Shuka Minerals (AIM:SKA), the African-focused mine operator and developer, said its eighth drill hole at the Kabwe Zinc Mine has returned copper grades of up to 3% alongside high-grade zinc mineralisation.
The hole, KBDD08, targeted the Speaks and Mine Club zones, a previously unmined section of the Kabwe deposit more than 1km northwest of the Pit 2 area where the company had focused earlier studies.
Portable XRF readings showed zinc grades ranging from 1% to 22% across mineralised intervals, with lead present at 0.1% to 3.3%, and copper mineralisation appearing in line with the historically reported copper oxide zone.
A 2023 NI 43-101 report by Behre Dolbear estimated the Speaks orebody holds 1.944 million tonnes of indicated and inferred resource at 12% zinc and 2% lead, with the Mine Club orebody adding 0.666 million tonnes at 11.7% zinc and 0.8% lead.
The XRF results remain provisional pending JORC/NI 43-101 laboratory verification.
"It is encouraging to see the orebody thicken and show its copper mineralisation as we head into the more central area of Speaks / Mine Club," said chief executive Richard Lloyd, adding the results suggest greater north-south continuity than historically assumed.
The initial drilling phase has been extended to 2,500 metres following the results, with holes KB009 and KB010 next planned to target the southern extent of the Speaks and Mine Club orebodies.
