Somerset Minerals (ASX: SMM) has reported new assay results from three additional drill holes at its Coppermine Project in Nunavut, Canada. Each hole returned broad zones of high-grade copper mineralisation, extending the continuity of the Jura North system to around 190 metres down-dip. The mineralisation remains open in all directions.
Key intercepts include 39.6 metres at 1.61% copper from 128 metres in hole JURC012, with a high-grade core of 18.3 metres at 3.14% copper from 131.1 metres, and 4.6 metres at 6.05% copper from 143.3 metres. Hole JURC008 cut 71.6 metres at 0.57% copper from 89.9 metres, including 10.7 metres at 2.47% copper. JURC007 returned 16.8 metres at 0.82% copper from 53.3 metres, including 3.0 metres at 2.97% copper.
Depth Potential and Expansion Opportunities
According to Managing Director Chris Hansen, “Jura North continues to deliver high-grade copper intercepts from a rapidly growing orebody. The true thickness of the system appears to increase with depth, showing immense upside for resource definition.”
Geophysical data supports that assessment. A recent induced polarisation (IP) survey indicates that mineralisation could extend beyond 600 metres below surface, suggesting significant vertical growth potential. All holes were drilled along strike from the standout JURC001 intercept of 42.7 metres at 2.69% copper, confirming the continuity of high-grade zones.
Emerging District Scale System
The Jura trend spans approximately 7 kilometres and forms part of the larger 1,665 square kilometre Coppermine Project area. The company’s dual-track exploration program is targeting both near-resource growth at Jura and new discoveries across multiple prospects including Laphroaig, Ardbeg, and Oban.
Surface sampling across the Jura trend has previously returned up to 19.1% copper and 21.1 grams-per-tonne silver, with recent re-assays also identifying gold values up to 1.4 grams-per-tonne. The presence of gold within copper-dominant zones enhances the project’s potential polymetallic value.
Jurisdictional Context
Nunavut, while remote and environmentally sensitive, remains a stable and mining-friendly jurisdiction within Canada’s federal framework. The region’s permitting process is rigorous but transparent, with active engagement from Inuit organisations and territorial regulators. Major operators including Agnico Eagle and Baffinland have established productive relationships with local communities, highlighting the region’s capacity to host long-life mining operations under robust governance standards.
Next Steps
Assays from the remaining three holes—each containing visible sulphide mineralisation—are due within the next two to four weeks. Further drilling will test deeper extensions and untested lookalike geophysical targets at Jura South.
Somerset says the results confirm a growing high-grade system within a historically underexplored Canadian copper belt. The Coppermine region hosts more than 100 documented copper occurrences and shares geological similarities with the prolific Keweenaw Peninsula deposits in Michigan.
