Kaoko Metals Uncovers New Copper Zone at Bootless, Expanding Chalkos Project

Bootless Discovery Broadens Chalkos Copper Potential

Kaoko Metals (ASX:KAO) has uncovered a new zone of visible copper mineralisation at the Bootless prospect, nestled between the previously known Otniel and Donkey Hill prospects within its Chalkos Copper-Silver Project in Namibia. This maiden fieldwork discovery stretches the mineralised footprint across a roughly 2.2-kilometre corridor, hinting at a potentially larger and more continuous copper system than previously mapped.

The Bootless prospect, located about 600 metres west of Otniel and 2 kilometres south of Donkey Hill, features copper mineralisation predominantly hosted in quartz-carbonate veins and disseminated within dolomitised rocks. The presence of secondary copper oxides, malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, and sulphides like chalcocite suggests weathering of primary sulphide mineralisation, though laboratory assays are awaited to confirm economic grades.

Extensions at Otniel and Donkey Hill Reinforce Project Scale

Alongside Bootless, Kaoko’s fieldwork extended Otniel’s mineralised surface by up to 200 metres, pushing its mapped footprint beyond 600 metres. Notably, new hanging-wall mineralisation hints at stacked lenses, potentially increasing the deposit’s width and complexity. Donkey Hill also saw a 60-metre extension at its eastern end, expanding its surface mineralised footprint to over 800 metres across three distinct trends.

These extensions are significant given the structural complexity observed, with mineralisation hosted in quartzite units and influenced by folding and shearing. The geological setting mirrors sediment-hosted copper systems akin to the Central African Copperbelt, reinforcing the prospectivity of the Chalkos Project.

Assays Pending as Drilling Plans Advance

While visual estimates of copper mineralisation provide an encouraging early signal, Kaoko cautions that these observations are no substitute for definitive laboratory assays. Samples collected from Bootless, Otniel, and Donkey Hill are en route to accredited labs, with results expected in six to eight weeks. These assays will be pivotal in refining target rankings and finalising drill-hole locations.

Kaoko’s maiden diamond drilling campaign at Chalkos is slated to commence in around five weeks, marking a critical step in testing the newly discovered and extended mineralised zones. The company is also preparing for a broader regional geochemical sampling program across its Karibib Gold-Copper-Tungsten Project, aiming to integrate multiple data streams for enhanced targeting.

Strategic Implications for Kaoko Metals

The Bootless discovery and extensions at Otniel and Donkey Hill underscore the value of systematic, modern exploration techniques applied by Kaoko Metals in a historically under-explored region. If assays and drilling confirm the preliminary visual indications, the Chalkos Project could emerge as a significant sediment-hosted copper asset within the Kaoko Copper Belt.

With tenure renewal applications underway and environmental clearances secured through to 2027, Kaoko is well-positioned to advance its exploration agenda. The next few months will be crucial as assay results and drilling data begin to shape the project’s resource potential and strategic outlook.