Tertiary Minerals Extends Silver-Copper-Zinc Mineralization at Mushima North Drilling in Zambia

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 7, Tertiary Minerals announced new laboratory assay results from Phase 4 drilling at the Target A1 discovery zone of the Mushima North project in Zambia. These results are from 7 reverse circulation holes, all of which intersected near-surface silver-copper-zinc mineralization, with most holes still in mineralization at the end of the hole. The company had previously released laboratory results from the first 5 holes on September 1, and with this release, 12 holes from Phase 4 have now received formal laboratory assay data.

Among this batch of holes, hole 26TMNRC-054 intersected 67 meters of mineralization from 19 meters downhole, grading 40 g/t silver, 0.10% copper, and 0.30% zinc, corresponding to 51 g/t silver equivalent, with the hole ending in mineralization; hole 26TMNRC-057 intersected 82 meters of mineralization from 7 meters downhole, grading 37 g/t silver, 0.11% copper, and 0.54% zinc, for 53 g/t silver equivalent; and hole 26TMNRC-058 intersected 46 meters of mineralization from 8 meters downhole, grading 41 g/t silver, 0.19% copper, and 0.65% zinc, for 63 g/t silver equivalent, also ending in mineralization. These results further extend the known depth range of the mineralized body in the northern portion of the Target A1 discovery zone.

Continuous mineralization was also returned from higher-grade zones. Hole 26TMNRC-054 intersected 22 meters from 64 meters downhole, grading 90 g/t silver, 0.13% copper, and 0.44% zinc, corresponding to 105 g/t silver equivalent; hole 26TMNRC-058 intersected 12 meters from 35 meters downhole, grading 80 g/t silver, 0.21% copper, and 0.67% zinc, for 104 g/t silver equivalent, and a further 11 meters from 43 meters downhole, grading 97 g/t silver, 0.07% copper, and 0.54% zinc, for 110 g/t silver equivalent. Tertiary Minerals stated that most holes in this batch remained in mineralization at the end of the hole, with the known depth of mineralization now exceeding the limits of the previous exploration target model.

Phase 4 drilling at Mushima North comprised a total of 39 reverse circulation holes for 3,639 meters. Holes at the Target A1 discovery zone were laid out on east-west sections, with approximately 100 meters between sections in the north-south direction and approximately 50 meters between holes on the same section, reaching a maximum vertical drilling depth of approximately 128 meters. The project employed a two-stage drilling approach, updating the geological model after the first batch of results was returned and adjusting subsequent hole positions accordingly. This drilling campaign simultaneously served three objectives: resource infill, mineralized boundary testing, and verification of higher-grade zones.

Target A1 currently hosts a JORC-compliant exploration target of 15 to 30 million tonnes at an average grade of approximately 40–60 g/t silver equivalent. The near-surface oxide mineralized body in the current model measures approximately 500 meters in length, 300 meters in width, and up to approximately 75 meters in thickness, with mineralization still open to the northwest, southwest, and at depth. The company has not yet completed a formal mineral resource estimate, and one of the core purposes of this infill drilling campaign is to increase the current drill density to a level capable of supporting the first mineral resource estimate.

Phase 4 drill samples were collected at 1-meter intervals and initially screened on site using portable X-ray fluorescence analyzers, after which selected samples were dispatched to ALS Global Laboratories in South Africa for analysis of silver, copper, zinc, bismuth, antimony, gallium, and other elements using a four-acid digestion method. The company clarified that all reported intersection widths in this release are downhole lengths and true widths have not yet been determined; silver equivalent calculations use price assumptions of $4.99/lb copper, $57/oz silver, and $1.38/lb zinc, assuming 100% recovery, and are provided solely for comparative purposes.

The Mushima North project corresponds to exploration license 27068-HQ-LEL, held by Copernicus Minerals, in which Tertiary Minerals Zambia holds a 90% interest and local partner Mwashia Resources holds 10%. The project also maintains a technical cooperation arrangement with First Quantum Minerals, providing access to historical exploration data accumulated by the latter in the region. Target A1 is located approximately 28 kilometers east of the Kalengwa copper-silver mine, which is being redeveloped, and multiple geochemical and geophysical targets within the project area, including B1, B2, B3, and C2, remain undrilled.

Tertiary Minerals stated that laboratory assay results for the remaining Phase 4 holes will continue to be released over the coming weeks. The company will then use the complete drilling and assay dataset to update the three-dimensional mineralization model for Target A1 and advance toward the first mineral resource estimate, while continuing to evaluate the potential for oxide mineralization to transition to sulfide mineralization at depth.