Golden Deeps’ exploration at the Graceland Prospect in Namibia’s Otavi Mountain Land has delivered assay results that read like something out of mining folklore. Rockchip and channel samples from the Gossan 1 and 2 corridors have returned spectacular grades: up to 50.6% copper, 35.4% zinc, 34.1% lead, 7,792 grams per tonne silver, and 224 g/t germanium.
For many, these numbers inevitably invite comparison with the legendary Tsumeb Copper Mine, located just 20 kilometres to the north.
Tsumeb remains one of Namibia’s most famous deposits, producing 27 million tonnes of ore at average grades of 4.3% copper, 10% lead, 3.5% zinc, 95 g/t silver, and 50 g/t germanium throughout its lifespan.
The mine became synonymous with “Tsumeb-type” mineralisation, a geological category defined by its polymetallic sulphide richness.
At face value, Graceland’s assays eclipse Tsumeb’s historical averages by a wide margin. Copper at Graceland has reached more than ten times Tsumeb’s average grade; zinc and lead are similarly higher, while silver values in the thousands of grams per tonne dwarf Tsumeb’s 95 g/t. Germanium, a strategic metal critical for semiconductors and fibre optics, is also present at levels more than four times higher than Tsumeb’s average.
Yet while the comparisons are tempting, they must be understood carefully. Tsumeb’s grades were averages across millions of tonnes of ore extracted over decades, reflecting a vast, continuous deposit that could sustain large-scale mining and processing. Graceland’s figures, by contrast, are from isolated rockchip and channel samples — small, highly mineralised pockets within gossans. Such results highlight potential, but they do not yet define a resource.
Chief Executive Officer Jon Dugdale confirmed the company had secured international geophysical contractor Terratec to carry out an extensive Induced Polarisation (IP) and Conductivity survey across the Graceland area. The survey is designed to detect both shallow and deeper mineralisation targets along a two-kilometre mineralised corridor already known for spectacular rockchip results.
“We are delighted to have secured the services of highly-regarded international geophysical contractor Terratec to carry out our IP-Conductivity survey, which is designed to detect multiple high-grade sulphide targets at Graceland,” Dugdale said.
Golden Deeps has also identified a new, large mineralised gossan zone in the far western extension of the corridor. The zone measures about 100 metres in strike and 20 metres in width, with further channel sampling now in progress.
The upcoming IP survey will also cover this extension.
Dugdale described the early signs as “outstanding,” citing rockchip results of up to 7,792 grams per tonne silver, 50.6% copper, 35.4% zinc, and 224 g/t germanium from the Gossan 1 Corridor. Samples from Gossan 2 have delivered equally striking assays, including 3,179 g/t silver, 32.4% zinc, 29% copper, 34.1% lead, and 97 g/t germanium.
“The results of the channel sampling and the initial outcomes of the IP survey will be available within the next four to six weeks.
“We have already identified several drilling options for testing both shallow and deeper targets, which should enable us to drill-test these very exciting target zones within the current field season,” he said.
For Golden Deeps, the potential prize is significant. Dugdale noted that a discovery of such a high-value “Tsumeb-type” deposit — with its suite of critical and high-technology metals — would be a breakthrough for the company and a boost for Namibia’s strategic minerals portfolio.
“Particularly given the Otavi Mountain Land has sulphide ore and downstream processing facilities at Kombat and Tsumeb respectively, this could provide an accelerated pathway for development and processing of the company’s existing and future resource discoveries,” Dugdale added.
Golden Deeps’ development path in Namibia has been steadily building towards this moment.
The company first entered the country in 2018, establishing its footprint in the Otavi Mountain Land by acquiring exploration ground with high-grade vanadium, copper, lead, and zinc potential.
Early focus was placed on the Abenab Vanadium-Lead-Zinc Project, reviving interest in one of Namibia’s historic high-grade deposits.
In 2019, the company identified new Mineral Resources at Abenab and initiated metallurgical studies to assess the recovery of vanadium and associated base metals. Exploration expanded to the Nosib Project, revealing vanadium-copper-lead-silver mineralisation with potential for gallium.
Between 2020 and 2021, Golden Deeps consolidated exploration ground through its subsidiaries Huab Energy Pty Ltd and Metalex Mining and Exploration Pty Ltd.
The company secured six Exclusive Prospecting Licences covering more than 440 square kilometres in the Otavi Mountain Land Metallogenic Belt.
In 2022, drilling and surface sampling confirmed strong results from Nosib and Khusib Springs, positioning them as potential future development projects alongside Abenab.
By 2023, results highlighted the presence of gallium and germanium, strengthening the company’s positioning within global critical minerals supply chains. Metallurgical test work advanced to optimise the recovery of vanadium, copper, silver, and gallium.
In 2024, Golden Deeps acquired an 80% interest in the Central Otavi Project, which includes the Border Zn-Pb-Ag resource and advanced prospects at Driehoek and Kaskara.
Initial work identified multiple “Tsumeb-type” targets, confirming the belt’s polymetallic potential.
In 2025, the company launched an aggressive exploration program at the newly identified Graceland Prospect.
Rockchip and channel samples returned spectacular assays, including up to 50.6% copper, 35.4% zinc, 34.1% lead, 7,792 g/t silver, and 224 g/t germanium. International geophysical contractor Terratec was contracted to carry out an Induced Polarisation and Conductivity survey across the two-kilometre mineralised corridor.
Drilling options were identified for both shallow and deeper targets, with results expected within the current field season.
With world-class contractors on the ground, laboratory results pending, and drilling already being lined up, Golden Deeps is positioning Graceland as one of Namibia’s most closely watched base- and critical-metals exploration prospects in 2025.
The assays reveal the type of mineralisation that excites geologists and investors alike — but the challenge is converting spectacular samples into a consistent, mineable resource.
As Golden Deeps CEO Jon Dugdale puts it, the goal is to unlock a discovery that could deliver not just copper and silver but a suite of critical high-technology metals needed for the global energy transition.
With processing facilities already in place at Kombat and Tsumeb, any breakthrough could find a fast track to development.
