Selkirk Copper Mines (TSXV: SCMI) has drilled one of the highest grade intercepts ever recorded at its Minto project. The hole returned 9.27% copper, 7.43 g/t gold and 54.9 g/t silver over 5.4 metres at Minto North.
That hole, 26SCM209, stepped out 35 metres from earlier drilling at the southern edge of the 202 Lens. It graded 15.11% copper equivalent across the interval. Minto’s historical database holds more than 4,300 significant intercepts, and this one ranks in the 99th percentile. Individual one-metre samples peaked at 17.5% copper.
Highlights from the latest batch of Phase 2 assays include:
- 26SCM209: 3.11% copper equivalent over 9.0 metres from a depth of 170.0 metres
- And 15.11% copper equivalent over 5.4 metres from a depth of 218.6 metres
- 26SCM216: 3.45% copper equivalent over 3.0 metres from a depth of 241.9 metres
- 26SCM207: 2.03% copper equivalent over 6.9 metres from a depth of 239.1 metres
- 26SCM238: 1.49% copper equivalent over 7.0 metres from a depth of 142.0 metres
- 26SCM224: 1.25% copper equivalent over 17.6 metres from a depth of 182.0 metres
Hole 26SCM224 was another 35 metre step-out, and it showed the 202 Lens is still open to the northwest. Both step-out holes also point to higher grades lining up along a north-northwest trend. The company says it sees the same pattern across the deposit.
Chief Executive Officer Colin Joudrie said the program “has greatly enhanced our understanding of the Minto Project” and “continues to increase our confidence in our restart plan.”
None of the Phase 2 drilling was included in last week’s preliminary economic assessment. That study outlined an after-tax net present value of C$494 million and a 47.8% internal rate of return, with C$186 million in initial capital. It targets first concentrate in the second half of 2028.
Drilling has reached 52,485 metres across 224 holes under the phase two program and is set to run until mid-October. The results will go into an updated resource estimate in the first quarter of 2027.
Selkirk Copper Mines last traded at $1.36 on the TSX Venture.
The scientific and technical information contained in this article has been summarized from Selkirk Copper Mines’s news release dated September 29, 2026. The original news release was reviewed and approved by Leif Bailey, P.Geo., Director of Geoscience & Exploration of Selkirk Copper Mines Inc., and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Drill intercepts represent core lengths unless explicitly stated as true width. For complete details regarding QA/QC protocols, sampling procedures, and analytical methodology, please refer to the full press release available on the company’s profile at SEDAR+.
