Galileo Resources to Launch Phase 3 Drilling at Zambia’s Shinganda Copper/Gold Project
Aim-listed Galileo Resources has announced the commencement of a Phase 3 drilling program at its Shinganda copper/gold project in Zambia.
This phase aims to validate the company’s belief that near-surface copper and gold mineralization occurs along the Shinganda fault splay over a strike length of more than 4 km, potentially leading to the development of a preliminary mineral resource.
Phases 1 and 2 of the drilling program confirmed the presence of copper and gold mineralization associated with major regional and localized structures.
Mineralization has been identified in vein and alteration assemblages, with higher copper and gold grades found at shallow depths due to supergene enrichment.
Evidence from the first two drilling phases indicates copper-equivalent grades between 1% and 1.5% at shallow depths over notable widths.
Phase 3 will target a projected supergene high-grade zone extending approximately 4 km, with an anticipated mineralization package width of about 30 meters and a vertical depth of around 70 meters.
The supergene enrichment is broadly associated with a coincident magnetic anomaly. However, historical drilling of the same supergene feature, even where a weak magnetic signature is present, also intersected notable copper values.
An additional 4 km or more of the Shinganda fault splay will be tested where there is a weak to no underlying magnetic signature, potentially extending the project’s strike length to over 8 km.
Phase 1 drilling primarily targeted the prospective near-surface hematite-rich zone, which will be the focus of the Phase 3 program.
Phase 2 drilling, comprising 2,379.1 meters and 13 drill holes, focused on testing deeper targets, including breccias and magnetic and induced polarization anomalies on the Shinganda fault splay and the main fault.
Phase 2 drilling intersected wide zones (300 meters) of hydrothermal alteration and brecciation with lower-grade sulphide copper and gold mineralization.
“The last two years of exploration at Shinganda, including fieldwork, geophysics, and drilling, have identified multiple targets and several geological concepts that we will follow up on in the future.
Our thoughts range from iron oxide copper/gold potential to isolated gold potential to traditional Copper Belt, and all our activities support these concepts,” said CEO and Chairperson Colin Bird.
“However, from the work completed, a compelling target has emerged, identified by geophysics and confirmed by drilling, giving us a meaningful drill-ready target,” Bird added.
“Irrespective of all other potential on the license area, this 4-km to 8-km zone has immediate potential for shareholder value enhancement, and thus we are prioritizing this target above all others. We expect to commence drilling by the end of the third quarter.”
Galileo Resources’ enhanced focus on this promising target aims to expedite the development of the Shinganda project, potentially yielding significant returns for shareholders and contributing to the company’s growth in the copper and gold mining sector.
