Krakatoa Resources Ltd (ASX:KTA) is expanding its exploration footprint at the Zopkhito Antimony-Gold Project in Georgia, Eastern Europe, with a new underground drone and LiDAR program helping to open previously inaccessible areas and advance the project toward a maiden JORC-compliant resource.
The company has begun a high-resolution pre-entry Elios-3 drone and gas inspection survey inside accessible historical adits to safely map underground workings and identify sampling zones along high-grade antimony veins and gold-rich alteration halos.
Elios-3 drone setup at the adit mouth, preparing to be flown.
Chief executive officer Mark Major said the program is an important step in validating historic data and improving the geological understanding of the project.
“The drone work allows us to safely and efficiently review the old adits and therefore plan future exploration activities like further mapping and core sampling programs,” Major said.
“It will also allow us to reorientate the historical data, especially the channel samples as the cut channels can be seen within the high-resolution LiDAR images,” he added. “This will provide more confidence in the technical profile of the project and support future exploration planning.”
Drone flying deep in Adit 117, surveying the adit walls.
Recalibrating historic data
The LiDAR survey is generating accurate 3D models of the adits, enabling Krakatoa to recalibrate and realign sample data collected between the 1950s and 2014 to modern spatial standards.
This improved precision will refine geological modelling, guide ongoing drilling and support the validation of a historic foreign estimate of 225,000 tonnes at 11.6% antimony and 7.1 million tonnes at 3.7 g/t gold.
Showing digital surface map of adit 41 (Red) and 38 (blue) and current location of sample points. Inserts show cross sections of the adits LiDAR digital surface and historical sample location (Green = unprocessed, not aligned; White = realigned).
Dual-rig drilling continues
Two diamond drill rigs remain active at Zopkhito as part of a 7,000–10,000-metre program across multiple high-priority targets. Drilling and underground sampling are being conducted concurrently to generate sufficient data for Krakatoa’s maiden JORC resource, expected to underpin a broader European critical-minerals strategy.
Initial assay results from the program are anticipated in late Q4 2025.
Critical mineral momentum in Europe
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral by both the European Union and the United States, given its role in energy storage, advanced materials, and defence technologies. With around 90% of global supply controlled by China, Europe is seeking to diversify its sources, creating strong strategic interest in projects like Zopkhito.
Located within Europe’s emerging critical-minerals corridor, the project benefits from Georgia’s mining framework, established infrastructure, and free-trade agreements with the EU and key trading partners.
In September, Krakatoa announced a successful capital raise of A$3.1 million to accelerate drilling at Zopkhito — a step that underpins the current exploration momentum.
Read more: Krakatoa Resources raises $3.1M to advance Zopkhito drilling
Krakatoa says combining advanced drone technology, dual-rig drilling and historical data integration gives the company a strong technical foundation as it moves towards defining a high-grade, Western-aligned supply of antimony and gold.