New Frontier Minerals Limited (LSE and ASX: NFM), an Australian-based explorer focused on critical minerals and base metals, has released results from a structural mapping and rock chip sampling programme completed at the Big One Deposit within its NWQ Copper Project in North-West Queensland. The field programme, conducted between 28 September and 1 October 2026, targeted a historical costean approximately 400 metres southwest of Big One Pit 1, along strike of the mineralised trachyte dyke and fault hosting the existing Mineral Resource. Results include in situ copper oxide grades of up to 1.30% CuO, with selective stockpile sampling returning up to 7.76% CuO, and the company states the costean area will be included as a target in its next drill programme.

Key Points

  • New Frontier Minerals Limited (LSE and ASX: NFM)
  • Structural mapping and rock chip sampling completed at a costean 400m southwest of Big One Pit 1, along the mineralised fault trend at the NWQ Copper Project in Queensland
  • In situ rock chip results returned up to 1.30% CuO; stockpile sampling returned up to 7.76% CuO; a gossan sample near Pit 1 returned 594ppm cobalt
  • Investors should watch for the next drill programme at Big One, which will include the heritage-cleared costean area alongside Mineral Resource infill targets

Structural Measurements at Big One Southwest Costean Support Fault Continuity Beyond Historical Pits

The historical costean, approximately one metre deep, exposed an in situ shear zone with the dominant shearing plane measured at approximately 80° towards 060°, which the announcement states is consistent with the mineralised fault structure recorded in Big One Pits 1, 2 and 3. Copper oxide minerals, including malachite staining, were observed within the altered trachyte dyke and adjacent haematite-altered sedimentary rocks along the shear. The company interprets these structural measurements as supporting its view that the copper-bearing fault continues along strike southwest of the main pit, largely under cover, in an area that has not previously been drill-tested.

Six Rock Chip Samples Return Copper Grades Across Costean, Stockpile and Pit 1 Area

Six rock chip samples, designated BORS001 to BORS006, were collected on 1 October 2026 and submitted to ALS Perth, with results finalised on 4 November 2026. In situ samples along the shearing plane returned up to 1.30% CuO, while costean rubble returned up to 1.67% CuO. A selective stockpile sample returned up to 7.76% CuO, though the company cautions this result is not representative of the deposit grade or the interpreted southwest extension. A sample collected from a suspected gossan outcrop northeast of Pit 1, beyond the current resource limit, returned 0.15% CuO and 594ppm cobalt, which the announcement identifies as significant.

Big One Deposit Hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 2.1Mt at 1.1% Copper for 21,886 Tonnes Contained Metal

The Big One Deposit is located approximately 90 kilometres north of the Mt Kelly processing facility and sits within EPM 26574 and Mining Lease Application ML100479. It hosts a JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate of 2.1 million tonnes at 1.1% copper for 21,886 tonnes of contained copper at a 0.45% copper cut-off grade, predominantly classified in the Inferred category. Malachite staining has been observed along at least 600 metres of strike, of which approximately 200 metres has been exploited by historical open pits. The Mineral Resource commences from surface and remains open to the east, north and down dip.

NFM Plans Geophysical Work and Drill Programme to Test the Undrilled Southwest Extension at Big One

The company's stated next steps include integrating the new structural measurements and assay results into the Big One geological model, undertaking further geophysical work — potentially including infill IP lines or Mobile-MT surveys — along the mineralised fault to define drill targets, and incorporating the costean area into the next drill programme alongside Mineral Resource infill targets. The costean area lies within a heritage-cleared zone approved by the Kalkadoon in September 2020, removing one logistical barrier to drilling. Investors may be watching for a formal drill programme announcement and any updated geological modelling as the company advances this undrilled portion of the Big One structural trend.