Resource Minerals International Ltd (ASX:RMI) is gearing up for a 2,500-metre reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its 100%-owned Mpanda Copper-Gold Project in Tanzania in early June after securing Coreworthy Drilling (T) Ltd as contractor.
The staged campaign will test five priority targets — Stalike, Ibindi, Kabungu, Kabungu North and Kabatini West — selected from integrated geological mapping, geochemical sampling, historical drilling, rock chip results and high-resolution drone magnetic interpretation.
Locations of rock chip samples, RC drill hole, multiple historical workings and previous sample results.
Drilling to target key structures
Drilling will focus on structures interpreted as potential controls on copper-gold mineralisation, including fault intersections, shear splays and low-magnetic corridors.
At Stalike, RMI plans to test more than 300 metres of strike across two interpreted mineralised shoots. The area contains a 5-kilometre by 600-metre anomaly along an east-west cross-cutting fault, with historical grab samples returning up to 13.58% copper and 3.24 g/t gold.
At Ibindi, 11 RC holes for about 660 metres are planned to test around 250 metres of strike beneath alluvial cover, where fieldwork has extended three mineralised zones into RMI ground.
Kabungu will be tested with 6 RC holes across about 250 metres of strike, targeting the northern extension and structural controls of known mineralisation, as well as a western lode identified by artisanal miners.
At Kabungu North, four holes will test about 200 metres of strike in an area where previous rock chips returned assays including 36.7 g/t gold and 11.89% copper.
A further four holes are planned at Kabatini West to test interpreted east-west shear zones and associated low-magnetic corridors used by artisanal miners.
Assays to follow as work advances
Field verification, access preparation and mobilisation are underway ahead of the early June start. Assay results and interpretation will be released as they become available.
RMI said proceeds from its recent $3.5 million placement would be deployed immediately into the Mpanda campaign and field activities in Saudi Arabia, with work planned through to the end of November.
Executive chairman Asimwe Kabunga said the company was now funded to advance active field programs in both Tanzania and Saudi Arabia.
“With the recent successful $3.5 million placement, RMI is now in a position to immediately deploy funds into active field programs. We are drilling priority targets at Mpanda in Tanzania early next month and will continue advancing similar targets in Saudi Arabia later this year. With a highly prospective portfolio of copper and gold projects in Tanzania and Saudi Arabia, RMI is ideally positioned to deliver meaningful value to shareholders given our board’s proven ability to identify and rapidly advance exploration and development opportunities, including projects that have gone on to achieve Tier 1 status. We are excited by what lies ahead for RMI across both jurisdictions.”