Results of step out drilling included 9.1m grading 5.4% copper equivalent (3.1% copper and 2.4 grams per tonne gold) and 13m at 4.4% copper equivalent (3.7% copper and 0.8gpt gold), with both intercepts expected to equate to the true width of the mineralisation.

The Steve Parsons-led FireFly said a third drill rig was due on-site next month, while geophysical targeting will start in the coming weeks as part of a strategy to make new discoveries at Green Bay.

Production studies are due to start this quarter.

Green Bay features a shuttered plant and mine that FireFly is aiming to reboot.

The ASX-listed explorer raised A$52 million in new equity funding last month when it sold new shares at 64c each.

Shares in FireFly were up 5.6% to 84c in morning trade, capitalising the company at $381 million.

The shares have more or less doubled in headline value over the past three months.