Evolution Energy Minerals (ASX:EV1) has planned a 17-hole reverse circulation drilling program at its Chikundo Copper Project in Tanzania and expects to begin drilling in late June.
The program comprises nine priority holes totalling 1,800m and eight optional holes for 1,550m. The company says the priority holes will test the Malachite Pit area, where copper minerals are visible at surface, and the strike length of the main Chikundo anomaly.
“Having defined and ranked our copper targets from the soil geochemistry, we have moved quickly to put a drill program on the ground,” Managing Director Craig Moulton says.
“The design is disciplined — nine priority holes concentrated on the strongest part of the system around the Malachite Pit and the Chikundo anomaly, with a suite of optional holes ready to follow up the broader target inventory.”
The drilling follows soil sampling results announced on 10 June that defined four copper targets at the project in the Lindi Region of southern Tanzania.
The priority holes focus on the Chikundo Prospect, including the Malachite Pit sulphide zone and a partially sampled historical diamond drill intercept of 0.4m at 5.27% copper.
Two holes are positioned to twin and extend historical holes that returned intervals of 1.345% and 1.03% copper but had limited sampling.
The Chikundo Prospect returned the strongest geochemistry in the survey, including a peak soil copper value of 5,870 parts per million (ppm), together with coincident peak tellurium of 70.9ppm and bismuth of 82.5ppm from historical sampling by IMX Resources.
Evolution Energy has closed the tender for a drilling contractor and begun site preparation, including drill pad and sump preparation.
The tender is progressing through Tanzania’s Mining Commission process, consistent with the company’s local content commitments.
The company expects drilling to commence in late June, with laboratory assay results to follow as they are received and validated.
Evolution Energy Minerals is an Australian‑based explorer primarily focused on advancing its flagship Chilalo Graphite Project in Tanzania, with an additional copper exploration portfolio including the Chikundo Copper Project.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Evolution Energy Minerals
