- Kavango Resources plc has upgraded the underground mining potential of Prospect 1 at the Hillside Project in Matabeleland
- The goal is to establish Prospect 1 as a third near-term gold production area, alongside Prospects 3 and 4
- The company focuses on base and precious metals in Southern Africa, particularly Zimbabwe and Botswana
Harare-Kavango Resources plc, a Southern Africa-focused metals exploration company, has upgraded the underground mining potential of Prospect 1 at its Hillside Project in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe, according to the latest circular from the group.
This development comes after Kavango's exploration activities revealed a previously inaccessible reef containing quartz and sulphide-bearing veins during the restoration of the historic Main Shaft.
The objective is to establish Prospect 1 as a third area of near-term gold production at Hillside, joining Prospects 3 and 4.
‘’With gold now trading at record highs over US$3,000, the timing of work to define resources at Prospect 3 and Prospect 4 is ideal,’’ Ben Turney, Chief Executive of Kavango Resources said.
Kavango is a UK-listed exploration company focused on base and precious metals in Southern Africa, especially Zimbabwe and Botswana. It targets gold at the Hillside Gold Project and explores nickel and copper in Botswana.
The company has an option for the Nara Gold Project, which produced over 90,000 ounces of gold, and has secured £6.5 million (US$8.4 million) for its Zimbabwe projects.
The recent mapping and sampling efforts have indicated a promising lateral and vertical continuity of mineralisation, suggesting previously unrecognised potential for gold production.
Kavango completed restoration work on both the Main Shaft and West Shaft in December 2024, which has allowed for the resumption of gold mining operations.
In the process of removing historic waste from the first two levels of the Main Shaft, a deeper third level was uncovered, this deeper level, which had been purposefully blocked by a previous owner, now shows a continuity of reef structure that is rich in mineralized quartz-sulphide veins.
Assay results from recent channel sampling indicate that gold grades increase with depth, further enhancing the potential of Prospect 1.
The company plans to test the extent of these reefs through a combination of surface and underground drilling.
In addition to exploration efforts, Kavango is also proposing to increase processing capacity at Prospect 1 to accommodate greater production flexibility.
The company has already made substantial upgrades, including enhancing the head frame and winder on the main vertical shaft to increase hoisting capacity to 100 tonnes per day.
These improvements, coupled with the recent discoveries, position Kavango to capitalize on the rich mineral potential of the Hillside Project.
Looking forward, Kavango plans an infill drilling program to confirm reef continuity and grade distribution.
This initiative will involve both surface and underground drilling, aiming to define a resource that supports larger-scale underground mining. With the combination of historical data and modern exploration techniques, Kavango is well-positioned to unlock the full potential of Prospect 1.
Equity Axis News
