Aim-listed Galileo Resources has decided to undertake a Phase 3 drill programme to validate its current view that near-surface copper/gold mineralisation occurs along the Shinganda fault splay over a strike length of potentially more than 4 km, offering scope for the development of a preliminary mineral resource at the Shinganda copper/gold project, in Zambia.

The Phase 1 and 2 drill programmes have confirmed the presence of copper/gold mineralization associated with major regional and more localised structures.

Mineralisation is found in vein and alteration assemblages.

Higher copper and gold grades were found at shallow depths, where primary (hypogene) mineralisation was subjected to supergene enrichment, Galileo points out.

Evidence from two phases of drilling indicates mineralisation at grades of between 1% and 1.5% copper-equivalent at shallow depths over notable package widths.

Phase 3 drilling will target a projected supergene high-grade, broadly drill-defined zone extending for about 4 km with an anticipated package width of mineralisation of about 30 m extending to a vertical depth of about 70 m.

Supergene enrichment is broadly associated with a coincident magnetic anomaly. However, historic drilling of the same supergene feature where a weak magnetic signature is present also intersected notable copper values, Galileo highlights.

A further 4 km or more of Shinganda fault splay will also be tested where there is weak to no underlying magnetic signature potentially extending the strike length of the project to more than 8 km in total.

Phase 1 drilling primarily targeted the prospective near-surface hematite-rich zone that will form the focus of the Phase 3 programme.

Phase 2 drilling, which comprised 2 379.1 m and 13 drill holes, was focused on testing deeper targets, including breccias and magnetic and induced polarisation anomalies on the Shinganda fault splay and the Shinganda main fault.

Phase 2 drilling intersected “impressive” wide zones (300 m) of hydrothermal alteration and brecciation with lower grade sulphide copper/gold mineralisation, Galileo avers.

“The last two years of exploration at Shinganda, including fieldwork, geophysics and drilling has identified multiple targets and several geological concepts have emerged all of which will be followed up in the future. Our thoughts range from iron oxide copper/gold potential to isolated gold potential to traditional Copper Belt and all of our activities have indicated support for the aforementioned,” CEO and chairperson Colin Bird says.

“However, from the work completed, a compelling target has emerged which are the splays identified by geophysics and confirmed by drilling taking us to a meaningful drill-ready target,” he points out.

“Irrespective of all other potential on the licence area, this 4-km- to 8-km-long zone has the immediate potential for shareholder value enhancement and thus we are prioritising the target above all others. We expect to commence drilling by the end of the third quarter,” Bird informs.