Tertiary Minerals plc has started soil sampling at its Zambia copper licences after recently receiving forest permits.
PROGRAMME
At Konkola West, the company will collect 260 soil samples in the north and northwest of the licence where the main host to copper mineralisation “may be shallower and less steeply dipping” than on the eastern side of the licence.
Samples will be analysed in the field using a portable XRF analyser followed by infill sampling if required.
Once the work is complete, Tertiary will begin taking 310 soil samples at Mukai with additional infill sampling followed by 1,150 samples at Mushima North.
The company reported less positive news from multi-element analysis of soil samples collected in May at Lubuila.
These suggested that the anomalous results were “likely the result of lateritic enrichment rather than indicative of significant in-situ copper mineralisation.”
DRILLING
Executive director Patrick Cheetham said that after completing the soil sampling programmes the company would prioritise areas for follow-up drilling alongside the Jacks copper project.
“We believe that our licence portfolio in Zambia is amongst the most prospective held by any
listed junior explorer in Zambia and our data-sharing and technical cooperation agreement with
FQM [First Quantum Minerals] on the Mukai and Mushima North projects is an additional differentiator.”