BCM announced on July 14, 2026, completion of two additional diamond core drill holes of the 2026 Thompson Knolls (TK) Phase 4 exploration campaign. Hole TK17, a vertical hole collared approximately 250 m southwest of hole TK16 (Figure 3), reached a depth of 896 m (2,935.5 feet).
Beyond the Headline
BCM announced on July 14, 2026, completion of two additional diamond core drill holes of the 2026 Thompson Knolls (TK) Phase 4 exploration campaign. Hole TK17, a vertical hole collared approximately 250 m southwest of hole TK16 (Figure 3), reached a depth of 896 m (2,935.5 feet). Hole TK18, also vertical, collared approximately 250 m southwest of TK17, reached a depth of 917 m (3,007 ft). BCM is currently drilling hole TK20, a vertical hole located approximately 460 m (1,509 ft) northeast of hole TK15, with a targeted depth of at least 1,300 m (4,265 ft). This hole is designed to test the core of the proximal skarn deposit encountered by hole TK8 in 2023. Holes TK17 and TK18 were designed to test the extension of skarn Cu-Au-Ag-Mo mineralization previously encountered in Holes TK15 and TK16.
Visual results of TK-17 and TK-18 were reported as follows:
Highlights of TK17:
- Bedrock started with polymictic breccia in marbleized dolomites at 609 m (2,000 ft);
- QMP intrusive with sericitic alteration encountered in the interval from 681 m (2,235 ft) to 698 m (2,289 ft ), 17 m (55 ft) represented by intensely sericitized intrusive rock;
- From 736 m (2,415 ft), marbleized dolomite breccia with traces of skarn and occasional blocks of black limestones dominates;
- Top of bedrock is oxidized, carrying secondary copper minerals (chenevixite (Cu2Fe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)4), malachite (Cu2(CO3)(OH)2), and rosasite ((Cu, Zn)2(CO3)(OH)2).
Highlights of TK18:
- Drilling intercepted QMP intrusive with moderately to strongly pyritic zones at 354 m (1,160 ft). A significant portion is oxidized, forming an intensely hematitic cap. Below the oxidation zone, RC chips contain fragments of quartz veinlets with pyrite and spotty chalcopyrite, suggesting potential secondary enrichment within the intrusion (verification required).
- QMP extends to a 790 m (2,591 ft.) depth of lithological contact between QMP and marbles. No evidence of skarn or “ore” mineralization
- From 867 m (2,845 ft.), dominant rocks are marbleized dolomites with black limestones and some copper oxides. No economic sulfide mineralization. BCM terminated this drillhole at 917 m (3,007 ft.).
The President & CEO commented: “We are happy to report completion of two drill holes to the southwest of TK15 and TK16. Hole TK17 confirmed the extension of skarn with some mineralization. We are very encouraged by TK18, which intercepted QMP intrusion at a much shallower depth of ~300 m (~984 ft) than previously expected. QMP intrusion here carries hematitic oxidation, indicating the possibility for significant leaching of the upper parts of the intrusion that could potentially result in the formation of a chalcocite blanket at moderate depths in the vicinity of this hole.”
Comments
I am never a big fan of reporting visual results, so it is hard to assess how significant these holes are until BCM releases assay results. They report being very encouraged by TK-18 and indicate that TK-20 is in progress. There is no mention of TK-19, and it is not shown on their map. They may be saving the number to drill a step-out hole from TK-18 once they have assay results. Further comment will await release of assay results.
Figure 1
Source: BCM Resources
Drill Hole Location Map ( BCM Resources Press Release April 27, 2026).
Figure 2
Source: BCM Resources
Schematic Geological Modl of TK Porphyry/Skarn System (BCM Resources Corporate Presentation March 2026).
