High-Grade Copper Assays up to 6.88% at Mt Storm
New Frontier Minerals Limited
13 July 2026
New Frontier Minerals Limited / Index: ASX & LSE / Epic: NFM / Sector: Industrial Metals and Mining
13 July 2026
New Frontier Minerals Limited
("NFM" or the "Company")
Field Assessment at Mt Storm Prospect Confirms
High-Grade Copper Assays up to 6.88%
New Frontier Minerals Ltd (LSE and ASX: NFM) is pleased to advise assay results from the May 2026 field programme at the Mt Storm Copper Prospect ("Mt Storm"), part of the Company's NWQ Copper Project ("NWQ" or the "Project") in the Mount Isa Inlier of north-west Queensland.
Detailed laboratory analyses of eight (8) rock chip and grab samples have confirmed high-grade copper mineralisation at surface, with pit and dump samples returning up to 6.88% Cu. Sequential leach testing confirmed high recoveries of the sulphuric acid-soluble copper component. New Frontier's geological team will return to site later this month to complete detailed geological mapping, which will assist in the development of any future drill programme at Mt Storm.
Highlights
· Fieldwork undertaken at the Mt Storm Copper Prospect, NWQ Copper Project during May 2026 focussed on geological mapping and sampling of country rock, mineralised outcrop, ex-mine dumps and in-pit grab samples 1
· Analyses returned from ALS Perth have confirmed encouraging results , with copper values for pit and dump samples ranging from 0.49% to 6.88% Cu
· Further copper testing via sequential leach analysis confirmed high recoveries for the sulphuric acid-soluble copper component, supporting potential amenability to conventional acid-leach processing
· Historical small-scale mining at Mt Storm extracted approximately 1,100 t of ore at a head grade of circa 6% Cu, with historical pit sampling returning up to 10.4% Cu 2,3
· Follow-up site visits, including detailed geological mapping, will assist in the development of a future drill programme
Chairman Gerrard Hall commented: "The Mt Storm assays are an excellent outcome from our May field programme in Queensland. Copper grades of up to 6.88% at surface, together with acid-soluble copper recoveries, confirm the historical results that first drew our attention to a prospect that has already produced ore grade material at around 6% copper. Sitting only 8 km from our Big One deposit, Mt Storm is emerging as a compelling target, and our team will return to site this month to complete the detailed mapping that will assist in the development of any future drill programme."
MT STORM - LOCATION AND MINING HISTORY
The Mt Storm Copper Prospect lies within EPM 27440, ~75km north of Austral's Mt Kelly processing facility. Historical small-scale mining, most recently by Coffee Gold NL in the early 1990s within the now-lapsed ML 90105, extracted approximately 1,100 t of ore in total - 700 t at a head grade of 7% Cu and a later batch of 400 t at 4.5% Cu. 2,3 Historical pit sampling returned up to 10.4% Cu across a 0.6 m interval on the western cherty malachite vein, 2 with earlier sampling by ALS Cloncurry recording copper as high as 5.4% and 271 ppm cobalt in similar locations. 3 Later rock chip sampling by Mt Isa Metals under EPM 16498 found copper to 521 ppm, cobalt to 519 ppm and gold to 750 ppb away from the workings. 4
The Mt Storm workings lie on the southern edge of a steeply dipping porphyritic syenite dyke, exposed over more than 750 m of strike, within siliceous, haematitic silty sandstones of the Proterozoic Quilalar Formation. The historical pits are aligned along a malachite vein system striking between 30° and 70° with steep dips to the southwest. Copper-cobalt-gold mineralisation is interpreted to be structurally controlled along the dyke contact; there is currently no drilling to test down-dip extensions. 2
MAY 2026 FIELD PROGRAMME AND SAMPLING
Fieldwork undertaken during May 2026 was based around geological mapping and sampling of country rock, mineralised outcrop, ex-mine dumps and in-pit grab samples. 1 A total of eight (8) rock chip and grab samples were submitted to ALS Perth for detailed laboratory analysis, comprising four-acid digest multi-element characterisation (ALS method ME-MS61R) and sequential copper leach analysis (ALS method PH06).
