The Okiep Copper Project, Northern Cape, South Africa, has delivered shallow, high-grade intersections at its maiden drilling programme.
Assay results received for the first four drill holes from the maiden drilling programme at the Okiep Copper Project, confirmed and exceeded the expectations of Orion Minerals. Three holes were drilled to confirm historically reported mineralisation, returning high-grade results including 10.36m at 1.84% Cu, 5.71m at 1.93% Cu and 4.69m at 2.05% Cu.
Importantly, drilling also intersected a new mineralised zone at Koperberg West, supporting Orion’s geological model, with a high-grade intercept of 4.76m at 3.99% Cu. The maiden drilling programme is now 55% complete, with 14 diamond holes completed at Koperberg West and 2 diamond holes completed at Koperberg East with a total of 1,900m drilled to date.
Errol Smart, Orion’s Managing Director and CEO, said, “We are thrilled with the first assays received from our ongoing maiden drilling programme at Okiep. The results we’ve received to date have confirmed the historical drill results for high-grade sulphide copper mineralisation near-surface and more importantly, confirming our geological hypothesis for a model for intrusive bodies arranged in en-echelon side-stepping lenses.
“Historical drilling focused on drilling down-dip projections, without adequately testing the probable side stepping of mineralised lenses as was encountered at the 38 million tonne Carolusberg Deeps mine, which sits along strike from and on the same structure as Okiep.
“This potential for offset, high-grade lenses, that continue down dip below the extensive, shallow historical mining on the 5km strike Carolusberg line, presents a very exciting exploration opportunity. Drill testing this down dip position has been elevated to a high priority focus for 2022, alongside the testing of EM targets identified through our recent SkyTemTM survey.”
He concluded, “Our engineering and permitting teams are also making good progress on the early mining project we announced on 3 May 2021, and we anticipate being able to provide market updates on this work shortly.”