Blaze Minerals Confirms Copper-Lead-Zinc Mineralisation at Krokodil Prospect
Blaze Minerals has completed a 443-metre trenching campaign at its Krokodil Prospect in Botswana, confirming in-situ copper, lead, and zinc mineralisation with notable spot XRF readings. Laboratory assay results are expected in 6-8 weeks as the company plans further soil sampling to extend the target zone.
- Seven trenches totaling 443 metres excavated at Krokodil Prospect
- 89 channel samples collected for multi-element and gold analysis
- Spot XRF readings include up to 8.59% copper and 2.96% lead
- Blaze holds 70% of B&J Geoconsultants, controlling project licenses
- Further soil sampling planned to delineate mineralised extensions
Trenching Campaign Validates Base Metal Presence
Blaze Minerals Limited (ASX:BLZ) has wrapped up a significant trenching program at the Krokodil Prospect within its Dinokwe Base Metals Project in Botswana. The campaign, comprising seven trenches excavated over a combined 443 metres, successfully confirmed the presence of in-situ copper, lead, and zinc mineralisation across multiple sub-structures within a regional shear zone.
Visible mineralisation was observed in several trench locations, with 89 channel samples collected for detailed laboratory analysis. While assay results are still pending, portable XRF spot readings taken onsite revealed encouraging peaks, including copper concentrations as high as 8.59%, lead up to 2.96%, and zinc at 0.35%. These preliminary figures build on earlier handheld XRF data from rock-chip sampling, reinforcing the prospect's polymetallic potential.
Geological Context and Project Ownership
The Krokodil Prospect lies within the Mahalapye and Baines Drift Complexes of the Limpopo Mobile Belt, a geological region known for hosting the Selebi-Phikwe copper-nickel deposit approximately 150 kilometres to the north. Blaze’s exploration focused on a copper-in-soil anomaly extending over 1,000 by 100 metres, targeting the primary mineralised zone and potential parallel structures.
Blaze has secured a 70% stake in B&J Geoconsultants, the holder of the project’s prospecting licenses, with an option to increase ownership to 90%. This strategic acquisition consolidates Blaze’s control over the Dinokwe Project, which spans 1,771 square kilometres and is considered prospective for nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation.
Next Steps in Exploration
While awaiting laboratory assay results expected within 6-8 weeks, Blaze plans to extend its soil sampling campaign east and north of the Krokodil Prospect to delineate potential strike extensions of the mineralised structure. The company’s Managing Director, Mathew Walker, emphasised ongoing field activities along strike, highlighting the importance of these early-stage findings for refining future drill targets.
The trenching program employed detailed geological mapping and quality assurance protocols, including insertion of blanks, duplicates, and certified reference materials every ten samples, ensuring data integrity ahead of laboratory verification. The company’s use of a 30-tonne excavator and careful trench orientation perpendicular to the mineralised zone underscores a methodical approach to defining the deposit’s geometry.
Positioning Within Botswana’s Base Metals Landscape
Blaze’s Dinokwe Project sits amidst a region with limited historical exploration but promising geological analogues. Nearby, Albidon Limited previously intersected significant sulphide mineralisation at the Sunnyside target within the Baines Drift Complex, providing a regional benchmark for potential mineralisation styles and grades.
Blaze’s broader portfolio also includes the Kalahari and Molopo Projects in Botswana, as well as critical mineral-focused projects in Uganda, reflecting a diversified strategy across base and critical metals in underexplored African terrains.
Bottom Line?
Assay results from Krokodil will be pivotal in confirming the economic potential of Blaze’s base metals discovery and guiding the next phase of targeted exploration.
Questions in the middle?
- Will laboratory assays validate the high-grade spot XRF indications at Krokodil?
- How extensive are the mineralised extensions beyond the current trenching footprint?
- What impact will the completion of the full 90% acquisition of B&J Geoconsultants have on project development timelines?