ASSAY RESULTS CONFIRM HIGH-GRADE, ACID-SOLUBLE COPPER
Analyses returned from ALS Perth have confirmed the encouraging results of historical sampling and laboratory testing at Mt Storm. 2,3 Copper values for pit and dump samples ranged from 0.49% to 6.88% Cu, with the samples returning high copper values also associated with minor anomalous silver, cobalt, nickel and zinc.
Sequential leach analysis (ALS method PH06) confirmed high recoveries for the sulphuric acid-soluble copper component (Table 1). The highest-grade sample, MTS_GS003 6.88% Cu (T), reported 6.83% Cu (S) in the sulphuric acid-soluble fraction, indicating that the contained copper is dominantly hosted in oxide and secondary copper minerals potentially amenable to conventional acid-leach processing.
Country rock, consisting of quartzite, siltstones, dolomitic shales and a porphyry intrusive (possibly syenite), recorded background copper analyses ranging from 8-70 ppm, providing a clear geochemical contrast between mineralised material and the surrounding host lithologies. Based on the ME-MS61R multi-element methodology, no anomalous rare earth elements were indicated.
EXPLORATION TARGET
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An Exploration Target (to the standard of Clause 17 of the 2012 JORC Code) was previously estimated for Mt Storm from the available historical mining and surface sampling data (Table 2). 5,6
Cautionary Statement: It should be noted that the Exploration Target tonnage ranges quoted above are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a copper resource. Although a preliminary analysis was undertaken, insufficient data exists to confidently correlate mineralised horizons within the Exploration Target area. It is uncertain whether further exploration may lead to the reporting of a JORC-standard resource however there is some evidence to support the current exploration tonnage calculations, and the sufficient mineralised thicknesses interpreted from historical drilling to warrant further investigation in some areas.
FOLLOW-UP SITE VISITS AND DETAILED MAPPING
NFM's geological team will return to Mt Storm to undertake comprehensive, detailed geological mapping of the prospect. The programme will focus on tracing the porphyritic syenite dyke and its contact zones along strike, and mapping the orientation and continuity of the mineralised structures exposed in and around the historical workings.
These follow-up site visits, together with further rock chip sampling where warranted, will refine the geological model of the structurally controlled mineral system and will assist in the development of any future drill programme at Mt Storm. The results of the mapping programme will inform the design, scale and timing of any such programme.
NEXT STEPS
NFM's forthcoming Mt Storm programme to include:
· Detailed geological mapping of the Mt Storm Prospect to refine the geological model and assist in the development of any future drill programme
· Landowner engagement, cultural heritage and site access planning to be progressed in parallel with the mapping programme
· Results of the mapping programme, and any subsequent exploration plans, to be reported as they become available
REFERENCES
1. New Frontier Minerals Limited, 2026. [NWQ Copper Project with joint Austral Resources site visit to Big One and Mt Storm, ASX Announcement, 18 May 2026.
2. Csar, M., 1996. Big One and Mt Storm Copper Deposits. Unpublished report by Aberfoyle Limited for Coffee Gold NL, 8pp.
3. Wilson, Wilson, D. (1996a, November). Mt Storm Fieldwork. Memorandum, To Bruce Haltt, Gunpowder Copper; and Wilson, D. (1996b). Big One and Mt Storm Options. Memorandum, To Bruce Haltt, Gunpowder Copper.
4. Bowden, R. A. (2010). EPM 16498 Johnnies Isa North Project Annual Report 9th January 2009 - 8th January 2010. QDEX Company Report CR00061204, Prepared for Mt Isa Metals Ltd.
5. Biggs, M.S., 2022. EPM 27440 Mount Storm Exploration Target. Unpublished report for Castillo Copper Limited by ROM Resources Pty Ltd, July 2022, 5pp.
6. New Frontier Minerals Limited, 2026. Exploration Targets Demonstrates Significant Potential at NWQ Copper Project. ASX Announcement, 23 February 2026.
ENDS
This announcement was approved for release by the Board of New Frontier Minerals Ltd.
