Shuka Minerals (AIM:SKA), an African-focused mine operator and developer, has completed its fourth diamond drill hole at the No.2 ore body of the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia, intersecting mineralisation at 6.86% zinc over 13.0 metres from 106.60 metres to 119.65 metres downhole.
The hole, designated KBDD04, was drilled at a shallow angle to test the western edge of the upper ore body, reaching 110 metres depth before being terminated after encountering a historical mining cross-cut, which made continued drilling unsafe.
Point grades within the uppermost nine metres of the intersection averaged 40.09% zinc, with individual readings peaking at 53.0%.
Assays were taken with a calibrated portable XRF instrument and are subject to verification through JORC and NI 43-101 laboratory analysis.
The result sits against a 2023 Behre Dolbear NI 43-101 resource estimate for the No.2 ore body of 3.1 million tonnes grading 11.4% zinc and 1.7% lead, plus silver and vanadium oxide.
"Every hole and intersection we are learning more and more about the orebody," said CEO Richard Lloyd, noting that results continue to show higher grades over significant widths than the existing resource model suggests.
A fifth drill hole, targeting the ore body at 450 to 500 metres depth, has already commenced.
