Kavango Resources plc announce drilling would this month start on two proof of concept geological holes in the northern (Hukuntsi) section of the Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ), Botswana.
The miner said its main objective was to become the first company ever to retrieve drill core from the bottom of the ‘keels’ of the Karoo-age gabbros in the KSZ.
Drill core from the holes are expected to provide firm physical evidence of the KSZ’s potential to host ‘Norilsk-style’ metal sulphide deposits.
DRILL SCHEDULE
Mindea Exploration and Drilling Services (Pty) will design, engineer and drill a minimum of two 500m boreholes.
The company is a well established national drilling contractor in Botswana and has worked for Debswana and DeBeers.
One of its largest shareholders is Equity Drilling which also operates a drill school in Gaborone, the first of its kind in Africa.
Mobilisation of the drill rig is expected within the next week and drilling is planned to start by 30 June 2021 ahead of a more extensive drilling campaign later in 2021.
Kavango added it had engaged with the local community to secure support.
POTENTIAL
Chief executive Michael Foster said that the KSZ was first identified 45 years ago but miners were without the technical knowledge to explore beneath 70m of Kalahari sands and sediments.
“We believe core samples from the bottom of the gabbroic ‘keels’ could provide us with the definitive proof we have been looking for that the KSZ could host one or more major deposits of nickel, copper and platinum group metals.
“Kavango is committed to investing heavily in Botswana. Working with such reliable local partners as Mindea and Equity Drilling is integral to our ambitious growth strategy.
“The fact that Mindea has agreed to receive over half of its fees in equity suggests considerable faith in the potential of the KSZ to host metal sulphide ore bodies and a great endorsement of Kavango’s exploration approach.
“For a minimal cash outlay, we can make significant advances with the KSZ Project , while keeping a budget in reserve for a more extensive drill campaign later this year.”