Tertiary Minerals announces copper, zinc discoveries at Mushima North

28th Oct 2024 10:47

(Sharecast News) - Tertiary Minerals announced the discovery of copper and zinc mineralisation at its Mushima North Copper Project in Zambia on Monday, after a recent drilling campaign.

The AIM-traded company said it drilled 25 holes to a maximum depth of 112 metres across three traverses at target A1, and one traverse at target C1.

Initial analysis, carried out using portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF), identified widespread intervals of copper and zinc mineralisation, particularly around traverse one at target A1.

The mineralised zone currently extended across an area measuring 350 metres east-west by 170 metres north-south, and remained open-ended.

Among the notable findings, hole 24TMN024 revealed 33 metres of mineralisation grading 0.21% copper from a depth of 22 metres, including higher-grade intervals of six metres at 0.58% copper and one metre at 1.04% copper.

Other significant intersections included hole 24TMN003, which showed eight metres grading 0.10% copper from 33 metres and 28 metres grading 0.30% zinc from 41 metres to the end of the hole.

Hole 24TMN004 recorded 55 metres grading 0.18% copper from 14 metres to the end of the hole, with an additional 26 metres grading 0.27% zinc from 45 metres onwards.

Meanwhile, hole 24TMN005 intersected 43 metres grading 0.14% copper from 31 metres and 58 metres grading 0.27% zinc from 16 metres to the end of the hole.

Hole 24MN008P showed 11 metres grading 0.14% copper from 65 metres, along with 62 metres grading 0.41% zinc from 19 metres.

The firm also noted narrower intervals of copper mineralisation at traverses two and three at target A1, as well as at target C1.

It said a ground magnetic survey was currently being conducted at target A1 to aid in the structural and stratigraphic analysis of the area.

Tertiary Minerals said it planned to submit selected samples for laboratory analysis to verify the findings, and assess the potential for precious metals within the mineralised zones.

"Our first drill programme at Mushima North has delivered exciting results and demonstrates that the large copper-in-soil anomaly at target A1 is rooted in thick intervals of copper and zinc mineralisation over a wide area," said executive chairman Patrick Cheetham.

"The aircore drill rig used for this programme allowed us to complete a meaningful number of widely spaced drill-holes, but the depth limitations of this reconnaissance drilling method meant that many holes ended in mineralisation."

Cheetham said use of pXRF analysis in near real-time allowed the company to modify the drill programme as it progressed, with the result that the last hole in the programme hit the highest grades - grades similar to those being mined elsewhere in northwest Zambia.

"So far we have only scratched the surface at Mushima North and work is now in progress to help us plan follow-up work for the 2025 field season."

At 1006 GMT, shares in Tertiary Minerals were down 6.47% at 0.08p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.