Leviathan Metals (TSX-V:LVX) has received its first diamond drilling assays from the Central Project in Botswana, identifying copper mineralisation that the company believes could indicate the margins of a larger mineralised system.
The results cover six drill holes targeting a prospective geological horizon, with four returning notable copper intersections, three of which also contained silver.
Highlighted results include:
- 2.3m @ 0.15% copper (Cu) from 228m
- 1m @ 0.1% Cu and 5 grams per tonne silver (Ag) from 162m
- 1.06m @ 0.2% Cu and 10.91g/t Ag from 116.8m
- 1.29m @ 0.47% Cu and 11.9g/t Ag from 142.9m
According to Leviathan, the results occur within a geological envelope extending more than 4km, with mineralisation associated with interbedded siltstones and sandstones near the contact between the D’Kar and Ngwako Pan formations.
The company believes the grades and geological setting are consistent with the outer margins of a broader copper mineralising system.
Drilling confirms target geology
The Central Project is located in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB), which hosts several major sediment-hosted copper deposits.
These include MMG’s (HKG:1208) Khoemacau deposits and discoveries, which have combined measured and indicated resources of 94 million tonnes (Mt) grading 1.8% Cu and 22g/t Ag, along with inferred resources of 188Mt @ 1.6% Cu and 20g/t Ag.
Leviathan’s Central Project adjoins MMG’s land package and covers more than 20km of the prospective D’Kar–Ngwako Pan formation contact.
Much of this contact extends around a geological structure known as the Hyena Hills dome, previously identified through geophysical surveys.
Leviathan says its ongoing drilling has provided further evidence of the dome, as Mining.com.au previously reported. The company has completed more than 7,000m of drilling across 26 holes to date.
Almost every hole has intersected the targeted geological contact, while all but two holes have displayed visual copper sulphide mineralisation. These results support the company’s interpretation of the broader geological structure.
The latest assays also indicate a relationship between copper mineralisation and increasing structural deformation, including shearing, brecciation, and faulting.
Further drilling planned
“Practically every hole displays evidence of mineralisation, and our geological work shows a clear relationship between copper mineralisation and progressively increasing shearing, brecciation, and faulting,” Leviathan COO Jeremy Crozier says.
He adds that the results provide “strong vectors” for directing further drilling towards potentially higher-grade mineralisation.
“Beyond these vectored targets, significant areas of Central remain very thinly tested,” Crozier says.
Leviathan is targeting a total of 10,000m of drilling at Central to investigate the potential for sediment-hosted copper mineralisation similar in style to deposits elsewhere in the KCB.
Leviathan Metals is a Canadian explorer advancing copper and uranium projects in Botswana.
Write to Jackson Chen at Mining.com.au
Main image: Leviathan Metals
