In this interview, StockBox speaks with Charlie Long, CEO of Critical Mineral Resources (CMR), to get the latest update on the company’s copper exploration efforts in Morocco.
Charlie shares insights into the 6,000m drilling program, explains the strategy behind targeting shallow mineralization, and outlines the dual focus on early mine development and building a larger, strategic copper resource. He also gives an idea of when investors can expect assay results and emphasizes CMR’s long-term growth potential.
- Drilling Progress & Strategy – The team is completing a 6,000m drilling campaign, primarily focused on building a resource for initial mine development, with plans to extend drilling as exploration evolves.
- Shallow Targeting Advantages – The shallow depth of mineralization allows for fast sampling, reduced costs, and high productivity, with assay results expected later this year.
- Long-Term Vision – CMR aims to demonstrate a large, continuous copper resource to attract strategic interest, beyond just a small-scale initial mine.
Charlie Long, CMR’s CEO commented:
“We’re very excited about our first drill programme, as we build a resource and fundamental value for our shareholders. Drill core will allow us to study the stratigraphy, petrology, metallurgy and also better understand the geological system and controls of mineralisation. Although, of course, at this stage it is the grade and geometry of the deposit that is our focus.
Our initial exploration target assumes a 2.0m average thickness over a 4km2 area, in line with sedimentary copper deposits around the world, which are often relatively thin but laterally extensive. This 2.0m average will come from mineralised widths of 1.5m to >5.0m, with an expectation that most mineralised intersects will be in the 2.0m to 2.5m range.
I wanted to highlight a few advantages of this project which are helping add value and lower execution risk. Easy topography and road access allowed us to prepare 50 drill pads in a few days. The target formations are shallow and gently dipping so most holes will be vertical and drilled to 50m or less, except in a few cases when we choose to test deeper parts of the basement. All in all, and assuming good results, the monetary cost of building a resource should be significantly lower at Agadir Melloul than most other projects out there.”
