A review of the mineral exploration potential of the Ditau Project, Botswana, has been carried out for Kavango by Dr. Hamid Mumin, Professor and Former Chair of the Department of Geology at Brandon University, Manitoba, Canada. The Review has identified a possible high potential Banded Iron Formation hosted Lode Gold model at the Ditau Project.
This review of Ditau core could be a very important breakthrough for Kavango. Dr Mumin has identified the potential for a large Banded Iron Formation-hosted Lode Gold system, such systems can be capable of hosting world-class multimillion-oz gold deposits. In particular, Dr Mumin highlighted the thickness of the Banded Iron Formation intersected by DITDD004, which extends for >100m and is open at depth.
Given the thickness of the Banded Iron Formation (BIF), the extent of structural disruption, & the highly anomalous gold values Dr Mumin believes we are “as close as is possible” to definitively indicating a Lode Gold system at Ditau. Our job now is to work with Dr Mumin on verifying Ditau’s potential and we are prepping assays/samples for petrological testing & completing a thorough review of our geophysics data, we’re making sure our understanding of the project is as comprehensive as possible before we define targets & begin discovery drilling.
We’ve released a significant upgrade to the B1 Conductor. An expert 3rd party has remodeled our downhole data. The updated plate model is 150m x 475m with a conductance of 28,700 Siemens, in the upper end for potential #nickel bearing massive sulphides. We’re developing a cluster of 3 drill targets in the range of massive sulphides in the KSZ North. B1 has been remodelled with a conductance of 28,700 Siemens, while B3 and B4 have been modelled at 4,100 and 2,760 Siemens respectively. Our goal in drilling B1, B3 & B4 is to confirm massive sulphides are the source of the conductors. The 3 targets conform to our Norilsk nickel/copper ore deposit model.
Redox Horizon on the southern limb of the Acacia anticline Acacia Fold nose
Possible prospective lithology repetition, domes, as seen on mines elsewhere on KCB
Possible structural repetition: Thrusting or folding
Major soil sampling program completed, has identified 4 geochemical anomalies of +10ppm Cu (peak value of 110ppm Cu) – Acacia (c.2.5km x 3km), Morula (c.3km x 3km), Happy (c.9km x 1km) & Kudu (c.18km non-continuous strike)
To be followed by RC drill program
PL082/2018
Located in NE heart of the KCB
Kanye 90% earn-in with local company
AEM suggests licence area is analogous to the Banana Zone deposit
Soil sampling completed August 2022 and identified 2 geochemical anomalies of +30ppm Cu:
Northern Zone 8km strike (peak value of 39.7ppm Cu)
Central Zone 27km strike (peak value of 118.8ppm Cu)
Drill ready
Mamuno (PL49/2020 and PL52/2020)
These four licences form a large contiguous block strategically located on the KCB, adjacent to border
Mineralisation known on both sides of border
Minimal previous exploration & lack of regional AEM data, creating the opportunity for a new discovery
Kanye has newly identified a large 5km x 3.5km +30ppm Cu anomaly (peak value 73ppm Cu)
D’kar/Ngwako Pan contact located by Kanye, soil sampling values align closely with this
This shows the two linear anomalies of over 30ppm copper identified on PL082. These align with the mapped geology, this is encouraging as it provides strong indications of in-situ mineralisation. They are notable for their significant strike length.
Banana Zone 1 – the lower images show (right hand side) the conductor identified on the Banana Zone that is associated with mineralisation, and (left hand side) the results of Kavango’s 2021 AEM survey, which identified a similar feature.
Banana Zone 2 – this shows the relative positions of Kavango’s 082 licence and the established Cupric Canyon owned Banana Zone resource.
Figure 1 – Position of Kavango’s prospecting licences in the Kalahari Copper Belt
Figure 2 – Copper anomaly results identified using the pXRF, displayed over the geological map
Figure 3 – pXRF Copper readings (+15ppm) and Zinc readings (+20ppm) displayed over the geological map (left) and Google Earth (right)
Figure 4 – A schematic cross section showing Kavango’s interpretation of the geochemical anomalies, displayed over the geological map (left) and Google Earth (right). These areas are marked as areas of interest for follow up exploration and drilling.
The Q2 2022, TDEM campaign was conducted in 3 phases. Loop 8 and its lines were prepared first, together with the locations for Loops 10 and 11. The infill lines for Loops 10 and 11 were then cut, together with the location for Loop 12. Two final infill lines were cut for Loop 12 in the third phase.
