# Hercules extends Idaho copper discovery Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/hercules-extends-idaho-copper-discovery--6ab4398a-1e6b-4fa1-a960-f33442f19dbd Original source: https://www.northernminer.com/news/hercules-extends-idaho-copper-discovery/1003895304/ Publisher: northernminer Original announcement: 2026-09-30T13:00:18.000Z Analysis by Minestarters Atlas Atlas analysis published: 2026-09-30T16:48:53.156Z Atlas analysis updated: 2026-09-30T16:48:53.156Z - Company: Hercules Metals - Ticker: BIG - Exchange: Unavailable - Region: Idaho - Primary commodity: Copper - Secondary commodities: Gold - Document categories: Drill results - Extracted: 2026-09-30 16:48:53 UTC Narrative sentiment: 0.40 · Bullish ## Minestarters Atlas summary Hercules Metals has extended its Southern Flats copper discovery in Idaho with hole HER-26-01 reporting 286.5 metres at 0.43% copper. The drilling represents a step-out to the west of previous discovery holes and aims to connect the Southern Flats zone with the Leviathan system. Reasoning: Successful step-out drilling at Southern Flats extends the copper discovery, though true widths are not disclosed and the hole ended in a lower-grade zone. - Positive factor: extension of Southern Flats discovery - Positive factor: step-out drilling successful - Positive factor: large porphyry system potential - Negative factor: apparent width only \(no true width\) - Negative factor: lower-grade intrusion at end of hole Facts used in scoring: 2 ## Classification and evidence **Step-Out Extension** Polarity: positive Definition: Mineralization extended beyond the previously known limit. Why it applies: The latest hole stepped 200 metres west of the Southern Flats discovery hole. Evidence · text > The latest hole stepped 200 metres west of the Southern Flats discovery hole. **Apparent Width Only** Polarity: negative Definition: Interval given as downhole width with no true width or drill orientation — apparent width may overstate true thickness. Why it applies: Reported intervals are drilled lengths; the release didn’t provide true widths. Evidence · text > Reported intervals are drilled lengths; the release didn’t provide true widths. ## Extracted facts Stored fact records: 2. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record. ## Drill Results (2) ### HER-26-01 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/hercules-extends-idaho-copper-discovery--6ab4398a-1e6b-4fa1-a960-f33442f19dbd#fact-drill-facts-0) Southern Flats · copper #### Identity - Hole ID: HER-26-01 - Project: Southern Flats - Commodity: copper - Region: usa\_id - Reported Region: usa\_id - Ticker: BIG #### Geometry - Grade: 0.43 - Grade Unit: % - Intercept: 286.5 m - From: 862.6 m - To: 1149.1 m - Intercept Depth: 862.6 m #### Classification - Deposit Type: porphyry - Program: exploration - Sample Type: drill - Group ID: HER-26-01:862.6-1149.1 - Mining Method: open\_pit #### Location - Loc. Confidence: medium #### QA/QC - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: A wide intercept of 0.43% Cu in a porphyry system is a solid exploration result. - Positive factor: significant width - Negative factor: apparent width only Evidence · text > Hole HER-26-01 cut 286.5 metres grading 0.43% copper from 862.6 metres downhole #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated ### HER-26-01 [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/hercules-extends-idaho-copper-discovery--6ab4398a-1e6b-4fa1-a960-f33442f19dbd#fact-drill-facts-1) Southern Flats · copper #### Identity - Hole ID: HER-26-01 - Project: Southern Flats - Commodity: copper - Region: usa\_id - Reported Region: usa\_id - Ticker: BIG #### Geometry - Grade: 0.61 - Grade Unit: % - Intercept: 65.5 m - From: 862.6 m - To: 928.1 m - Intercept Depth: 862.6 m #### Classification - Deposit Type: porphyry - Program: exploration - Sample Type: drill - Group ID: HER-26-01:862.6-928.1 - Mining Method: open\_pit #### Location - Loc. Confidence: medium #### QA/QC - QA/QC Disclosed: Yes - QA/QC Methods: standards, blanks #### Review - Needs Review: No - Interp. Status: scored - Historical: No #### Dates - Event date: 2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z Reasoning: Stronger grade sub-interval within the main intercept. - Positive factor: higher grade sub-interval Evidence · text > including 65.5 metres at 0.61% copper from the same starting depth #### Tags used in scoring **QA/QC Disclosed** Polarity: positive Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\). Why it applies: qaqc\_disclosed is true **Cut-off Undisclosed** Polarity: negative Definition: High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing. Why it applies: no cutoff\_grade was stated ## How Atlas produces this analysis Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.