(Ten licences held through Kanye Resources)
Kavango has entered an agreement to acquire a 100% interest in Kanye and the licences it holds, up from 50%.
(Two licences held through LVR JV)
Kavango Resources – 90%
LVR GeoExplorers – 10%
Sediment hosted copper-silver
What is the Kalahari Copper Belt’s potential?
The Kalahari Copper Belt (“KCB”) is a prospective copper belt stretching 1,000km from northeast Botswana into eastern Namibia.
It has become focal point for the discovery of what are known as “sedimentary copper deposits”. These are particularly attractive because they can form orebodies that compete with copper porphyry deposits on tonnage but are usually of a much higher grade.
The KCB is currently one of the only sedimentary copper belts globally with an accelerating discovery rate and the potential for both open-pit and underground mineable resource styles1. Yet parts of it remain relatively underexplored due to thick sand cover that requires advanced exploration techniques.
Kavango has secured a large underexplored KCB land package that sits near large projects being developed by companies like Cupric Canyon, MOD Resources, and Sandfire. Our goal is to make multiple significant copper/silver discoveries across these priority targets, and our confidence is based on the quality of our work, which has highlighted their favourable geology, structural setting, and position relative to known KCB deposits.
Using modern technology and surveying techniques that can overcome historical barriers to exploration, we are assessing this package’s potential systematically for the first time, with a particular focus on lengthy “redox boundaries”.
The redox boundaries were formed several hundred million years ago in active sedimentary basins flooded by shallow seas. Organic matter accumulating on the sea floor created anoxic conditions, which formed a chemical barrier to metal ions rising upwards through the sediments as the basin subsided. The change in chemistry caused the precipitation of metal species (carbonates, sulphides etc.) including copper and silver on or just below the redox boundary.
Subsequent tectonic activity folded the sedimentary layers, which was often accompanied by the concentration of metals into fold hinges and shear zones. Fold hinges pointing upwards are known as anticlines, while the downward pointing hinges are called synclines.
Several large copper-silver ore deposits have been discovered within the KCB in association with anticlines in areas now held under licence by Sandfire Resources and Cupric Canyon. These deposits are relatively close to surface and many are amenable to open-pit mining operations.
Accumulations of metals can be traced along the strike of geochemical redox boundaries (sometimes for many kilometres) because they often contain iron and have a higher magnetic signature than the surrounding rock. These areas have recently been successfully mapped by Kavango's exploration teams.
How is Kavango Resources positioned within the Kalahari Copper Belt?
Kanye Resources owns ten prospecting licences in the KCB covering 4,257km2.
We also hold a 90% interest in and operate two additional KCB licences covering 809km2 of prospective ground through our JV with LVR GeoExplorers.
What work has Kavango completed at its projects on the Kalahari Copper Belt so far?
We have carefully designed a methodology for generating and ranking targets across our KCB licences, centred on combining multiple data sets. This approach brings together the combined geological, geochemical, and geophysical experience of our four senior technical team members, and includes:
I) Geological mapping- This allows us to record and measure the geology of our licences, providing the bedrock for interpretation of geochemical and geophysical data.
- After identifying anomalous areas through soil sampling, our team revisits each site to follow-up and 'ground truth'. This allows us to avoid false anomalies and ensure that ongoing work focuses on the highest-priority targets; anomalies that are not just at elevated levels but also are continuous across multiple lines.
- AM data is readily available in Botswana and provides a basis for validating geological mapping. Variations in magnetic mineral content allow for the identification of strata within geological sequences that can be used both within and across adjacent licence boundaries. This technique can significantly assist with the identification of large-scale deposits, which are controlled by overall regional geological trends.
- We have flown AEM surveys across a number of our KCB licences. This data is used to identify conductive bodies that could represent metal sulphides, and to assist detailed mapping of potential lithologies and structures.
- We carry out additional work, including infill lines of soil sampling and additional geophysics, such as Controlled-Source Audio-frequency Magnetotellurics ("CSAMT"), to confirm and better define our highest priority drill targets.
To date, geological mapping and soil sampling, supported by the ongoing integration of AM and AEM, have taken place across four licences: PL082/2018, PL036/2020, as well as the "Karakubis" licences (PL049/2020 and PL052/2020).
