Tertiary Minerals plc has started 4,000 metres’ reverse circulation drilling to test the extensions of its target A1 silver oxide discovery on the Mushima North project in Zambia.
ANALYSIS
Ox Drilling will also test the current model for further mineralisation in the west of A1 and at target A2.
Infill drilling will support the mineral resource estimate at A1.
The company has already established a JORC exploration target of between 15 and 30 million tonnes, with a mean grade of 40-60 grammes per tonne silver equivalent.
The programme is expected to take six to 12 weeks to complete.
Managing director Richard Belcher said that the drilling operations were Tertiary’s largest planned programme in Zambia to date.
“Drilling is now underway and we are undertaking preliminary analysis of the drill chip samples on-site with a portable X-Ray fluorescence analyser prior to submission of selected samples to an external laboratory for independent analysis.
“Sample batches will be submitted to the external laboratory on a regular basis with the first batch planned in the next week.”
The company still has to drill test “numerous” other geochemical and/or geophysical targets, including A2, B1, B2, B3, C2, most of which lie within a 12km radius of A1.
Mushima North is located in the iron-oxide-copper-gold region of Zambia.
A1 is located 28km to the east of the historic Kalengwa copper (-silver) mine which is currently under redevelopment.