Shuka Minerals Plc (AIM/AltX: SKA) has reported further encouraging results from the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia, with drill hole KBDD08 identifying copper mineralisation of up to 3% alongside high-grade zinc.
The hole targeted the more central part of the previously unmined Speaks and Mine Club zones, more than one kilometre northwest of the Pit 2 area.
KBDD08 was completed to a depth of 191.1 metres and returned three significant mineralised intervals.
These included 18.67 metres averaging 2.05% zinc from 87.66 metres, with a peak reading of 9.17% zinc.
A second interval returned 3.66 metres averaging 8.27% zinc and 0.93% copper from 125.33 metres, including peak readings of 22% zinc and 3% copper.
A further 5.66 metres averaging 4.18% zinc was intersected from 152.33 metres, with a peak reading of 21.55% zinc.
Shuka said the results indicate that mineralisation is thickening towards the central part of the northern area and that the expected copper oxide mineralisation is beginning to appear.
The 2023 Behre Dolbear NI 43-101 report estimated the Speaks orebody contains 1.944 million tonnes of Indicated and Inferred resources grading 12% zinc and 2% lead.
The Mine Club orebody was estimated to contain 0.666 million tonnes grading 11.7% zinc and 0.8% lead, alongside silver and vanadium oxide.
Chief executive Richard Lloyd said the latest results were encouraging as the drilling moved into the more central part of Speaks and Mine Club.
He added that the exploration holes were increasing confidence in north-south continuity across the orebody and suggested the Speaks orebody may be less patchy than historically believed.
Shuka will now continue drilling holes KBDD09 and KBDD10 to test the southern parts of the underexplored Speaks and Mine Club orebodies.
The wider drilling campaign has been extended to 2,500 metres following results received to date.
The reported results were obtained using a calibrated portable XRF machine and will be verified through laboratory analysis and testing in accordance with JORC and NI 43-101 standards.
