Midnight Sun Mining Expands Copper Exploration Near Kansanshi Mine
Canadian exploration company Midnight Sun Mining has launched a new exploration phase at the Kazhiba target on its Solwezi property in Zambia.
This initiative is part of the company’s ongoing cooperative exploration agreement with First Quantum Minerals, aimed at identifying near-surface oxide copper resources to supply the nearby Kansanshi mine, located less than 10 km away.
The exploration program involves 3,000 meters of reverse circulation drilling, partial ionic leach sampling, and an induced polarization survey, all designed to evaluate the high-grade oxide copper blanket at Kazhiba.
Midnight Sun President and CEO Al Fabbro emphasized the significance of the project, stating, “Kazhiba offers a high-grade oxide copper blanket, giving us a great opportunity to supply feedstock to Kansanshi mine operations.”
In April, Midnight Sun and First Quantum entered a cooperation agreement to explore potential feed sources for Kansanshi’s solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) oxide copper circuit. Kansanshi is transitioning to a large-scale sulphide development due to its depleted oxide reserves.
Midnight Sun’s property is located just a few kilometers from Kansanshi, and a haul road owned by First Quantum connects the two sites.
Utilizing oxide copper from Midnight Sun’s property could help First Quantum increase feed grades and make use of sulphuric acid produced by Kansanshi’s on-site smelter.
