en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sankamap Metals Inc. has identified early indications of a gold-copper system during its initial drilling program at the Kuma tenement in the Solomon Islands. Surface sampling near the first drill hole returned gold grades of up to 3.0 g/t, and water samples collected near the drilling area showed copper levels higher than typical pristine background values.
Grab samples collected near the initial drill hole collar returned gold grades of up to 3.0 g/t. Analysis of a water sample from a creek near the drilling area yielded: aluminum at 4.54 mg/L, copper at 0.221 mg/L, manganese at 0.499 mg/L, and iron at 3.28 mg/L. Sankamap stated that the copper concentration is significantly elevated relative to normal pristine background conditions, which are typically equal to or below 0.02 mg/L.
Drilling in hole KU26-01 has intersected multiple alteration zones, including an intense clay alteration interval from 250.0 m to 280.5 m depth, characterized by abundant anhydrite veins and pyrite. Additionally, drilling encountered several intervals of hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks with abundant anhydrite veins and pyrite mineralization.
In a company press release, CEO John Florek stated that the strong surface gold results, elevated copper in water samples, and alteration encountered in the drill hole collectively provide early evidence of a large, active mineralized system at Kuma. He noted that the drilling encountered intense alteration, veining, and sulfide mineralization commonly associated with porphyry gold-copper systems.
Sankamap reported that a surface rock sample grading 3.0 g/t gold was identified within the interpreted lithocap alteration zone in the drilling area. Drilling has penetrated hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks containing abundant pyrite mineralization and anhydrite veins, and drilling of hole KU26-01 is ongoing.
Preparation and analysis of water and rock samples were conducted by ALS Global at its facilities in Brisbane, Australia. Rock samples were analyzed using four-acid digestion, with gold analyzed by 50-gram fire assay. Water samples were analyzed according to ALS Drinking Water Suite 3 to determine dissolved metal concentrations and general water quality characteristics.
The initial drilling campaign at Kuma is planned for a total of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 meters, targeting multiple high-priority prospects identified through geophysical and geochemical work. The program is fully funded and retains flexibility for expansion based on results. The technical team has identified multiple targets characterized by leached lithocaps associated with advanced argillic alteration containing alunite, kaolinite, and residual silica. Recent field work delineated an extensive lithocap zone, and the company stated that the geological features identified at Kuma are consistent with regional geological trends. The Kuma tenement has no prior historical drilling.
According to the company, the Kuma tenement covers approximately 43 square kilometers and is located about 37 kilometers southeast of Honiara on Guadalcanal Island. Historical grab samples from the tenement have shown copper grades of up to 11.7% and gold grades of up to 13.5 g/t. Drilling operations are expected to continue into the second quarter and early third quarter of 2026, with assay results to be released as they are received and validated. Sankamap has fully funded the 2026 drilling program and plans summer exploration at its Fauro tenement.
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