Diablo Resources Unveils Promising Copper Hits at Phoenix Project, Utah

Early Drilling Success at Philadelphia Prospect

Diablo Resources Limited (ASX, DBO) has delivered its first glimpse of potential at the Phoenix Copper Project in Utah, USA, with maiden scout drilling returning highly encouraging copper mineralisation results. The highlight came from the Philadelphia Prospect, where a 10.5-metre intercept grading 1.02% copper, including a higher-grade 1.5-metre section at 3.99%, was recorded from a shallow depth of 36.5 metres. This discovery confirms the presence of shallow copper oxide mineralisation that remains open in all directions and at depth, suggesting a potentially sizeable deposit.

Strategic Location in a Tier-1 Copper District

Situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Moab, Utah, the Phoenix Project lies along strike from the producing Lisbon Valley Copper Mine, which currently outputs around 740 million pounds of copper. This proximity places Diablo’s project within the world-class Lisbon Valley Mining District, a region known for its rich copper deposits. The mineralisation is associated with the significant Philadelphia Fault, a structural feature that has historically hosted copper mineralisation, enhancing the prospectivity of the area.

Expanding the Exploration Footprint

Following these promising initial results, Diablo plans to resume drilling in mid-November, targeting both follow-up holes at Philadelphia and maiden drilling at the nearby Fair Dinkum prospect. The latter is strategically located along strike from known copper deposits such as Flying Diamond and Lone Wolf, further raising the potential for discovery. Additionally, regional soil and stream sediment sampling programs are underway, with results pending, which could identify further targets within the project’s extensive claim blocks.

Parallel Exploration at Star Range

In parallel with the Phoenix Copper Project, Diablo is advancing exploration at its recently acquired Star Range Silver-Antimony Project, also in Utah. Surface geochemical sampling and geological mapping are in progress, with an airborne magnetic survey scheduled for November. This dual-asset approach aims to deliver steady news flow and value creation for investors by advancing multiple critical mineral targets simultaneously.

Outlook and Market Implications

While these early drilling results are encouraging, it is important to note that the drilling remains wide-spaced and at an early stage. True widths of mineralisation have yet to be determined, and some drill holes encountered technical difficulties. Nonetheless, the confirmation of open copper mineralisation in a Tier-1 mining district, combined with upcoming drilling programs, positions Diablo Resources as a company to watch in the US copper exploration space.