The B1 Conductor was identified originally via Surface TDEM from Loop 8, which was resurveyed at the start of Q2 2022 to confirm the original data. New survey lines were acquired using Loop 8. The Z Component gridded results are shown here, clearly identifying the B1 Conductor. Preliminary modelling has indicated a 13,450 siemens conductance.
Loop 10 was prepared to investigate vertical conductors at the B1 Conductor. It detected two new conductors, the B3 and B4 Conductors. The responses for these are clearly evident in the gridded Z component for Loop 10. Preliminary modelling estimates both at 4,350 siemens conductance.
This map shows Loops 4, 8, 10, 11 and 12, positioned over the B1, B3 and B4 conductors. Loop 4 was the original TDEM Loop, acquired in Q2 2021, that first identified the B1 conductor. Anomaly B2 was identified from Surface TDEM and a Downhole EM survey acquired using Hole KSZDD002. Kavango currently interprets Anomaly B2 as a possible geological fault that may have acted as a controlling structure for Ni-Cu-PGE bearing intrusive magma. The Z Component of the Surface TDEM data is shown here, merged for Loops 8 and 10. This clearly shows the conductive responses for the B1, B3 and B4 Conductors.
This map shows the First Vertical Derivative and interpretation of Kavango’s Ground Magnetic Data over the Great Red Spot. It shows the position of the B1 Conductor and Anomaly B2, the possible geological fault. Note that Anomaly B2 appears to be quite parallel to a probable dyke lying just to the north. The interpreted ENE and NW striking dikes, and related parallel structures, are possible conduits for Ni-Cu-PGE bearing intrusive magma.
This idealised conductivity table provides a comparative assessment of the range of conductivities in siemens per metre, observed for various rocks and mineralization. This helps inform Kavango’s ranking of potential drill targets based on the modelled conductance estimations in siemens.
Figure 8. Geological cross-section of the Talnakh ore field. Intrusions are not to scale
This North looking geological section of the Talnakh and Kharaelakh ore bodies (in red) at Norilsk illustrates their close proximity to the steeply dipping Noril'sk-Kharaelakh Fault (hachured white line) and their near flat-flying orientation. Note the “bend” in the red ore body at the base of Kharaelakh intrusion, which emphasises the potential complex geometry of the intrusion and the massive sulphides.
Figure 2. Position of the orebodies (after Natorkhin et al., Turovtsev). Projection on the surface;
The plan view of the Talnakh and Kharaelakh intrusions illustrates how these generally <1km diameter bodies occur in clusters, close to the NNE striking Noril'sk-Kharaelakh Fault (black line). This shows that Kavango’s B1, B3 and B4 conductors conform to a model Talnakh and Kharaelakh type ore bodies.
The comparison shows that the conductors detected by Kavango are of a similar size to several of the massive sulfide bodies at Norilsk. Not just that, but they are clustering together in a manner similar to parts of the Kharaelakh and Talnakh branches of the orebody. Further, all of the massive sulfides at Norilsk lie within close proximity to the Kharaelakh fault, which is a similar scenario to Kavango's conductors in close proximity to the B2 fault.
Figure 1: Location of Kavango Minerals PLs in the Kalahari Copperbelt
Figure 2: Location of re-logged and un-logged historical drillholes, largely water boreholes, on the Mamuno (left) and PL036-037/2020 (centre) sections of the KCB – for locations see Figure 1
Figure 3: Location of Lithogeochemical traverses, and geological mapping in PL036/2020
Figure 4: Soil sample progress in PL036/2020 as of June 2022 (blue to be collected, grey to be analysed, black analysed)
Figure 5: Map showing KCB extension from Botswana to Namibia with Kavngo/Kanye Mamuno licences highlighted
Haematitic and silicious wall rock with disseminated and vein hosted pyrite, coincident with a strong magnetic response, seen in hole DITDD004 from 300-111m. Core has significant fracturing/brecciation.
Geological map of the Kangankunde carbonatite pipe in Malawi, showing a km-scale intrusion and clear concentric ring-like lithological zonation and structure. This illustrates the necessity for multiple geological drillholes for proof of concept for a relatively simple carbonatite model.
Source: Broom-Fendley et al. 2017
D Inversion of Aeromagnetic data for Target i10 with AMT section and planned drillholes. The causative geology for the magnetic signatures is interpreted to be close to surface. The depth of overburden from this AMT section is interpreted to be ~120m. This target in interpreted as a simple single phase carbonatite phase/pipe with a possible outer ring indicated by a weak magnetic low.
