First Quantum cuts more copper oxides in Congo (November 10, 2003)

First Quantum Minerals (FM-T) has pulled more long intersections of copper oxides from its newly discovered Lufua zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Katanga province.

First Quantum announced the discovery of Lufua in mid-September and is now delineating its extent with 5,000 metres of reverse-circulation drilling. Recent highlights include:

• Hole 42, which intersected 81 metres grading 1.79% copper;
• Hole 45, which intersected 59 metres grading 1.98% copper and 15 metres grading 0.51% copper;
• Hole 44, which intersected 33 metres grading 1.9% copper;
• Hole 19, which intersected 19 metres grading 1.25% copper.

Holes 44 and 45 had to be abandoned in mineralization because of rig difficulties. The problem was fixed after the completion of hole 49.

Results are still pending for the bottom 12 metres of a 78-metre interval that was cut by hole 41. The upper 26 metres ran 0.8% copper, and the hole was abandoned in mineralization.

Holes 46-48 also returned long sections of copper mineralization, though, in the case of the first two, in both oxides and fresh material. Hole 46 averaged 1.75% copper over 94 metres, of which the first 50 metres ran 2.01% and the final 44 metres, 1.46% copper.

Results for hole 47, also bottomed and abandoned in mineralization, include 0.71% copper over 11 metres of oxides and 2.1% copper over 84 metres of sulphides. The sulphide section began 39 metres down-hole of the oxide section, which, like the others is close to surface.

Hole 48 assayed 1.25% copper over 13 metres, starting at 61 metres downhole, and 1% copper over 81 metres, starting at 116 metres. Both sections are primary in nature.

Primary mineralization occurs in quartz-dolomite veinlets that carry chalcopyrite, and in later quartz-dolomite-chalcopyrite-bornite veins. There is also disseminated chalcopyrite accompanied by potassic and albitic alteration in the host rocks — Katangan metapelites.

Oxidation extends to various depths and is strongly influenced by post-mineral faulting.

To date, 29 core and reverse-circulation holes have been sunk in the zone since drilling began in July. The zone is about 45 km from the company’s Bwana Mkubwa solvent extraction-electrowinning plant, on the Zambian side of the border.