Kavango Resources plc could soon pioneer the retrieval of drill core from the bottom of the ‘keels’ of the Karoo-age gabbros in the Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) in Botswana.
The company today began proof of concept drilling for core samples from Target A2 in the northern (Hukunstsi) section.
Kavango hopes that assay and other analysis of the rock samples will show that the Karoo-age gabbros in the KSZ have the potential to host magmatic sulphide ore bodies.
Drill-core from the holes are anticipated to provide firm physical evidence of the KSZ’s potential to host metal sulphide deposits similar to those in Norilsk, Siberia.
PLAN
The target depth at A2 is currently estimated to be 500m.
After drill operations at A2, Kavango’s partners – Equity Drilling Ltd and Mindea Exploration and Drilling Services (Pty) Ltd – will mobilise the rig to target C1, 11km away.
Kavanago believes that Targets A2 and C1 are on the same geological corridor.
Following completion of drilling at C1, the rig will mobilise to Target B1 for which plans are currently being finalised.
Kavango estimates A2’s properties as:
– 1km in length and open along strike.
– extending 250m to 700m below surface and gently dipping.
– having a decay constant of approximately 340msec and conductance of approximately 3000 Siemens, readings which Kavango considers consistent with nickel sulphide deposits elsewhere in the world.
– located in the right geological setting, at the bottom of a ‘keel’ in the gabbroic intrusion, according to Kavango’s magnetic 3D-model.
ROBUST
Chief executive Ben Turney said that years of hard work and dedication had brought the company to this stage in operations.
“We could now be on the cusp of achieving something truly great.
“The going hasn’t been easy, but everyone has stuck with it, often making great sacrifices along the way.
“With the drill bit now turning at A2, we should soon hopefully become the first company ever to retrieve core samples from the bottom of a Karoo-age gabbro in the region.”
He added that the focused planning of the drill campaign had been exceptional with international standards of safety and security and robust engineering design.
“Obviously this is a business where there can be no guarantees, but everything possible has been done to minimise our operational risks.
“The next few months promise to be incredibly exciting.”