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Castillo Copper survey identifies multiple targets under 6-kilometre strike in Zambia

Published: 00:44 31 Aug 2021 BST

Castillo Copper Ltd - Castillo Copper survey identifies multiple targets under 6-kilometre strike in Zambia

Castillo Copper Ltd (LSE:CCZ, FRA:7OR, ASX:CCZ) has identified multiple high chargeability targets during survey work along a 6-kilometre strike at the Luanshya Project in Zambia’s copper belt.

Eight lines of an Induced Polarisation (IP) survey have been completed with three interpreted lines potentially indicating the presence of sulphides.

Discovery probability

Reconciling the IP survey findings with previous geochemical results have enabled the company to confirm that the high chargeability targets are directly coincident, which enhances the probability for a discovery.

This means that Castillo’s geology team can formulate an inaugural drilling campaign and, pending the outcome of discussions with service providers, can potentially begin work in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Efforts “bearing fruit”

Castillo Copper’s managing director Simon Paull said: “Our exploration efforts at the Luanshya Project are bearing fruit, as we now have multiple high-quality targets to test-drill along the 6-kilometre copper strike.

"Moving forward, the board’s goal is to commence the inaugural drilling campaign during the fourth quarter.

"This will place Castillo Copper in a strong position strategically, with development work progressing concurrently on prime projects in the Zambia and Mt Isa copper belts.”

IP survey method

CCZ’s geology team in Zambia decided to use the IP survey method, rather than alternatives, due to its deep penetration and high levels of resolution.

This work, which is progressing to plan, has focused on a 6-kilometre strike that was delineated from previous soil sampling campaigns.

Interpretations of the survey, being conducted by Zambian-based geophysics consultancy Geophex Surveys, resulted in multiple high chargeability anomalies being identified along three lines that are potentially indicative of underlying sulphides.

As these chargeability anomalies are directly coincident with soil geochemistry results, they make compelling targets to test-drill.

IP survey lines over a 6-kilometre copper strike at the Luanshya project.

Notably, CCZ believes the nexus between the geophysical and geochemical results, materially enhances the probability for a discovery.

Mkushi survey next

The IP survey work will soon finish up and will then move to the Mkushi project.

Luanshya is in Zambia’s traditional copper belt, a globally known region that houses numerous copper deposits and operating mines.

Moreover, the project is about 6-10 kilometres south of China Nonferrous Mining Corp’s (CNMC) three operating mines, with combined JORC (2012) compliant proven & probable reserves of 52.3 million tonnes at 1.26% copper.

Luanshya is on the same NW-SE trendline, which is about 5-10 kilometres wide, that hosts two of CNMC’s operating copper mines.

There are several ongoing steps for Castillo's Zambia operations, including:

  • Complete the IP survey at the Luanshya and Mkushi projects then analyse the results for incremental targets for test-drilling; and
  • Commence work on the inaugural drilling campaign for the Luanshya Project.

Mt Oxide work programs

The company’s other key area of focus at present is the Mt Oxide Project in northwest Queensland’s Mt Isa copper belt.

A second drilling campaign at the Big One Deposit has concluded and the laboratory, which is processing a huge number of samples from many explorers across the Mt Isa region, is expected to return all assays shortly.

This will enable the geology team to progress work on formulating the next drilling campaign at Big One.

In addition, all key service providers are on track to begin mobilisation at the Arya Prospect next month, targeting several well-defined bedrock conductors.

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