Joint venture partners Kavango Resources and Power Metal Resources announced “encouraging” zinc concentrations in the Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), Botswana.
Zinc is a recognised pathfinder element for the less mobile copper ions in the soil.
The JV expects to conduct airborne electromagnetic geophysics (AEM) surveys over prospective sections of the South Ghanzi project in Q1 2021. If results are favourable, the companies will test drill shallow targets once a three-dimensional model has been developed.
Portable XRF analysis was completed on 335 soil samples and revealed elevated levels of zinc indicating shallow strata-bound copper mineralisation.
A total of 127 follow-up soil samples were collected, dried and sieved while the portable XRF analysis continues.
Higher concentrations of zinc anomalies were also identified near several anticlines and samples have been sent to laboratories for assay testing using the TerraLeach™ method. This removes the mobile ion component from soil samples to detect metal dispersion from a buried orebody. Results are expected in the new year.
“We are early in the exploration process, but are motivated by what we have seen so far in the preliminary results,” said Kavango chief executive Michael Foster.
“The regional rock formations appear to occur in the right configuration and the apparent presence of zinc is a promising indicator of copper/silver mineralisation at depth.”
Power Metal chief executive Paul Johnson added that both JV partners had strong working capital which allowed them to pursue exploration.
The South Ghanzi project covers two prospecting licences in the KCB (PL036/2020 and PL037/2020) over an area of 1,294 km2. Power Metal and Kavango each hold a 50% ownership interest.