LSE-listed Botswana-focussed explorer Kavango Resources reports that double-shift drilling at its Kalahari Suture Zone (KSZ) project started on August 20, and that, as of August 22, hole TA2DD002 was at a depth of 137 m.

Hole TA2DD002 is the second hole in the planned six-hole programme currently being undertaken to investigate the Karoo gabbros in the Hukuntsi section of the KSZ.

The hole is being drilled to test deeper Karoo gabbro on the western side of the anomaly, believed to be connected to the same 1-km-long gabbro encountered in Hole TA2DD001, which is 1 km to its west.

Kavango CEO Ben Turney says the speed at which Equity Drilling/Mindea has safely mobilised a rig to the new site is encouraging. “Core recovery continues to be consistent and of the highest standard.”

Kavango notes that the drilling programme’s additional objective is to test potential contact between Karoo and Proterozoic gabbros, which might represent a possible feeder zone.

Thus far, the explorer anticipates drilling to a target depth of 400 m to 450 m, although Kavango notes that preparations are in place to drill up to 800 m depending on contact with any gabbro encountered.

Also, the explorer reports that work done on a downhole electromagnetic (EM) survey on hole TA2DD001 has progressed, with the hole being steel-cased down to 393 m from surface, because of broken ground conditions.

According to analysis from Spectral, the A2 time domain EM anomaly has been masked by the steel casing at 370 m. An EM probe will be run by Spectral Geophysics from 394 m to 560 m.

However, Kavango says that because results thus far have been inconclusive, alternative options are being evaluated for future hole design and possible downhole EM surveys.

“Keeping a deep hole open to depth in the KSZ is tough. It is a credit to the drillers that Spectral got the EM probe from 394 m depth to 560 m, but the steel casing from surface to 393 m meant readings could not be taken below this depth. We now believe the primary A2 conductor is at 370 m,” he says.

Turney notes that, for the time being, the steel casing will be left in place, until the downhole survey (to confirm the orientation of the hole) is completed. “At this point, we will seek to remove the casing and possibly run another, shallower downhole EM survey.”

However, he says that, given what has been experienced so far, with the ground closing in on itself, Kavango has modest expectations about whether this will be possible.

“Whatever the case, the results of the assays and the whole rock geochemical analyses should provide us with the most valuable evidence we need to guide future exploration,” says Turney.

Meanwhile, the explorer also reports that two new prospecting licences (PLs), which were applied for in March, in the KSZ, have been granted, covering a combined area of 1 258 km².

As such, Kavango holds 14 PLs in the KSZ, covering 8 751.7 km².

PL081/2021 covers 987.8 km² across the eastern edge of the KSZ, while PL080/2021 covers 270.4 km² and is contiguous with Kavango’s existing PLs in the northern section of the KSZ.

Both PLs are three-year licences, with the option of two two-year renewal periods.

Going forward, the explorer plans to spend £52 000 in each PL over the first three years.