Tertiary Minerals plc (AIM: TYM) has announced the start of a major 4,000-metre Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling programme at its Mushima North Project in Zambia, with the aim of establishing a maiden JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate for the Target A1 silver oxide discovery.
The drilling campaign is designed to build on the project’s existing JORC Exploration Target, which estimates between 15 million and 30 million tonnes grading 40-60 g/t silver equivalent. Management believes the programme has the potential to significantly advance the project towards a defined mineral resource.
The work will focus on extending known oxide mineralisation, conducting infill drilling to improve geological confidence, and testing previously undrilled areas within the western portion of Target A1 and the nearby Target A2 zone.
Drilling is expected to commence within the next two weeks, with results anticipated to play a key role in converting the current exploration target into a formal mineral resource by the end of the year.
The programme follows the company’s recent fundraising, which has provided sufficient capital to complete the planned work without the need for additional near-term financing.
Management views Mushima North as a potentially significant silver project within Zambia’s emerging critical minerals and precious metals sector. Success from the current campaign could substantially enhance the project’s value by increasing confidence in the scale and continuity of the mineralisation.
With drilling set to begin shortly, investors will be watching closely for assay results and resource updates that could move the project from exploration status towards development readiness.
