Krakatoa Resources has confirmed high-grade antimony and gold mineralisation at its Zopkhito Project in Georgia through its maiden drilling program, reinforcing historical estimates and setting the stage for a JORC-compliant resource.
- Maiden drilling confirms historical high-grade antimony and gold mineralisation
- Zopkhito hosts one of the world’s highest-grade antimony foreign resource estimates
- Significant assay results from 15 surface and 18 underground drill holes
- 2026 exploration program planned with further drilling and metallurgical testing
- Strategic importance due to antimony’s critical mineral status and European location
Maiden Drilling Validates Historical High-Grade Mineralisation
Krakatoa Resources Limited (ASX, KTA) has delivered a significant milestone at its Zopkhito Antimony-Gold Project in Georgia, Eastern Europe, with maiden diamond core drilling confirming the presence of high-grade antimony and gold mineralisation consistent with historical data. The drilling program, completed in late 2025, comprised 15 surface diamond holes and 18 underground core samples taken from within Adit 80, yielding assay results that validate the project’s standing as one of the world’s highest-grade antimony foreign resource estimates.
Robust Assay Results Highlight Dual-Metal Potential
The assay results revealed multiple significant intercepts, including surface drill holes returning up to 14.1 grams per tonne (g/t) gold over 8 metres and antimony grades exceeding 24%. Underground sampling further reinforced these findings, with veins showing antimony concentrations as high as 19.55% alongside gold grades above 6 g/t. These results not only confirm the historical Soviet-era resource estimates but also highlight the coexistence of substantial gold within the antimony veins, adding a valuable dimension to the project’s economic potential.
Strategic Location and Critical Mineral Importance
Located approximately 170 kilometres from Kutaisi, Georgia’s second-largest city, and close to Black Sea ports, Zopkhito benefits from established infrastructure and favourable mining regulations. Antimony is recognised as a critical mineral by both the European Union and the United States due to its applications in energy storage, advanced materials, and defence. With global supply dominated by China, Krakatoa’s project offers a strategically important Western-aligned source of this vital mineral, enhancing its appeal amid rising geopolitical and supply chain concerns.
Looking Ahead, 2026 Exploration and Resource Development
Building on the success of the maiden drilling, Krakatoa plans an active 2026 exploration program including additional surface and underground drilling, detailed mapping, metallurgical test work, and environmental baseline studies. The company aims to convert the foreign resource estimate into a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource, a critical step towards advancing the project towards development. CEO Mark Major emphasised the significance of the results, noting the confirmation of a major antimony mineral system with promising gold mineralisation as a “significant positive windfall.”
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
While the drilling results are encouraging, the project still faces challenges such as verifying metallurgical recoveries for gold and refining the true widths of mineralisation, especially from underground drilling. Moreover, the foreign resource estimate requires further evaluation to meet JORC standards. Nonetheless, Krakatoa’s methodical approach and the strategic positioning of Zopkhito within Europe’s critical minerals corridor position the project well for future growth and market relevance.
Bottom Line?
Krakatoa’s maiden drilling at Zopkhito sets a strong foundation, but the path to a JORC resource and commercialisation will require sustained exploration and testing in 2026.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Krakatoa’s 2026 drilling program refine the resource estimate and mineralisation continuity?
- What metallurgical recovery rates can be achieved for gold alongside antimony at Zopkhito?
- How might geopolitical dynamics influence the project’s strategic value and market access?