Kabwe Drilling (“KBDD11”)
The New Ore body identified at Kabwe returns a max grade of 70% Zn.
Shuka Minerals Plc (AIM/AltX: SKA) has completed the eleventh and final drill hole of its current Kabwe programme, returning further high-grade zinc mineralisation from the newly identified orebody south of the historic Speaks and Mine Club zones in Zambia.
Hole KBDD11 intersected 18.4 metres at 7.45% zinc from 3.3 metres, including a peak reading of 18.9% zinc and 0.61% copper.
A second, substantially higher-grade zone returned 27.1 metres at 19.60% zinc from 68.9 metres, with a maximum pXRF reading of 69.6% zinc and peak vanadium of 2.7%. The interval also included a 6.1-metre basal zone grading 5.07% lead.
Between the two principal zones, Shuka identified a 47.2-metre mineralised interval carrying between 0.4% and 3.1% zinc.
The company believes the new mineralised body may represent the up-dip and northern extension of the large historic No.1 Orebody and currently interprets it as a steeply dipping, pipe-like structure.
Shuka said the geometry and mineralogy encountered across KBDD09, KBDD10 and KBDD11 suggest the newly discovered body could add materially to the previously modelled Kabwe mineralisation.
The latest readings were generated using portable XRF and remain preliminary. Shuka stressed that the results must be confirmed through certified laboratory assays before being treated as definitive grades.
Laboratory results from earlier drilling are expected shortly, while the company intends to return to the new discovery area during Phase 2 drilling later this year.
Chief Executive Richard Lloyd said the near-surface mineralisation and exceptionally high peak zinc readings could potentially support early-stage exploitation, subject to further drilling, laboratory confirmation and technical studies.
