The new Bootless prospect lies within a previously untested 2.2km corridor between the Otniel and Donkey Hill prospects, supporting the potential for a larger, more continuous mineralised system.
Kaoko Metals (ASX:KAO) also extended the mapped surface footprints of its existing prospects with Otniel now exceeding 600m across multiple trends while Donkey Hill has grown to more than 800m.
Fieldwork across all three prospects identified visible copper mineralisation including chalcocite, malachite, azurite and chrysocolla in both vein and disseminated styles across different host rocks.
“Discovering a new zone of outcropping copper mineralisation so early in our maiden fieldwork campaign is a very exciting development for Kaoko,” managing director Gerard O’Donovan said.
“This reinforces the enormous prospectivity of our large land package and particularly the ground which sits between the high-grade Donkey Hill and Otniel prospects, which are located ~2.2km apart.
“The identification of visible copper mineralisation up to 200m beyond the previously known outcrops at Otniel as well as extensions at Donkey Hill East is also an encouraging outcome from our maiden fieldwork program.
“Importantly, the field team has observed chalcocite within newly mapped in-situ outcrops, providing further evidence of the high-grade potential of these prospects.”
The new Bootless prospect is about 600m west of Otniel and 2km south of Donkey Hill.
Mineralisation occurs mainly as secondary copper oxide minerals, including chrysocolla, malachite and azurite, reflecting weathering of primary sulphide mineralisation.
Both vein-hosted and disseminated copper mineralisation is present within the prospect, contrasting with the quartzite-hosted mineralisation at Otniel and Donkey Hill.
This indicates that structural controls, rather than host lithology alone, are the key driver of copper mineralisation across the project.
As such, both carbonate and siliciclastic lithologies are regarded as prospective exploration targets where favourable structural conditions are present.
The company’s recent geological mapping and reconnaissance work at Otniel has identified significant new visible copper mineralisation in outcrop about 200m south of the previously mapped mineralised areas.
Rock chips have been taken from a newly identified hanging wall position that could define a discrete mineralised trend stratigraphically above the previously reported mineralisation, indicating potential for multiple stacked mineralised lenses within the prospect.
Over at Donkey Hill, the mapping and reconnaissance has identified visible copper mineralisation in outcrop extending about 60m beyond Donkey Hill East across three distinct north-south trending mineralised zones.
Three mineralised trends have been outlined from Donkey Hill West to Donkey Hill East that are spatially consistent with fold repeat geometry and may represent mineralisation hosted across multiple limbs or repeated horizons.
Rock chip samples from the new prospect and extensions to existing prospects have been submitted for laboratory analysis, with assay results expected in six to eight weeks.
Those results will be combined with geological mapping and structural interpretations to refine drill targets and finalise hole locations for the maiden diamond drilling program that is scheduled to start in about five weeks.
Earthworks and drill planning are underway.
KAO is also planning to start a comprehensive regional geochemical sampling program across its Karibib gold-copper-tungsten project to the south in the prolific Damara Belt.
Soil geochemistry data from Karibib will be integrated with existing geological, geophysical and historical exploration data.
Engagement with local stakeholders, conservancy representatives and Namibian government authorities is also ongoing.
