Rapid Critical Metals makes a splash with sphalerite in Prophet River drilling

• Maiden drilling covered 1486m across seven holes, with sphalerite and/or galena logged in each
• Pad 2 intervals widened from about 3.5m to 29m downhole as the holes steepened
• Assays, including germanium analysis, are expected in mid-November

Special Report: Rapid Critical Metals’ maiden drilling at its Prophet River project in northeastern British Columbia has logged visible zinc and/or lead sulphides in all seven holes.

The 1486m diamond program tested three pads, including the Dunedin/Stone Formation contact at Pad 2, where logged intervals widened with depth.

Rapid Critical Metals (ASX:RCM) said all three Pad 2 holes intersected visible zinc and lead sulphides at the contact.

The widest logged interval was about 29m downhole in hole PR-006, with true width yet to be determined, including a 2m section from 59m where sphalerite abundance was visually estimated at up to 10%.

In hole PR-005, geologists logged 3m from 39m with an estimated 8% sphalerite.

“Our maiden program at Prophet River has delivered exactly what we were looking for,” managing director Byron Miles said.

“At Pad 2 all three holes hit visible zinc and lead sulphides, and the logged interval got thicker with every hole, from around 3.5 metres to almost 30 metres.”

Drilling goes beyond historical depth

The deepest hole reached 276m, more than twice the 131m depth of the deepest historical hole.

Sphalerite and galena were also logged in the underlying Stone Formation to about 195m downhole.

Adding further interest, the drilling has tested only a small part of the Dunedin contact, which extends for more than 6km across its claims.

The company’s geological interpretation identifies the contact as a potential conduit for mineralising fluids.

Historical bulk sampling at the Nose Zone returned up to 1500ppm germanium alongside 22.69% zinc over a 1.3m sample width. An estimated 4090ppm germanium grade is also achieved, when using a theoretical concentrate of 60% zinc.

Sphalerite can host germanium and gallium in carbonate-hosted zinc deposits, but visual logging cannot establish whether either metal is present, or at what grade, in the new drill core.

“Historical bulk samples at Prophet River returned up to 1,500 ppm germanium, and our drilling has gone more than twice as deep as any historical hole,” Miles added.

“Assays are the critical next step and are due in November. We have tested only a small part of a contact that outcrops over more than 6 kilometres around the drilling, so this is just the start.”

Successful supply of germanium in a Western jurisdiction would be significant, given China has previously banned total exports of germanium to the United States. The ban was suspended in November of last year, but is expected to resume next month.

The Asian country currently controls up to 70% of the world’s germanium production – the remainder is split between Russia, Canada, and the US.

Assays will guide the next targets

One hole tested an induced polarisation chargeability anomaly at Pad 3 and logged only trace sphalerite and galena.

RCM believes pyrite largely explains the chargeability response and plans to focus future targeting on geology, structure and seismic data.

Samples are at ALS in Kamloops, British Columbia, with germanium analysis to be carried out at ALS Perth.

First results are expected in mid-November 2026.

The company plans to carry out mineralogical studies to investigate where germanium and gallium occur in the core, followed by a seismic survey to help define the structure, contact thickness and potential feeder zones.

Follow-up drilling could begin as early as mid-2027, depending on weather and the seismic survey schedule.

This article was developed in collaboration with Rapid Critical Metals, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.

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