Copper discoveries boost exploration in Botswana and Zambia

Australian explorer Blaze Minerals reported a significant copper‑lead‑zinc mineralised zone at its Krokodil Prospect within the Dinokwe Project in Botswana. Soil sampling showed copper anomalies up to 288 ppm and trench X‑ray fluorescence readings as high as 8.59 % copper, with visible minerals such as malachite and chalcopyrite. Laboratory analysis of 89 channel samples is underway and the company is moving to acquire up to 90 % of the prospecting licences covering 1,771 km².

Patriot Resources announced early‑stage mapping of a new Zambian copper licence located 17 km from the world‑class Fishtie/Kashime deposit. Geologists identified a siliceous siltstone unit and a low‑magnetic shear zone extending about 3 km, features comparable to the Central African Copperbelt that hosts some of the largest copper deposits. The company cites recent drilling success at its Tonic prospect, which returned a 17 m interval grading 0.41 % copper, as a positive indicator for the new target.