Tertiary Minerals reports silver-copper-zinc mineralisation at Zambia project
Initial results from five drill holes at Mushima North confirm thick, near-surface mineralisation and point to a higher-grade zone
Tertiary Minerals plc has received the first laboratory results from its Phase 4 drilling programme at Target A1 within the Mushima North Project in Zambia, confirming silver-copper-zinc mineralisation close to surface.
The results cover five drill holes and confirm two areas of mineralisation within the Discovery Zone: a thick, near-surface zone and a higher-grade section. Tertiary Minerals had previously defined a near-surface Exploration Target for the Discovery Zone of 15 million to 30 million tonnes grading between 40 g/t and 60 g/t silver equivalent.
Among the results is an intersection of 66 metres grading 58 g/t silver equivalent, equivalent to 0.97% copper equivalent, from a depth of seven metres. A higher-grade intersection of seven metres at 89 g/t silver equivalent, or 1.49% copper equivalent, was recorded from 81 metres downhole.
Richard Belcher, Managing Director of Tertiary Minerals, said the initial laboratory results supported the copper and zinc indications identified during drilling and provided the company’s first confirmed silver intersections at the prospect.
“While these are from only the first five holes, they have not disappointed. These results support the preliminary in-field copper-zinc results, provide the first silver intersections and confirm the near surface, thick silver-copper-zinc mineralisation within our Exploration Target,” said Belcher.
He added that the results also provided further support for the potential of a higher-grade mineralised zone within the Discovery Zone.
The Phase 4 programme comprised 39 reverse circulation (RC) drill holes covering 3,639 metres. At the Discovery Zone, drilling was conducted along east-west lines spaced about 100 metres apart in a north-south direction, with holes positioned approximately 50 metres apart along each line.
The holes reached vertical depths of up to 128 metres. Tertiary Minerals said drilling depth was limited by the capabilities of the rig under the prevailing conditions, including a higher-than-expected water table that resulted in wet samples.
The company conducted the drilling in two passes, allowing its geological model to be updated as results became available and enabling subsequent drilling to be adjusted according to the information gathered.
Mushima North lies within Zambia’s Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold region, while Target A1 is a polymetallic silver-copper-zinc prospect located about 28 kilometres east of the historic Kalengwa copper-silver mine, which is currently being redeveloped.
Further laboratory results from the Phase 4 programme are expected as analytical work continues.
