Midas Minerals has identified up to three separate high-grade copper zones at its Deblin exploration deposit, 18 kilometres south-east of Otavi, suggesting that the underground copper-bearing area could be larger than previously indicated by drilling.
The latest results include a three-metre section of rock containing 8.24% copper, while deeper drilling has revealed several copper-rich zones within the same geological formation. The discoveries have prompted Midas to consider increasing its drilling operations as it works towards establishing the size of the deposit early next year.
Deblin is one of three copper deposits being investigated by Midas within its Otavi Copper Project in northern Namibia. It is not an operating mine, and the company has yet to determine how much copper-bearing material the deposit contains.
However, the latest drilling has identified copper mineralisation along a corridor extending for at least one kilometre, with copper-bearing rock occurring from the surface to a vertical depth of at least 600 metres.
Midas has completed 19 diamond drill holes at Deblin, with laboratory results still outstanding for 11 holes. Three drilling rigs are operating at the deposit, and the company is considering introducing another one or two rigs as the area being investigated continues to expand.
The most significant development is the identification of three separate copper-rich zones in one drill hole, suggesting that mineralisation at Deblin is not confined to a single underground layer.
Drill hole DBDD008 encountered seven metres of rock grading 4.89% copper and 5.6 grammes of silver per tonne from a depth of 438.8 metres. A second intersection, beginning at 471.3 metres, returned 6.2 metres grading 3.47% copper, 5.6 grammes of silver per tonne and 0.24 grammes of gold per tonne.
A third intersection in the same hole returned 9.8 metres grading 1.92% copper and 4.1 grammes of silver per tonne from a depth of 486.5 metres.
The second and third intersections also contained molybdenum, a metal commonly used to strengthen steel and in other industrial applications.
Another drill hole, DBDD006, encountered 8.2 metres grading 3.22% copper, 17 grammes of silver per tonne and 0.60 grammes of gold per tonne from a depth of 498.4 metres.
Midas is extending this hole to investigate whether additional copper-bearing zones occur deeper underground.
The latest drilling also returned 24 metres grading 1.84% copper from 169 metres in hole DBRC031, including a three-metre section grading 8.24% copper.
These results add to earlier discoveries at Deblin, where drilling had already identified substantial sections of copper-bearing rock.
One previous hole, DBDD001, intersected 35.6 metres grading 3.35% copper from a depth of 367 metres, followed by another 17.7 metres grading 3.21% copper from 429.1 metres.
Another hole, DBDD002, returned 10.9 metres grading 5.1% copper, including 5.7 metres grading 8.85% copper.
The significance of the latest findings is that Midas is beginning to identify several separate zones of copper mineralisation within the same geological system, rather than relying on the previously identified intersections alone.
Midas managing director Mark Calderwood said the results indicated the potential for a substantial copper system at Deblin.
“Drilling to date indicates significant potential for a large-scale mineralised system at Deblin, comprising multiple high-grade zones of copper sulphide that appear to be both structurally controlled, with indications of a possible stratabound component.”
He said the individual zones contained mineralised intervals ranging from five to 30 metres in width, with copper grades generally between 1.5% and 5%, accompanied by varying quantities of gold, silver and molybdenum.
“Each of the sub-zones at Deblin exhibit moderate to broad intervals ranging from 5m to 30m in width and grading between 1.5% to 5% copper, accompanied by variable gold, silver and molybdenum.”
Earlier drilling identified copper mineralisation associated with dolomite and volcanic rocks, but the latest holes have revealed additional mineralised zones within the Askevold volcanic sequence, including altered volcanic sediments and underlying lava formations.
Midas is therefore considering extending several previously completed holes to investigate whether further mineralisation exists beneath the areas already tested.
The company is currently deepening DBDD006, while holes DBDD001 through DBDD005 may also require additional drilling.
The copper minerals identified at Deblin are predominantly chalcopyrite and bornite, both of which are important sources of copper in commercial mining operations.
Midas has sent preliminary samples to Australia for metallurgical testing, which is expected to begin within two weeks of the announcement.
The tests will provide an early indication of how the copper-bearing rock responds to processing and whether the minerals can be efficiently separated to produce a copper concentrate.
Although the drilling results have identified high-grade copper intersections, the company has not yet established a mineral resource at Deblin.
Midas currently has three diamond drilling rigs operating at Deblin, where 19 core holes have been completed. Results are still outstanding for 11 holes, meaning that a substantial portion of the information collected during the current drilling programme has yet to be incorporated into the company’s geological assessment.
Across the broader Otavi Copper Project, Midas has eight rigs operating at Deblin, Spaatzu and T-13, where it is conducting drilling to establish or expand mineral resources.
Initial mineral resource estimates for Deblin and Spaatzu are expected during the first quarter of 2027, together with an updated estimate for T-13.
The three deposits are central to Midas’ strategy of establishing a substantial copper resource base in the Otavi region.
T-13 is currently the most advanced of the three in terms of declared resources, with Midas having announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource of 10.5 million tonnes grading 1.6% copper and 21 grammes of silver per tonne in April 2026.
Unlike Deblin, where the company is still establishing the extent of mineralisation, T-13 already has sufficient geological information for an initial resource estimate.
The results from Deblin and Spaatzu could therefore become important additions to the company’s existing copper inventory if further drilling confirms the continuity and size of the mineralised zones.
Deblin is situated approximately 25 kilometres west-southwest of the Kombat copper mine and 70 kilometres east-southeast of Midas’ T-13 deposit.
The company owns 100% of the approximately 1,776-square-kilometre Otavi Copper Project and holds options to acquire interests in additional exploration properties across northern Namibia.
These include the South Otavi Project, covering approximately 195 square kilometres, where Midas has an option to acquire an 80% interest, as well as the West Otavi, Khorixas West and Otjiwarongo projects, where it has options to acquire interests of up to 85%.
Midas considers much of the Otavi region underexplored, stating that modern exploration has covered less than 40% of its Otavi project area.
With further drilling underway, additional rigs under consideration and results from 11 completed holes still outstanding, the next several months will be important in determining the scale of the copper discovery.
The first mineral resource estimate, expected in early 2027, should provide a clearer picture of how much copper-bearing material has been identified at Deblin and how the deposit compares with Midas’ existing T-13 resource.
