Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM, OTC:TTIRF) will begin a fresh round of drilling in Zambia as it looks to expand and deepen its understanding of a promising silver, copper and zinc deposit at its Mushima North project.
The AIM-listed explorer said about 1,000 metres of new drilling will start in early November at Target A1, a site 28km east of the historic Kalengwa copper-silver mine, which is currently being redeveloped.
All permits are in place, and the drilling contractor, Ox Drilling, is preparing to move equipment to site.
The work is designed to follow up on encouraging results from the last round of drilling earlier this year, which uncovered high-grade intersections, including 58 metres grading 49 grams per tonne (g/t) of silver and 0.26% copper, and another 73 metres at 32 g/t silver and 0.16% copper.
Managing director Richard Belcher said the company wanted to maintain momentum before the rainy season begins: “Drilling again before the rains, rather than waiting until the start of the next dry season, shows our resolve to aggressively advance this project and add shareholder value.”
He said the mineralised area now stretches about 450 by 400 metres and remains open in several directions and at depth. The new holes will test whether the mineralisation continues further and will also fill in gaps between previous drill lines.
The company expects the programme to take about two weeks, finishing before heavy rains in December bring exploration to a halt until next March or April.
Samples will first be analysed on site using portable X-ray equipment, with selected material sent to an external lab for detailed testing.
If results are positive, the data could support work towards Tertiary’s first formal mineral resource estimate within the next year.
Mushima North lies within Zambia’s Iron-Oxide-Copper-Gold belt, a region known for hosting significant mineral deposits, and has already shown signs of elevated metals such as bismuth, antimony and gallium alongside silver, copper and zinc.