Tertiary Minerals PLC (AIM:TYM, OTC:TTIRF, FRA:TMU) said it is preparing its largest Zambia drilling programme to date as it looks to convert the Target A1 silver oxide discovery at Mushima North into a maiden JORC Mineral Resource Estimate by the end of the year.
The AIM-listed explorer plans around 4,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling, with work expected to start within the next two weeks. All drill-related permitting is in place, a drilling contract has been signed with Ox Drilling, and access road and drill pad preparation is already underway.
Target A1 currently carries a JORC Exploration Target of 15Mt to 30Mt grading 40 to 60 grams per tonne silver equivalent, with the company saying it contains up to 58mln ounces of silver equivalent. The last drilling campaign delivered the best intersection so far, including 97 metres at 56 g/t silver, 0.43% copper and 0.19% zinc from 6 metres downhole.
Managing director Richard Belcher said the programme marked “a significant milestone” for Tertiary, adding that the recent fundraise had left the company with sufficient funds to complete the drilling needed to support resource estimation work.
The programme will infill the oxide zone, test extensions to the northwest, southwest and at depth, and provide initial drill testing of western Target A1 and Target A2. Drilling is expected to take six to 12 weeks, with the first assay results expected around six to eight weeks after the initial sample batch is submitted.
