Generation Mining begins Marathon copper-palladium construction

BOA Resources (ASX: BOA) reported first assay results from its maiden reverse-circulation drilling at the Ricci Lee prospect within the Neds Creek project in Western Australia, with all six initial holes returning significant copper mineralisation. Highlights include 14 m at 2.49% copper from 122 m, including 7 m at 4.60% copper (hole 26NCRC001), 15 m at 2.25% copper from 130 m (26NCRC003), and 12 m at 1.58% copper from 64 m, including 3 m at 3.38% copper (26NCRC004). Ricci Lee sits about 2 km southwest of the Thaduna deposit, which holds 4.1 million tonnes at 2.5% copper for 103,000 tonnes contained, and is interpreted as a geological analogue. Assays from a further 40 RC holes are pending into Q4 2026.

Two unions at Antofagasta Minerals’ Centinela copper mine in Chile — Minera Esperanza and Distrito Centinela — launched a strike on October 7, involving 709 workers, or around 22% of the mine’s direct workforce. The strike followed the failure of mandatory government-mediated negotiations to produce an agreement. The unions said the processing plants could initially continue receiving ore, but mining, haulage and mine-development activities had been affected. They expect the production impact to emerge gradually after around two weeks and become more visible in November. Centinela, however, said that despite the operational disruption, its projected full-year production remains unchanged and that it will continue discussions with the unions. Antofagasta’s latest 2026 group copper production guidance stands at 625,000–655,000 tonnes. Chile’s August copper output fell 12.8% year on year to 369,500 tonnes, its lowest monthly level since February 2011. The Centinela strike has not yet resulted in a confirmed production cut, but a prolonged stoppage could increase fourth-quarter copper concentrate supply risks in Chile.