Diversified explorer Golden Deeps (ASX: GED) has extended its imminent planned drilling program at the old Khusib Springs copper mine in Namibia to include the historic Nosib Block copper-vanadium mine.
Copper was discovered at Nosib Block in 1917 and mined through to 1920, with the No. 2 shaft being worked at three levels, that shaft reaching a depth of 120m.
The company describes Nosib Block, 16km west of Khusib Springs, as a “high-grade copper-vanadium mine”.
Golden Deeps says its geologists assessed all three of the old levels and concluded that high-grade copper-silver-vanadium-lead mineralisation dips moderately to the north.
“The mineralisation shows good continuity and remains in situ,” the company says.
Underground sampling was conducted by Golden Deeps along the drives and the best channel results include 6m at 9.3% copper, 4.72% lead and 7.92% silver, along with another sample over 6m averaging 1.51% copper, 10.59% lead, 7.15% silver and 1.12% vanadium oxide.
Drilling may be delayed if heavy rain continues
The drill program at Nosib Block will comprise 11 reverse circulation holes for a total 650m in Shafts 1 and 2, bringing the total drilling program and there and at Khusib Springs to 29 holes for 1,400m.
Drilling at Nusbib Block will test copper mineralisation in the contact zone and also in the footwall sandstone.
The company says drilling is planned to begin this month at both Khusib Springs and Nosib Block “but may be delayed if recent heavy rain in the Otavi Mountainland continues beyond the normal conclusion of the wet season”.
Khusib Springs closed in 2003 due to low copper prices at the time, the red metal having fallen to around US$1,500 per tonne and, in addition, the owner then had mined most of the most easily accessible ore.
That mine historically also produced silver at high average grades.
Khusib Springs is one of three major projects being undertaken by Golden Deeps, the others being the advanced Abenab vanadium-lead zinc deposit (also in Namibia) and the Tuckers Hill and Havilah projects on the Lachlan Fold Belt in NSW.
Khusib Springs between 1996 and 2003 produced 300,000 tonnes at an average 10 per cent copper and 584 grams per tonne (g/t) silver.
Khusib Springs is located near the town of Grootfontein in Namibia.
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