Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM: TYM) said preliminary pXRF results from the first 12 holes of its Phase 4 drill programme at Mushima North in Zambia suggest the continuation of a higher-grade copper zone at Target A1.
The company said the zone is located in the northern part of the target area, within near-surface, lower-grade oxide mineralisation.
Mushima North is located in Zambia’s Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold region, around 28 kilometres east of the historic Kalengwa copper-silver mine.
Tertiary said infill drilling completed so far supports the current Exploration Target for the silver-copper-zinc oxide zone, where the company aims to delineate a JORC Mineral Resource Estimate.
Preliminary intersections include 45 metres at 0.41% copper and 0.28% zinc from 12 metres in hole 26TMNRC-045.
This included 10 metres at 0.81% copper and 0.35% zinc from 42 metres, and 6 metres at 1.01% copper and 0.26% zinc from 42 metres.
Hole 26TMNRC-049 returned 55 metres at 0.32% copper and 0.29% zinc from 26 metres.
Hole 26TMNRC-053 returned 73 metres at 0.29% copper and 0.38% zinc from 25 metres, including 20 metres at 0.48% copper and 0.65% zinc from 76 metres.
The reported intersections are downhole widths, with true widths currently unknown.
Tertiary said high pXRF silver values of up to 214 grams per tonne were also recorded, although silver readings from pXRF analysis are considered semi-quantitative and indicative only.
The company is currently reporting only copper and zinc pXRF results, with certified silver results to follow laboratory analysis.
Samples have been submitted to ALS Global in South Africa, with independent laboratory results expected in the coming weeks.
A total of 22 holes for 2,175 metres have been completed so far from the planned 4,000-metre reverse circulation drill programme.
Managing director Richard Belcher said the results suggest the higher-grade copper and silver mineralisation intersected in the previous programme is likely to continue.
He added that the company is awaiting independent laboratory analysis and will provide further updates as drilling progresses.
