American Pacific Mining has started mobilising for a 15,000-metre drilling programme at its Madison Copper–Gold Project in Montana. The campaign is aimed at expanding known mineralisation and testing deeper, high-priority targets. The work is part of the company’s exploration strategy for the project.
Drilling rigs and planned RC and diamond programme
The first of two drilling rigs has arrived on-site, with a second rig expected to join in the coming weeks. Drilling will use a combination of reverse circulation (RC) and diamond core methods to evaluate shallow and deep targets across the property. The programme is structured to cover both near-surface and deeper geological objectives.
Approximately 10,000 metres are planned for near-surface skarn mineralisation. An additional 5,000 metres will be directed to deeper porphyry-style copper-gold systems. The company said this allocation is intended to support an expansion of the project’s resource potential.
Selected targets for initial drilling
American Pacific Mining selected five skarn and porphyry targets for initial drilling at Madison. The company stated that the selections were based on technical analysis that included historical exploration data reviews and geological interpretation. It also cited advanced geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling, structural mapping, and 3D geological modelling.
The company said these targets represent some of the strongest exploration opportunities identified at Madison. A key focus of the programme is evaluating deeper porphyry targets beneath known mineralised zones. Diamond drilling is intended to target these deeper structures.
Approach to porphyry testing and near-surface evaluation
The diamond component will be used to test deeper geological structures associated with porphyry potential. RC drilling will assess near-surface opportunities and establish pre-collars for subsequent diamond drill holes. This approach is intended to support efficient evaluation across different depths within the property.
The company also reported that recent technical assessments indicate the Madison Project may be part of a larger and evolving mineralised system than previously understood. It said this view has strengthened its exploration model and increased confidence in the project’s long-term potential. The drilling targets for the 2026 campaign are based on an integrated dataset.
Dataset supporting the 2026 target selection
The company stated that target selection for the 2026 campaign draws on historical drilling results, geological and structural mapping, and surface geochemistry. It also cited high-resolution geophysical surveys and advanced 3D modelling technologies as part of the dataset used to prioritise targets. The company said this integrated approach supports identification of targets with higher potential for new discoveries.
Drilling activities are expected to commence shortly, with first laboratory assay results anticipated later this summer. These results are expected to provide insights into the project’s copper and gold potential and inform future exploration decisions. The company plans to test up to eight high-priority exploration targets during the programme.
