- Nicola Mining’s (TSXV:NIM) 2025 drilling identified strong porphyry-style mineralization at the Draken target, making it the most promising zone for a potential porphyry copper system at New Craigmont
- MARB returned encouraging copper values, including 9.5m of 0.39 per cent Cu, while the WP/West Craigmont hole showed less compelling porphyry indicators
- UBC MDRU studies and historical geophysics highlight Draken and the Jotun ZTEM anomaly as key targets, guiding Nicola’s planned 2026 drilling and ongoing geological modelling
- Nicola Mining stock (TSXV:NIM) opened trading at C$1.16.
Nicola Mining (TSXV:NIM) released an extensive update on its 2025 Exploration Diamond Drilling Program at the company’s New Craigmont Copper Project, reporting early indications consistent with a porphyry system and confirming new geological insights that will guide future drilling.
The seven-hole, 3,347‑metre program targeted three high‑priority areas across the historic copper property: the MARB‑CAS zone, Draken, and the newly identified WP/West Craigmont target. According to the company, the 2025 campaign was designed to gather essential geological data supporting the potential discovery of a copper‑molybdenum porphyry centre at New Craigmont.
Seven holes drilled, over 2,600 samples submitted
Nicola completed detailed logging and sampling of all drill core and submitted more than 2,600 samples—including quality control samples—to AGAT Laboratories for multi‑element analysis. Results are pending.
In addition, 11 representative samples were selected for petrographic thin‑section studies at Vancouver Petrographic to classify lithologies and alteration mineralogy, further refining the geological framework of the property.
More than 5,000 handheld pXRF and SWIR readings from 10 holes drilled since 2016 were also incorporated into Nicola’s growing geochemical dataset, supporting its long‑term vectoring strategy aimed at identifying a buried porphyry centre.
Draken emerging as most promising porphyry target
The strongest geological indicators from the 2025 campaign came from the Draken target, where holes DR‑25‑001 and DR‑25‑002 revealed classic porphyry‑style alteration and mineral zonation. Downhole transitions from pyrite–chalcopyrite to chalcopyrite–molybdenite suggest the system is approaching a mineralized centre.
Alteration assemblages—quartz, epidote, potassium feldspar, chlorite, and sericite—were consistent with porphyry environments, and mineralization occurred within quartz veinlets containing variable amounts of potassium feldspar, chlorite, and sericite.
The mineralization is hosted in Guichon Border Phase diorite, reinforcing the link between New Craigmont and the magmatic system that produced the region’s major porphyry deposits. Nicola noted that its observations align with interpretations from an ongoing study by the University of British Columbia’s Mineral Deposit Research Unit (MDRU).
MARB Zone returns encouraging copper interval
At the MARB target, hole MB‑25‑008 intersected 9.5 metres of 0.39 per cent copper between 220.5 and 230 metres depth. The interval contained mixed volcanic and sedimentary units, quartz–K‑feldspar–biotite dykes, and quartz diorite intrusions.
Mineralization consisted of disseminated magnetite and chalcopyrite with pyrite in quartz stringers. Nicola’s geologists interpret MARB’s mineralization as being related to the nearby Embayment and CAS skarn systems. Additional drilling will be required to test continuity.
WP/West Craigmont yields limited indicators compared with Draken
A third target, WP/West Craigmont, drilled via hole WP‑25‑007, did not reveal stronger porphyry indicators than those seen at Draken. Based on 2025 findings, Draken remains the most prospective target on the western portion of the property.
MDRU study reinforces porphyry potential
UBC’s MDRU is conducting a province‑wide porphyry research initiative that includes New Craigmont. Early findings suggest the historic Craigmont skarn is closely associated with porphyry‑type mineralization from the Guichon Creek batholith.
Epidote trace‑element chemistry and alteration mapping indicate two strong porphyry target areas:
- West Craigmont (Draken area)
- East of the historic mine, beneath a large ZTEM anomaly
These results will guide Nicola’s near‑term exploration plans.
Next Steps: 3D geological modelling and 2026 drilling
Nicola outlined several recommendations arising from the 2025 program, including:
- Completing a comprehensive New Craigmont exploration database
- Building a full 3D geological model
- Integrating pXRF and SWIR datasets into target definitions
- Advancing drill‑ready concepts at Draken
- Testing the Jotun target north of the historic pit
The Jotun target, highlighted by a large resistivity anomaly in a 2022 ZTEM survey, will be the focus of a long planned drill hole in 2026. Earlier 2023 drilling encountered porphyry‑style alteration south of the anomaly, prompting Nicola to designate Jotun as a potentially significant intrusive source for the historic Craigmont copper skarn deposit.
Outlook
With laboratory results pending and new geological modelling underway, Nicola Mining is positioning its 2026 drilling campaign to test some of the most compelling porphyry‑related targets yet identified at New Craigmont. The company believes the 2025 findings significantly advance its understanding of the property’s deeper copper potential.
Nicola Mining Inc. is a junior mining company that maintains a wholly owned mill and tailings facility, located near Merritt, British Columbia. It has signed Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high grade gold projects. Nicola’s fully permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes.
Nicola Mining stock (TSXV:NIM) opened trading 2.61 per cent higher at C$1.16 and has risen more than 300 per cent since this time last year.
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