Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo
Zimpapers Business Hub
CALEDONIA Mining Corporation Plc has announced the discovery of significant near-surface gold mineralisation at its Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe.
The discovery is a previously unknown orebody that could be developed through low-cost heap leaching.
In a statement, the company said surface drilling at the K-Pits target area has confirmed continuity of gold mineralisation below surface and identified both oxide and sulphide zones, opening potential near-term and long-term development opportunities.
Victoria Falls Stock Exchange-listed Caledonia said the results demonstrate the presence of significant near-surface gold mineralisation in a previously unknown mineralised horizon.
The company added that this mineralised zone has not been exploited in the underground mine and represents an opportunity for low-cost heap leaching operations of the near-surface oxide material, with potential for a sulphide extension below any potential oxide open pit.
Geological interpretation suggests the mineralisation may represent a separate mineralised system located approximately 200 metres east of the nearest projected underground orebody.
“This raises the possibility that the K-Pits target represents a previously unrecognised mineralised horizon that has not been exploited by historic underground mining activities,” reads the statement.
Caledonia said surface drilling confirms continuity of gold mineralisation below the surface over the K-Pits target area.
Both oxide and sulphide mineralisation have been identified, with metallurgical test work underway on oxide material, with encouraging preliminary results.
The K-Pits programme was originally designed to evaluate near-surface targets within the Blanket mining lease that had received little exploration attention.
Trenching and reverse circulation drilling confirmed gold mineralisation associated with shear structures and lithological contacts.
“The presence of near-surface oxide material is particularly significant because it may be amenable to conventional heap leach processing, potentially offering a lower-cost route to extracting gold compared to underground mining,” CEO Mark Learmonth said.
