American West Metals (ASX: AW1 / WKN A3DE4Y) reports significant progress from the Storm copper project on Somerset Island, in the Canadian province of Nunavut. A regional soil sampling program identified a previously unexplored copper anomaly approximately 4.1 kilometers long and up to 0.7 km wide, parallel to the Storm trend. The new target area is named Chevron Prospect. In addition, current RC drilling in several areas – including Squall and Tornado – has once again confirmed copper sulfides. American West Metals believes that this lays the foundation for further exploration steps and is continuing the technical studies on Storm in parallel.
American West Metals: New Regional Target “Chevron Prospect” Strengthens the Pipeline
Based on a project-wide technical review, eight grids with a total of 1,957 soil samples were sampled. The focus was on structural and lithological targets that could correspond to the known deposits at Storm. Result: An extensive copper signature is emerging within the Chevron area, the strength of which is comparable to the anomalies above the Storm deposits. A contiguous core area of approximately 2 kilometers in length has more than 250 ppm (parts per million) copper and the signature correlates with the pathfinder elements zinc and lead.
Geologically, American West Metals classifies the mineralization at the intersection of two regional trends: the north-south trending structure towards the former Polaris mine and west-northwest striking fault systems (Aston-Batty line), as they are also interpreted towards Nanisivik. In carbonate-rich host rocks, permafrost and weak weathering, the geochemical dispersion in soils is limited – soil anomalies are therefore usually located directly above or near the sulfide body. Additional exploration rights have been applied for for the areas adjoining to the east; the project area now covers approximately 2,300 km². Neither soil nor airborne geophysics (including EM) or drilling cover Chevron to date – targeted follow-up work is planned.
RC Drilling: Hits on Squall, Open Structures on Gap and First Indications at Tornado
The current RC campaign – so-called reverse circulation drilling – comprised eight exploration drillings in and around known zones. At the Squall Prospect, borehole SR25-012 verified the copper mineralization discovered in 2024: 4.5 m with 1.36% Cu and 2.7 g/t Ag from 158.5 m, including 1.5 m with 3.55% Cu and 5.0 g/t Ag. Another borehole approximately 60 m to the west (SR24-135) encountered 1.5 m with 0.5% Cu within the same horizon. The stratigraphic observations indicate shallow-lying layers and similarities to the nearby Corona deposit. Accordingly, Squall could represent a tectonically deeper extension of Corona – the space in between is considered a priority for additional resource drilling.
At the Gap Prospect, SR25-011 and SR25-029 targeted extensions of a previously reported high-grade mineralization section (8 m with 5.3% Cu in SR24-03). SR25-029 intersected 3 m with 0.79% Cu from 76.2 m; SR25-011 delivered broad intervals with anomalous copper contents. The mineralization remains open to the east and west along the Southern Graben Fault, and further drilling is planned along this structure. Two conceptual test drillings northwest of Cyclone (SR25-013/014), on the other hand, did not yield any significant sulfide intervals – important for delimiting the most promising strike.
In the Tornado Graben, which is interpreted as an analogue to the central Storm Graben, SR25-026 tested a previously determined MMT target and the stratigraphy. The hole (199.6 m depth) yielded three narrow but significant copper-silver horizons: including 1.5 m with 0.12 – 0.13% Cu at depths around 84 m, 148 m and 168 m. All sulfides are deposited in the Allen Bay Formation, which is already present here from approximately 112 m – a practical area for further RC work. Borehole SR25-025 also intersected the fault between Cape Storm and the Allen Bay Formation and confirmed mineralized structures there. Overall, the results support the model of fault-controlled “plumbing systems” that could transition into a large-scale, sediment-bound copper system at depth. Further diamond drillings are planned.
Next Steps: Studies, MRE Update and Permits for Storm
In parallel to the field work, American West Metals is pushing ahead with several study packages for Storm. These include metallurgy and process optimization, geotechnical assessments, waste rock and ore geochemistry, and ongoing reviews of OPEX and CAPEX including infrastructure and logistics. The Mineral Resource Estimation (MRE) update is in progress. Project-wide environmental programs are underway for the 2025 season – from flora/fauna surveys to marine and water studies to fish habitats and geochemical assessments – which will be incorporated into an environmental assessment for the Storm copper project. The approval processes are continuing.
