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Alderan Resources - Drilling a Historic Copper District in Utah

Alderan is drilling an overlooked historic copper district in Utah, targeting company-making discoveries. Additional upside from early-stage lithium projects in Brazil.

  • Alderan Resources is an exploration company focused on copper projects in the U.S. and lithium in Brazil
  • Frisco copper-gold project in Utah, recently returned from Rio Tinto, shows significant potential based on historical drilling
  • Modeling and geophysics have identified 12 new untested targets at Frisco similar to known mineralization at Cactus and Comet
  • Initial exploration at Frisco planned for next 3-4 months including drilling to verify historical results
  • Lithium projects in Brazil at early stage, results pending; company open to new project opportunities to enhance portfolio

Alderan Positioned to Capitalize on Copper and Lithium Opportunities

Alderan Resources, an ASX-listed exploration company, is strategically advancing a portfolio of highly prospective copper and lithium projects in tier-one mining jurisdictions. With a seasoned management team and a disciplined approach to project evaluation and development, Alderan is well positioned to create significant shareholder value through discovery.

"Our prime objective is to make a discovery that's economic. We've had copper and gold projects in the US; we've been focused on our gold properties but that's because our copper property was farmed out to Rio Tinto. We've now gotten that project back and we believe it has potential for medium-scale, high-grade copper."

Flagship Frisco Copper-Gold Project Offers District-Scale Potential

Alderan's flagship asset is the Frisco copper-gold project in Utah. Recently returned to the company after Rio Tinto explored it for large-scale porphyry potential, Frisco hosts a productive historic mining district active from the late 1800s through the 1950s.

Previous operators focused on the outcropping Cactus and Comet breccia-style copper-gold mineralization, which saw historic production grading over 2% copper with appreciable gold and silver credits. However, the larger district potential was overlooked until now.

Alderan Managing Director Scott Caithness explained, "Cactus had one owner, Comet had another owner, then we've got another prospect New Years which is again about 4 or 500 meters away, again a separate owner – so everything was divided up. There were tenement disputes between the owners; people weren't able to develop a project as a whole."

Interview with Managing Director, Scott Caithness

Remodeling Reveals Overlooked Targets

Alderan has compiled and remodeled the historic database, revealing that significant mineralization may extend well beyond Cactus and Comet to the New Years prospect over 500m away. Limited historic drilling at New Years returned 1.5-2.3% Cu within wider zones.

Detailed magnetic surveys by Rio Tinto show Cactus and Comet are marked by distinct circular magnetic lows. Alderan's 3D magnetic modeling has identified 12 lookalike anomalies associated with prospective structures that have never been drill tested. Soil sampling is underway to refine these compelling geophysical targets.

Mr. Caithness summarized the exploration upside at Frisco:

"Cactus sits in a magnetic low anomaly about twice the size of the Comet anomaly. Then you go to New Years and it's twice the size of the Comet anomaly and is a complex anomaly with three nodes coinciding with where the limited drilling has been. The rest of it hasn't been tested. From that magnetics, we've identified another 12 targets in the same district that look identical to the Cactus and Comet anomalies."

Near-Term Catalysts & Value Drivers

Alderan is wasting no time unlocking the value of Frisco. Drilling is planned to commence in June to verify the historical database and begin testing the multiple targets. The initial program will include:

  • Twin holes to validate historic high-grade results
  • Step-out drilling between Cactus and New Years to confirm continuity
  • First-pass reconnaissance drilling of the 12 newly identified magnetic/structural targets

Results will start to flow in the next 3-4 months, providing steady news flow. Each of the 12 undrilled prospects has the potential to deliver a new discovery and redefine the scale of the Frisco district.

If near-surface oxide mineralization proves extensive, there is potential for a low-cost heap leach SX-EW operation. Deeper sulfide mineralization would likely require a different development approach, but could be very valuable given the high copper grades.

Building a Lithium Business in Brazil

In addition to copper, Alderan has staked an early-mover position in the emerging lithium province of Brazil. With seven projects covering nearly 500 sq km, Alderan is well placed to capture part of the rising global demand for this key battery metal.

First-pass stream sediment sampling is underway to identify targets for follow-up. Assays are expected to start arriving in the next two months. Concurrently, Alderan is evaluating other opportunities to up-grade its lithium portfolio in this highly prospective region.

Conclusion

Alderan Resources offers a unique and timely opportunity for natural resource investors. While the market remains fixated on the company's highly prospective but early-stage Brazilian lithium projects, a potential company-making copper discovery has quietly assembled in Utah.

The Frisco project features an extensive historic high-grade district, large-scale potential validated by the majors, overlooked lookalike targets, and an aggressive drill-ready model. Alderan's technical team has pieced together the exploration puzzle and is now readying to pull back the curtain through drilling.

The Investment Thesis for Alderan Resources

  • Exploring for district-scale copper-gold mineralization in Utah; historic grades above 2% Cu with significant Au/Ag credits
  • Potential for sizeable near-surface oxide deposit(s) suitable for low-cost heap leach SX-EW operation
  • Multiple magnetic/structural analogue targets to known mineralization have never been drilled
  • Imminent drilling to verify historical results and begin testing new targets; potential for a new copper discovery in a Tier-1 jurisdiction
  • Strategic portfolio of early-stage lithium projects in prospective districts of Brazil
  • Proven management team with track record of exploration success and value creation

Macro Thematic Analysis

The global transition to clean energy is driving strong secular demand growth for critical minerals like copper and lithium. Copper is essential for electrification and renewable energy infrastructure, while lithium is a key battery metal for electric vehicles and stationary storage.

Although near-term price volatility is likely to persist as the supply side races to catch up, the demand outlook has never been stronger. Under-investment in exploration and development over the past cycle has set the stage for large supply deficits and elevated prices over the medium to long term.

This macro backdrop is highly supportive of junior resource companies like Alderan that are exploring for new sources of copper and lithium supply. The combination of rising prices and increased investor interest in these critical minerals provides a strong tailwind for making an economic discovery and creating value for shareholders.

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