For further information, please contact:
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New Frontier Minerals Limited |
+61 8 6558 0886 |
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Gerrard Hall (UK), Chairman |
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S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Corporate Broker) |
+44 (0)1483 413500 |
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Ewan Leggat |
+44 (0) 20 7409 3494 |
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St Brides Partners Ltd (Financial PR) |
+44 (0)20 7236 1177 |
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Ana Ribeiro and Charlotte Page |
About New Frontier Minerals
New Frontier Minerals Limited is an Australian-based focused explorer, exploring for the critical minerals and base metals required to power a more electrified and sustainable future. New Frontier holds a strategic portfolio of rare earth, niobium and copper assets in Australia and Canada, which includes the Harts Range Heavy Rare Earths and Niobium Project in the Northern Territory, the NWQ Copper Project in Queensland. Other interests include the Pomme REE Project, situated in Quebec, Canada. These commodities are expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting global decarbonisation, energy security and technological advancement.
Competent Persons Statement
The scientific and technical information in this announcement, which relates to exploration results, preliminary sequential metallurgical results and the geology of the deposits described, is based on information compiled and approved for release by Mark Biggs. Mark Biggs is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM Member # 107188) and meets the requirements of a Competent Person as defined by the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (JORC Code 2012 Edition). Mark Biggs has 35 years of experience relevant to Rare Earth Elements (REE), industrial mineral copper mineralisation types, as well as expertise in the quality and potential mining methods of the deposits under consideration. Additionally, he has 25 years of experience in the estimation, assessment, and evaluation of exploration results and mineral resource estimates, which are the activities for which he accepts responsibility. He also successfully completed an AusIMM Online Course Certificate in 2012 JORC Code Reporting. Mark Biggs is a consultant with ROM Resources and was engaged by New Frontier Minerals Limited to prepare the documentation for several prospects, specifically those within the Harts Range Prospects upon which the Report is based.
Furthermore, the full nature of the relationship between himself and New Frontier Minerals Limited has been disclosed, including any potential conflicts of interest. Mark Biggs is a director of ROM Resources, a company that is a shareholder of New Frontier Minerals Limited, and ROM Resources provides occasional geological consultancy services to New Frontier Minerals Limited. The Report or excerpts referenced in this statement have been reviewed, ensuring that they are based on and accurately reflect, in both form and context, the supporting documentation relating to exploration results and any mineral resource estimates. The release of the Report and this statement has been consented to by the Directors of New Frontier Minerals Limited. Mr Biggs consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information and supporting documents in the form and context in which it appears.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain information in this document refers to the intentions of New Frontier Minerals Ltd, but these are not intended to be forecasts, forward-looking statements, or statements about future matters for the purposes of the Corporations Act or any other applicable law. The occurrence of events in the future is subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause New Frontier Minerals Ltd's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ from those referred to in this announcement. Accordingly, New Frontier Minerals Ltd, its directors, officers, employees, and agents, do not give any assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events referred to in this announcement will occur as contemplated. The interpretations and conclusions reached in this announcement are based on current geological theory and the best evidence available to the authors at the time of writing. It is the nature of all scientific conclusions that they are founded on an assessment of probabilities and, however high these probabilities might be, they make no claim for complete certainty. Any economic decisions that might be taken based on interpretations or conclusions contained in this announcement will therefore carry an element of risk. The announcement may contain forward-looking statements that involve several risks and uncertainties. These risks include but are not limited to, economic conditions, stock market fluctuations, commodity demand and price movements, access to infrastructure, timing of approvals, regulatory risks, operational risks, reliance on key personnel, Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, native title, foreign currency fluctuations, exploration risks, mining development, construction, and commissioning risk. These forward-looking statements are expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. These statements reflect current expectations, intentions or strategies regarding the future and assumptions based on currently available information. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary from the expectations, intentions and strategies described in this announcement. No obligation is assumed to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, opinions, and estimates should change or to reflect other future developments.
ASX Listing Rule 5.23.2
New Frontier Minerals Ltd confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in this market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in this market announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed.
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