Our work has led us to define and rank 13 priority targets across the four licences, which include soil sample values of up to 119 parts per million copper (pXRF values). Because the priority targets are still being refined, it should be noted that the ranking of each may change as further data becomes available.
As it stands, we have identified a total of 188 drill collar locations over the priority targets for a total of up to 37,600m of test drilling. We plan to use the results from our initial drilling to inform deeper drilling and, potentially in the future, resource drilling. We expect to add additional targets over time to our inventory, as we continue with further field exploration across our entire KCB licence package.
Details of the priority targets can be found in the table below, and they can be seen visually in the maps below:Scoping for reverse circulation and diamond drilling programme in the KCB
| Licence/ Prospect | Target name | No. of proposed holes / metres | Description | Supporting data |
| PL036/2020 (Infill soils underway, waiting analysis. Tromino surveys in progress. Regional aeromagnetic interpretation in progress.) |
Acacia | 30 drill collar locations / 6,000m | Wide anomaly around the central part of the fold nose of the 'Acacia fold', measuring 2km x 2km. Possible source of this anomaly could be radial axial fold fractures, tapping into the Ngwako Pan/D'kar contact along the axis of a SW plunging anticline. | Max value 56ppm Cu, 5 values above 20ppm Cu. Coincident Zn (+20ppm Zn) identified |
| Morula | 30 drill collar locations / 6,000m | Wide anomaly just south of the Acacia fold nose. Measuring 3km x 3km with a general NE-SW trend parallel to the regional stratigraphy. | Max value is 38ppm Cu. (previous orientation survey associated this anomaly with calcrete/drainage) | |
| Happy | 10 drill collar locations / 2,000m | Low-tenor teardrop shaped anomaly to the south. 9km long and 1km at its widest. Located in the centre of an interpreted anticline. No exposure in the area. | Defined by +15ppm Cu values. Maximum value is 25ppm Cu. Supporting anomalous Zn values (+20ppm Zn) | |
|
Kudu |
4 drill collar locations / 800m |
Newly identified NE-SW trending zone of anomalous Cu values. 18km long (non-continuous) target zone, within which are possible multiple targets including Lines 69 & 83. This trend is distinct, sub-parallel to stratigraphy and tight.
|
Line 39. Defined by 8 values in excess of 30ppm Cu; max value 110ppm Cu. |
|
|
PL082/2018 |
Central Zone | 45 drill collar locations / 9,000m |
Follows the geological trend of a possible sub cropping anticline. This anticline forms the dome that hosts the Zeta and Plutus copper deposits identified by Discovery Metals, to the NE. The elevated copper values are postulated to represent a possible leakage zone from a redox contact underneath. |
Defined by Cu >30ppm, max 119ppm, plus anomalous zinc. Extends over some 27km and is also characterised by a zone of elevated magnetic response. Peak values along trend, in particular where supported by favourable structure will form initial focus. Quartz veining observed in field. Drilling will target intersection of structure and favourable stratigraphy at depth. |
| Northern Zone | 15 drill collar locations / 3,000m | Robust anomaly extending over 9 km of geological strike length and 650m at its widest, no outcrop. Local drainage base level. Anomaly is located on the edge of a magnetic high, which bears similarities to the Ourea and Quirinus copper deposits identified by Discovery Metals in 2009. These deposits are interpreted to be on the limbs of tight anticlines. |
Cu: >30ppm, max 39.7ppm. Anomalous zinc. Previous work by Kavango identified a coincident elevated AEM response in this area. Target is an extensive one, with elevated metal values and high magnetic response - initial drilling could verify whether this relates to possible Karoo volcanics, or the targeted sediment hosted strata bound mineralisation. |
|
| South conductor | 12 drill collar locations / 2,400m | High conductivity area identified by Kavango. Faulted. Further field follow up planned. | ||
| SW high | 3 drill collar locations / 600m | Single point high geochemical value. Further field follow up planned. | ||
| Karakubis (PL049/2020, PL052/2020) Targeted AEM completed. Interpretation in progress. Tromino to continue soon. Infill soils planned.Regional aeromagnetic interpretation in progress. |
Main Zone (L6, L7, L10) |
33 drill collar locations / 6,600m |
Single large target 5km x 3.5km |
Wide area of anomalous values >30ppm Cu. Peak value of 73ppm Cu. KAV has recently flown an AEM survey over this anomaly; interpretation is pending. |
