million tonnes.
- 70% of the resource now classified as Indicated, boosting confidence.
- Open pit studies and a 10,000-metre drilling program underway.
QMines (ASX:QML) has delivered a significant upgrade to the mineral resource estimate (MRE) at its Develin Creek copper-zinc project in Queensland, reinforcing its long-term growth strategy and expanding future development opportunities.
Major Resource Growth and Increased Confidence
The latest MRE for Develin Creek has been upgraded to 4.2 million tonnes at 1.07% copper, 1.16% zinc, 0.15 g/t gold, and 6.0 g/t silver. This represents a notable increase of one million tonnes from previous estimates. Importantly, 70% of this resource now falls under the Indicated category, reflecting a 42% increase in confidence and a stronger foundation for future mine planning.
This enhanced classification strengthens QMines' ability to integrate Develin Creek into the broader Mt Chalmers development plan, extending mine life and improving the overall economic outlook of the project.
Advancing Development Studies and Exploration
Following this resource expansion, QMines has initiated open pit optimisation studies for the Scorpion and Window deposits to assess their economic viability. Concurrently, a 10,000-metre drilling program is in progress to further extend the resource and test mineralisation at Sulphide City, Scorpion, and Window deposits.
Develin Creek, located 90 kilometres northwest of Rockhampton, is a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) copper-zinc deposit featuring multiple high-grade zones with strong geological continuity. This makes it a core asset within QMines' growth strategy.
Since acquiring full ownership of the project in September 2024, the company has implemented a systematic exploration approach, culminating in this substantial resource upgrade.
Strategic Integration and Geological Insights
The latest resource update follows an extensive drilling campaign conducted between September and December 2024, designed to enhance geological confidence and expand mineralisation. With this update, QMines’ combined resource base across Mt Chalmers and Develin Creek now stands at 15.5 million tonnes at 0.82% copper, 0.47% zinc, 0.35 g/t gold, and 5 g/t silver.
The company is currently evaluating synergies between the two projects to establish a consolidated mining operation, maximising efficiency and scale.
Geological assessments indicate that Develin Creek’s mineralisation is hosted within Cambrian-age Rookwood Volcanics, with hydrothermal alterations and high-grade sulphide bodies. Drilling has confirmed mineralisation from surface to depths of 80 to 200 metres, with open extensions along strike and depth.
Historical metallurgical testing has demonstrated strong recoveries of copper (72%) and zinc (82%) through flotation circuits, with ongoing studies focused on optimising gold and silver recoveries.
Next Steps and Future Outlook
QMines is actively progressing its exploration and development strategy at Develin Creek with the following key initiatives:
- Ongoing 10,000-metre drilling program targeting both infill and extensional zones.
- Open pit mining studies assessing development options for Scorpion and Window.
- Expanded metallurgical test work to refine processing methodologies.
- Economic evaluations exploring integration with Mt Chalmers.
As drilling and exploration activities continue, QMines expects consistent updates on resource growth and project optimisation, further solidifying Develin Creek’s role in its long-term development strategy.
