Blackthorn Resources reports three drills are currently turning at the Mumbwa joint-venture project site in west-central Zambia, where BHP Billiton (40%) is the managing partner. The joint-venture is exploring the area for iron oxide-copper-gold style mineralization similar to existing deposits at Olympic Dam, Ernest Henry, and Prominent Hill in Australia. Twelve drill targets will be tested along the north-south trending Mushingashi-Mutoya density anomaly, which has a 19-km strike length. It is planned to drill the holes while also conducting a geophysical IP survey over several lines across the planned drill sites to review the effectiveness of this type of survey and ensure that site selection is optimal.
BHP Billiton is currently funding the Phase 4 Mumbwa program. The program also includes an agreed Scope of Work for a concept study, which will review the Mumbwa project as a whole and determine if there is potential to develop an economically viable mining operation.
(www.blackthornresources.com.au)
