Inside American Pacific's Madison Copper-Gold Drilling

After completing more than 2,000 metres of drilling at its Madison Copper-Gold Project in Montana, American Pacific Mining is preparing for phase two of the company’s drilling programme.

The mining company is in its opening phase of a 15,000 metre copper-gold project in Montana, US. 

Out of every American Pacific project in Madison, this is its largest coordinated drill programme.

The Madison mine is 100% owned and has seen US$6.8M spent on exploration since 2019.

The current programme will represent an important step toward advancing Madison as a high-grade copper-gold exploration and development opportunity, according to American Pacific.

Progress at the Madison Copper-Gold Project

The company has confirmed that a total of 2,048 metres has been drilled, with 1,620 metres coming through core drilling targeting porphyry.

Another 428 metres of reverse circulation drilling has been completed, which targets near-surface skarn expressions and high-grade vein zones.

For the reverse circulation drilling operations, American Pacific has used O’Keefe Drilling, based out of Butte, Montana.

Drilling for the diamond core section of the programme is being managed by Nasco Industrial Services and Supply.

This is on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, NISS Drilling Services from Kellogg, Idaho.

Implementing both reverse circulation and diamond drilling technology can help the company with cost optimization, efficiency and testing targets from multiple zones.

The reverse circulation drilling is used for the near-surface skarn targets at the Madison project.

Following this, the diamond drilling will aim to increase the depth in which high priority porphyry can be tested.

American Pacific says initial assay results are expected in the coming weeks alongside a further 5,000 metres of drilling in phase one.

Eric Saderholm, Managing Director of Exploration at American Pacific Mining, says: “We are pleased with the progress of the Phase I drill program at Madison and are encouraged by what we are seeing in the rocks thus far.”

In May 2026, the company revealed that this project aims to systematically extend and expand on shallower high-grade copper and gold mineral.

American Pacific's Phase two exploration plans 

After full evaluation of the results from phase one, American Pacific will begin its second stage of exploration.

Up to 7,500 additional metres of drilling are planned from autumn 2026 onwards.

This period of drilling will focus on areas that return hold favourable zones from the company’s initial phase.

Through its drilling, the company will explore deeper holes through decades of geologic mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveying and 3D structural modelling. 

Eric says: “This Phase I program is testing the majority of our regional targets which are located distal to the known mines in untested areas. 

“Phase II will focus on drilling in areas that return favourable results from this initial 2026 drilling program.”

Once both phases are completed, American Pacific is aiming to use the data for the project’s first official mineral resource estimate.

The company says it is aiming to produce this publication in 2027.