Tertiary Minerals (LON:TYM) has completed an initial scout drilling program at its Mukai copper project in Zambia. The drilling involved three diamond drill holes, totaling approximately 554 meters in length, which were aimed at testing the potential of the project’s copper and nickel mineralization. The results from these drill holes have returned near-surface anomalous copper and nickel mineralization, confirming the potential of the area for future exploration.
The project is situated in an area of considerable interest, due to its proximity to First Quantum Minerals’ (FQM) Trident project. In 2023, Tertiary conducted surface sampling, which confirmed the Mukai project as a high-priority drill target. The copper-in-soil anomaly identified in this survey, along with the nickel-in-soil anomalies, made it an attractive exploration site for FQM, who is managing the exploration during its due diligence period. FQM’s involvement comes as part of a broader agreement, and the results of the drilling program are being assessed as part of this 24-month due diligence process.
Two of the drill holes targeted a broad copper-in-soil anomaly, while the third hole was aimed at testing the geology of the Tirosa basin. These holes intersected both copper and nickel mineralization at shallow depths. Specifically, two of the drill holes were positioned on the basin’s margin, within the Lower Roan Subgroup siliclastic sediments, which is situated beneath the target mineralized units. The third hole, which was drilled within the basin, traversed through both Upper Roan and Lower Roan geological formations, reaching the footwall units.
Despite the promising findings, Tertiary’s Managing Director Richard Belcher emphasized that much of the area remains untested, and there is still considerable potential upside to the project. Only one of the three holes drilled so far has tested the target units, leaving much of the copper-in-soil and nickel-in-soil anomalies unexplored. As a result, Tertiary believes further exploration could reveal additional mineralization, enhancing the project’s prospects.
Belcher also noted that FQM has confirmed that the drilling, along with other preparatory work, has met the minimum expenditure requirements for the first year of the due diligence period. The amount spent on the project has reached $500,000, as stipulated under the terms of the agreement.
Looking ahead, Tertiary continues to work closely with FQM to plan the next steps for exploration at the Mukai project. The results from the scout drilling have generated interest in the potential for both copper and nickel mineralization in the area, but significant parts of the project remain unexplored. With continued exploration, there could be substantial discoveries in the coming months, though the company has emphasized the need for more drilling to fully assess the mineralization potential.
The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a licensed professional for investment advice. The author is not an insider or shareholder of any of the companies mentioned above.
The post Tertiary Minerals (LON:TYM) Completes Initial Drilling at Mukai Copper Project, Intersects Copper and Nickel Mineralization appeared first on MiningFeeds.
