By: African mining market

Resource Mining Corporation Ltd. has begun a 1,000-metre rotary air blast (RAB) drilling campaign at its 1,056-square-kilometre Mpanda Copper-Gold Project in Tanzania. The first-pass orientation program is focused on the Stalike and Kabungu prospects.

Samples collected during the campaign will be assayed for gold and copper, among other elements.

“This orientation drill program marks RMC’s first step of a systematic exploration program so we can begin to define both copper and gold resources at Mpanda,” executive chairman Asimwe Kabunga said. “The very large number of historical workings across our project area is a clear indication of mineralisation at depth, and it’s our objective to define multiple areas of interest. Exploration drilling is always an exciting activity, and the company will provide an update as the program progresses. As well as the drilling, we are witnessing continued third party interest in Mpanda as well as renewed focus on our nickel prospects, which is also an encouraging development.”

Drilling program details

The campaign targets previously identified anomalous zones using angled RAB drilling to the depth of weathered rock. The plan includes 1,000 metres of drilling with nominal hole depths of 40 metres at Stalike and 30 metres at Kabungu.

Samples are being collected at 1-metre intervals and composited into 2-metre samples for assay.

Despite delays in contractor mobilisation, the in-country exploration team has now launched operations, with collar locations shown in site imagery.

Strategic interest

RMC has reported increasing inbound interest from third parties regarding exploration and development at Mpanda. Additionally, there is renewed interest in the company’s suite of Tanzanian nickel projects, highlighting the strategic relevance of its diversified critical minerals portfolio.

RMC’s Mpanda and Mbozi projects are situated within the Ubendian Orogenic Belt, known for hosting significant copper, gold and nickel resources. The company is also actively exploring four nickel projects in Tanzania and two lithium projects in Finland.

The Tanzanian nickel portfolio includes the Kabanga North, Kapalagulu, Kabulwanyele and Southern Projects (Liparamba, Kitai, Mbinga), with previous exploration by major companies including BHP and Jacana Resources. In Finland, the Hirvikallio and Kola Lithium Projects add further diversification.

The company is chaired by Tanzanian-born Australian entrepreneur Asimwe Kabunga, who has longstanding community and commercial ties to the region.