Kavango Resources PLC (LON:KAV) has commenced drilling at the first of its three targets on the Kalahari Suture Zone in Botswana.
The objective of the drilling is to verify the company's geological model, aimed at discovering a Norilsk-style magmatic sulphide ore body.
Kavango selected its current three drill targets following two airborne electro-magnetic surveys on its prospecting licenses and the subsequent ground-based geophysical follow up surveys and soil sampling.
The one thousand meter drilling programme will seek to intersect sulphide mineralization which could provide significant evidence for the development of magmatic sulphide ore bodies similar to those currently being mined at Norilsk in Russia and Voisey’s Bay in Canada.
Kavango has elected to use reverse circulation drilling, which is more cost effective, to penetrate the relatively unconsolidated Kalahari and Karoo cover for up to 200 metres. Diamond drilling will then continue into Karoo sediments, gabbros and the conductive targets to a target depth of around 400m.
"We are delighted that the drilling on the first hole of this three-hole programme is now underway,” said Michael Foster, chief executive of Kavango.
“If the current drilling is able to verify Kavango's geological model by intersecting metal sulphide mineralization in association with gabbroic intrusives on the KSZ, this will represent a major step forward towards the discovery of a world class, Norilsk-type, magmatic sulphide deposit in Botswana. We look forward to providing the market with further updates as this drill campaign proceeds."