Shuka Minerals has intersected a previously unknown, near-surface orebody at its Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia, with drill hole KBD009 returning high-grade zinc, lead, copper and vanadium mineralisation.
The hole, drilled to a depth of 161.3 metres at an 80-degree dip on an azimuth of 270 degrees, is the first of three exploratory holes targeting the new orebody, located a few hundred metres south of the previously unmined Speaks and Mine Club zones.
Results include 10.45 metres at 3.35% zinc from 2.95 metres, 26.60 metres at 8.30% zinc from 48.40 metres, and 43.70 metres at 10.77% zinc from 75.0 metres.
A section from 112.3 to 115.0 metres averaged greater than 28% zinc and 0.79% vanadium.
Peak zinc readings of 64.95% were recorded, with lead values up to 12.3% and copper grades of 0.3%.
The Behre Dolbear 2023 NI 43-101 report indicates the Speaks orebody contains 1.944 million tonnes at grades of 12% zinc and 2% lead, while the Mine Club orebody contains 0.666 million tonnes at 11.7% zinc and 0.8% lead, plus silver and vanadium oxide.
The company said the new orebody would be in addition to previously reported resources.
“It is exciting to intersect a new and multi-element orebody. It shows that speaking to some of the old-time workers about the area and Kabwe history can uncover previously untouched areas,” said Shuka chief executive Richard Lloyd.
“To have zinc, lead, copper and vanadium mineralisation existing in the same intervals suggests much richer mineral-bearing fluids and perhaps a zonal nature of the wider orebody.”
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor-In-Chief, Rough & Polished
