UK-based exploration company Galileo Resources has intercepted an extensive interval of copper mineralisation within the Shinganda Fault Splay system, at its Shinganda project, in Zambia.

The intercept forms part of a Phase 2 diamond drilling programme, with Galileo having completed seven holes for 890 m so far.

Notably, the SHDD017 hole passed through a rock package with a wide zone of hydrothermal alteration and brecciation, accompanied by variable amounts of chalcopyrite and pyrite mineralisation over a 264 m interval from 65.5 m downhole depth.

The company is in the process of doing follow-up laboratory assaying on its findings from this hole.

Galileo plans to do several follow-up holes through the wide mineralised zone, as well as further drilling to test the iron alteration clusters highlighted by a previous geophysical study.

Chairperson and CEO Colin Bird comments that the SHDD017 hole is a particularly impressive hole with an intercept length of more than 250 m which was heavily brecciated and accompanied by copper mineralisation throughout its length, with values to be determined by assay.

“The nature of the host environment is not typical for traditional Copperbelt mineralisation which leads us to believe that this could be a totally different style of mineralisation.

 “There is good district evidence for iron oxide/copper/gold-type mineralisation and we are targeting drilling with this model in mind. The next hole will be sited 100 m away to test for mineral style repetition and continuity,” Bird confirms.

Meanwhile, Galileo has appointed Mike Holman as senior adviser for all high-level geological matters related to the company’s projects in Africa. Holman is an experienced geologist with a career spanning more than 38 years in the mineral resources sector.

His career includes 16 years in Anglo American’s exploration division, including as regional head of exploration in Africa.

Galileo has also appointed Hunter Kennedy to the geology team as a senior consultant, bringing with him extensive geological experience in Southern Africa.

Holman will provide both conceptual and direct geological input across all projects while Kennedy has assumed day-to-day responsibility for a number of projects in the Southern African portfolio.