Galileo confirms start of second drilling programme at Star Zinc

The AIM-traded company said the programme was scheduled for about 1000 metres of diamond core drilling to depths of up to 80m, with average depth likely to be around 60,.

Drilling would initially target areas that were open-ended east-north-east and south-east of the known mineralised zone, which a previously-modelled conceptual grade tonnage estimate had highlighted as having the exploration potential to extend.

Galileo said drilling would also target several nearby ‘bullseye’ high-gravity geophysics anomalies.

An independent review of Star Zinc's historical geophysics data showed good correlation of gravity anomalies with the mineralisation intersected in the first drilling programme, as announced on 23 July.

Drilling was expected to be completed during October, and the company said it would provide regular updates on core appearance, portable XrF spectrometry indications and actual laboratory assays consistent with that adopted in the initial programme.

“The initial programme confirmed the presence of very high grade willemite adjacent to the collapsed area in the mineralised zone with extensions to the east and west of this area,” said chief executive Colin Bird.

“The initial programme highlighted the presence of lower but still relatively high zinc values in the karstic material.

“3D-modelling defined the presence and orientation of the two types of mineralisation.”

Bird said the company believed that the programme should extend the known ore zone to the east, and potentially identify near-surface mineralisation in areas highlighted by the geophysics review.

“The overall assessment showed further, the presence of heightened lead values in the deposit.

“This is recognised, academically, as a marker for the potential of a nearby feeder source for mineralisation.

“The company, depending on results, may test this theory for the presence of a deeper feeder source during this programme.”

Bird added that Star Zinc had the potential for a stand-alone project, as well as a supplier of run-of-mine ore for the Kabwe project.