Empire shares peaked at 18.5c, a gain of 4.5c, before slipping 1c to 17c by late morning trade.

Better results were 23m at 2.68% copper and 1.28 grams per tonne gold from 80m, including 6m at 7.42% copper and 3.01gpt gold from 85m, and 13m at 2.58% copper and 0.39gpt gold from 63m, including 7m at 4.23% copper and 1.65gpt gold from 106m.

Assays were from three holes at the Just Desserts prospect out of a 12-hole follow-up reverse circulation drilling program.

“The results of the first three holes completed in the present drilling program at Just Desserts have confirmed our view that we are looking at potentially large zones of copper-gold mineralisation,” Empire managing director David Sargeant said.

“The Just Desserts prospect remains open along strike and has only been drilled to a shallow depth at this stage of our exploration,” he added.

At the end of last month, Empire boosted its coffers to advance exploration at Yuinmery by selling its Yarlarweelor uranium project to Radon Resources for $A1.75 million.