Kavango Resources plc said it had identified a cluster of three electromagnetic (EM) conductors within Target Area B in the northern (Hukuntsi) section of the nickel-copper-platinum group element (PGE) Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) in Botswana.
NORILSK MODEL
The company added that the size and orientation of the conductors conformed to an idealised model for the Talnakh and Kharaelakh massive sulphide Ni-Cu-PGE orebodies at Norilsk.
The findings fit both the ‘Norilsk model’ which Kavango has used in its exploration for large-scale Ni-Cu ore bodies in the KSZ, as well as a more detailed Ni-Cu-PGE orebody model, said the company.
Located in Siberia, Norilsk is one of the world’s largest Ni-Cu-PGE mines.
PRIORITY TARGETS
Kavango has ranked the three EM conductors as priority targets for future drilling:
B1 conductor – 14,350 Siemens (high priority drill target)
B3 Conductor – 4,350 Siemens (priority drill target)
B4 Conductor – 4,350 Siemens (priority drill target)
LOOP SURVEYS
Chief executive Ben Turney described the results as some of the most outstanding that the company has delivered.
“The primary objective of this phase of TDEM was to define comprehensively the B1 conductor.
“We achieved this and, pending final modelling of the 14,350 Siemens B1 conductor it will be drill-ready.
“With a roughly 9km2 area of investigation per loop, surface TDEM surveys also enable us to pick up other potential conductors in the vicinity.
“In the case of the loop 10 survey, we detected two more conductors to the north.
“We immediately recognised the potential significance of this and arranged for two further TDEM loops, loops 11 & 12.”
The company will conduct final modelling on all three conductive bodies to resolve them to ‘drill-ready’ state.
TDEM TECHNOLOGY
Kavango is the first company to deploy surface and downhole TDEM technology to the 450km-long KSZ.
The company is also exploring how to roll out much-more expansive reconnaissance across its 8,800km2 property.