Noronex says a recent gravity survey at the Damara Copper Project of the Kalahari Copper Belt in Namibia has defined a series of compelling new targets for drilling.
The targets are in the Kalahari Copper Belt’s northern margin and have never been drill-tested.
Modelling shows significant similarities with the basement-hosted deposits in the Central African Copper Belt in Zambia and Congo.
Three gravity surveys over magnetic complexes defined in the regional government magnetics at the Okatumba Gate, Otjozondera, and Otjiuapehuri prospects were completed.
The gravity survey was collected predominantly on 800-by-200-metre grids with infill lines. Several regional base stations had to be set up, as this was the first gravity data collected in the region.
The Otjiuapehuri Prospect lies on the Namibia-Botswana border in a very isolated region of the Hoveka Traditional Authority.
Limited recent water bore drilling suggests Kalahari sand thickness between 60 and 80 metres. The magnetic interpretation shows a complex magnetic signature with several reverse polarity bullseye circular features.
It is unclear what the basement features are geologically, as no drilling has ever been completed in this region.
The Otjozondera Prospect lies close to the Namibia-Botswana border with no previous drilling or waterborne drilling, with Kalahari sands extrapolated to be around 70 metre thick. The magnetic interpretation shows two magnetic horizons.
The northern horizon is developed only in this region, directly on the central regional shear between the Kalahari Copper Belt and the basement.
It is unclear what the features are geologically, as no drilling has ever been completed in this region.
Based on regional interpretation and mapping at the Okatumba Gate Prospect, the continuous southern horizon will likely be a Kwebe volcanic equivalent.
The Okatumba Gate Prospect lies within the Hoveka Traditional Authority close to the village of Okatumba Gate.
Limited outcrop exists over the gravity anomaly; therefore, the cover is expected to be less than 25 metre thick.
Based on mapping and regional interpretation, the continuous southern magnetic horizon will likely be a Kwebe volcanic equivalent.
The gravity data has highlighted the northern horizon as being much denser and unlikely to be part of the acid volcanic sequence. One drill hole is planned to test this gravity target.
Noronex Chief Geologist Bruce Hooper says to have defined these new gravity-magnetic targets in an undrilled region at Damara is very exciting.
“We look forward to drill testing them in the coming weeks under our earn-in agreement with South32.
Applying the Central African Copper Belt’s basement deposit models in Namibia could represent a major
breakthrough for the potential of the Kalahari Copper Belt.
“The planned 5,000-metre RC drilling program at Fiesta is continuing and will be immediately followed by drilling at Damara, which will extend the drilling program into next calendar year.”
