By: African mining market

Tertiary Minerals has completed its second phase of drilling at Target A1, part of the Mushima North Project in Zambia’s Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold region, delivering what it described as ‘encouraging’ early data.

The company drilled 1,116 metres across 16 holes, extending the known silver, copper and zinc mineralisation by about 350 metres to the north and over a width of roughly 300 metres.

The mineralisation remains open both northwards and at depth.
Preliminary portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis shows high silver values, up to 377 grams per tonne, and broad zones exceeding 20 grams per tonne, though these figures are indicative pending lab confirmation.

Copper and zinc results from pXRF include significant intervals such as 53 metres at 0.73% zinc and 58 metres at 0.27% copper, with some higher-grade sections within these intervals.

Several drill holes ended in mineralisation, suggesting the deposit continues beyond the current drilling.

Richard Belcher, Tertiary’s managing director, said the copper results, including 8 metres at 0.79% copper, were particularly encouraging.

He noted that while the pXRF silver readings remain preliminary, they indicate a continuation of silver mineralisation from previous drilling.

Some holes to the south showed only weak zinc and copper values, but will still be tested for silver.

The polymetallic nature of Target A1 means the company is also awaiting certified lab assays for silver and other elements like bismuth, antimony and gallium, identified in earlier drilling.