WeeklySA_AdminSAMPLES: Preliminary results confirm discovery of the precious metal used for electricity and as building material
By Isaac Moledi
Copper 360 Limited, Africa’s newest producer of this strategic metal, has confirmed the discovery of new high-grade copper deposit at its Rietberg Copper Mine in the Northern Cape.
Although the surface sampling results have not yet been independently verified, the company said however that their results have been verified by Dr Deon Tobias Vermaakt, a competent mining guru who holds a Ph.D in Geology.
Copper 360, a copper mining company, which listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange AltX board in April this year, announced this week that its drilling results confirmed highgrade copper intersections at its Rietberg copper mine. Its initial sampling has led to the discovery of new high-grade copper deposit on the surface. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material and as a constituent of various metal alloys such as sterling silver used in jewellery, cupronickel used to make marine hardware and coins as well as constantan which is used in strain gauges and thermocouples for temperature measurement.
Jan Nelson, chief executive of Copper 360, says the company’s recent exploration activities included drilling four core boreholes in proximity to historical boreholes, confirming historical copper values and widths. “Notably, boreholes RB360-3 and RB360-4 intersected copper grades of 2.97% over 22.27m and 3.57% over 6.66m, respectively.”
According to Nelson, the drilling results validated the historical drill hole database that the company holds and the inferred copper resource at its Rietberg mine.
Beyond this, Nelson said Copper 360 made a significant discovery at its Wheal Julia site during a recent surface channel sampling campaign. Copper oxide capping on the surface, extending 150m wide by 100m long and open to depth, was discovered with an in situ average copper grade of 5% and individual values as high as 8% to 10%. “The drilling results at the Rietberg mine have confirmed the historical drill hole database and validated our modelling of the mineralized copper zones.
The size of the copper mineralization is unparalleled, with copper mineralization of over 150m wide by 200m in length, with a down-dip strike of over 400m and open to depth at in situ grades of between 2.5% and 3.5%. This represents significant blocks of copper mineralization that we plan to mine using pre-developed infrastructure.”
Nelson added: “We have now identified and delineated several targets of copper mineralization confirmed by surface sampling not previously known. This entirely changes the landscape, as we now have the potential to develop several surface open pit deposits. We have mobilized a geological team and drilling is planned within the coming months to test these targets to depth and prepare for open pit mine design.”
Nelson said his company will advise the market on the upgrade of the inferred resource within the coming months. With operations based in the Northern Cape, Copper 360 is focused on developing one of the largest and most promising copper districts in South Africa through exploring, developing, and mining copper resources.
