Bezant said maiden drilling at its Kanye manganese exploration project in Botswana has returned some high grades including 28.6% and 22% in two of the eleven holes.
The potential exists for at least another 100m of strike extension to the southeast of holes MS-RC-07 and MS-RC-012, said the junior, which would extend the total strike length to a minimum of 500m, it added.
The grades also compare favourably with neighbouring more advanced manganese projects.
Colin Bird, Bezant’s executive chairman, said: "We are very pleased with these Kanye drill results particularly as we have several other targets still to pursue.
“In the meantime, we will submit samples from the recent drilling for metallurgical test work and are optimistic we will achieve battery-grade quality material.”
Elsewhere, Bezant said a decision over the Hope and Gorob project in Namibia is still pending, but the exploration licence has been extended until October 2024.
Shares jumped 17% to 0.07p.