Aruma Resources launches Phase 2 drilling at Tillex copper-silver project
Aruma Resources Ltd (ASX:AAJ) has begun the second phase of diamond drilling at its Tillex Copper-Silver Project in Ontario, with an approximately 3,600-metre program targeting extensions to the wide, high-grade mineralisation identified in its initial campaign. The program will test the southwest strike and depth potential of the Tillex deposit, including a strong electromagnetic conductor interpreted to extend beyond the limits of current drilling, with selected holes also used for further downhole electromagnetic surveying.
Phase 1 drilling returned multiple broad, high-grade intersections including 89 metres at 2.04% copper and 12.31 g/t silver from 38.8 metres (including 16.87 metres at 4.02% copper and 16.85 g/t silver), 87 metres at 1.99% copper and 12.63 g/t silver from 30 metres, and 59 metres at 1.91% copper and 8.80 g/t silver from 38 metres. Tillex is currently defined over about 450 metres of strike and to a depth of around 150 metres, with mineralisation remaining open; ground and downhole electromagnetic work indicates a potential strike extent of up to roughly 600 metres.
Managing director Grant Ferguson said the campaign was designed to expand the known mineralised footprint and advance the project toward a JORC-compliant maiden mineral resource estimate. Tillex sits in the Timmins mining district, about 60 kilometres from the Kidd Creek copper-zinc-silver mine, and is held through patented mining claims that provide Aruma with surface and mineral rights. Phase 2 drilling is expected to be completed within roughly a month, with assay results released progressively as they become available.
BOA Resources prepares maiden Neds Creek copper program in Western Australia
BOA Resources Ltd (ASX:BOA) has signed drilling contracts and secured approvals for its maiden program at the Neds Creek Copper Project in Western Australia's Murchison district, with a 7,500-metre reverse circulation campaign across 53 holes expected to begin in early August. Heritage surveys have been completed and Programme of Works approvals received ahead of mobilisation.
The campaign will start at the Ricci Lee prospect, a mineralised structure extending about 500 metres within the Thaduna Formation roughly two kilometres southwest of the Thaduna Copper Deposit. Historical reverse circulation drilling at Ricci Lee returned separate intersections of 5 metres at 3.48% copper and 10 metres at 5.12% copper at approximately 200 metres vertical depth. BOA's broader 2026 program also includes 7,500 metres of aircore drilling, with work planned beyond Ricci Lee at Rooney's and four additional priority prospects.
Managing director Graeme Purcell said the program represented the first step toward expanding BOA's copper inventory to an economically meaningful scale. The company has separately announced the acquisition of the Thaduna and Green Dragon copper deposits, which hold a combined mineral resource of 5.3 million tonnes at 2.3% copper for 121,000 tonnes of contained copper; the adjacent Thaduna deposit alone hosts 4.1 million tonnes at 2.5% copper for 103,000 tonnes of contained copper. The Neds Creek Project covers approximately 1,378 square kilometres of prospective tenure.
Nordic Resources extends Kopsa gold-copper mineralisation in Finland
Nordic Resources (ASX:NNL) has reported that the final three diamond holes from its Q2 2026 drilling program at the Kopsa project in central Finland each intersected more than 100 metres of semi-continuous gold-copper mineralisation, with the holes collared between 90 and 160 metres beyond previous drilling. The step-outs targeted a previously undrilled part of the intrusion and extended mineralisation by more than 100 metres from the resource boundary in most places.
Managing director Robert Wrixon said the results exceeded expectations, with mineralised zones continuing and widening toward the southwest and showing strong continuity both along and between sections. None of the reported holes are yet included in the existing resource estimate. The results wrap up reporting from the 3,660-metre diamond drilling program completed at Kopsa in Q2 2026.
Nordic Resources is awaiting results from metallurgical testwork optimisation, expected during Q3 2026, and plans to compile all new information into an updated resource estimate for Kopsa. Further drilling is scheduled to begin within about two weeks.
Upcoming catalysts
Near-term milestones include progressive assay releases from Aruma's Tillex Phase 2 program, the start of BOA's maiden Neds Creek reverse circulation campaign in early August, Nordic Resources' updated Kopsa resource estimate and Q3 2026 metallurgical results, and ongoing permitting and resource work tied to BOA's Thaduna–Green Dragon acquisition.
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