Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM, OTC:TTIRF) this week discussed new drill results from its Mushima North project in Zambia, where silver mineralisation has been extended by 225 metres to the north.
The company said the zone remains open-ended, with further potential both at depth and along strike.
Managing director Richard Belcher told Proactive that the latest results represent a strong start to the current drill campaign. Here, we catch up with what else was said when Belcher joined the Proactive studio.
Proactive: Richard, very good to speak with you again; these new drill results extended silver mineralisation at Mushima North by 225 metres. How significant is this expansion for the project?
Richard Belcher: Yeah, it's very significant. We're really happy with these initial results. Again it's further near-surface mineralisation. And as you say that extends that footprint for the silver. Plus obviously the other metals associated with the silver, further along to the north, and the silver mineralisation remains open ended. So, a great start to the results from this drill program.
Proactive: You reported the highest silver and copper grades to date at Target A1. What does this tell you about the deposit’s potential?
Richard Belcher: Well, we are certainly working towards the idea of the potential for it to be opencast style of mineralisation. These intersects so far are all near-surface within 5 to 10 metres of the surface. The grades overall are very consistent. So we're really happy with those silver grades, but having those high-grade zones within the broad, consistent silver grades are great for potential economics when we get to this stage further down the line. We're really happy where it's going. And great to get additionally high copper grades as well.
Proactive: You've also highlighted the mineralisation remains open to the north and at depth. What's the next step in terms of follow up drilling?
Richard Belcher: That's a great question. We're really waiting on the results that are coming back in the next couple of weeks to understand the extent of the potential footprint at this stage. The initial results for copper and zinc suggest it could be larger than where it is now. But there's also the depth extent as well. And that's a potential upside, for something to look at in the future. That could be one aspect where we'll look with additional drilling in the next round.
Proactive: You mentioned starting mineralogical and metallurgical studies. What are you hoping to learn from this work, and how could it shape development plans?
Richard Belcher: At this stage we don't have much control over how the metals are situated and the potential extraction. These initial studies are really to start to understand that. We want to have that understanding of where the silver sits, how it is associated and whether it could be extracted in the future. It's those first steps on that pathway, and samples will be submitted within the next few days. Hopefully we'll have the results within the next month or so.
Proactive: Beyond the Mushima North project, what should investors be watching as the company progresses through 2025?
Richard Belcher: The work being undertaken by Cobalt Metals on our Konkola West continues. Drilling continues at the moment on the second hole, as we get closer to the potential ore zone. It's going to be really exciting to see if and when they reach that this time. Hopefully within the next few weeks we'll be hearing an update from them on that.
Proactive: Richard, I hope you'll keep us updated with progress.