Our vast 506 km² property features numerous structural and mineralized targets and our team have made multiple significant discoveries on our property to date. We have identified 4 separate target areas which we believe to host unique geological systems, each with the potential for a significant copper discovery. The targets are Dumbwa, Mitu, Kazhiba (22 Zone) and Crunch Zone. In the case of Dumbwa, we have a remarkable target for the discovery of a transformative sulphide copper deposit. At Kazhiba and Mitu, we are targeting both high-grade near-surface oxide-copper mineralization, as well as deeper and larger sulphide copper targets at depth.
Dumbwa
Dumbwa is a near surface, low-strip, Tier-One exploration opportunity with very similar geology and mineralisation to Barrick’s nearby Lumwana Mine. The target features a remarkable continuous high-grade copper-in-soil anomaly, which extends for over 20 km along strike and +1 km in width, with peak values of up to 0.73% copper. Extensive soil sampling and shallow drilling have established extensive oxide copper potential, while also demonstrating that further drill campaigns guided by structural controls are necessary to establish dip direction, continuity, size, and scale. Our team has discovered multiple stacked mineralized horizons, which we believe are analogous to Barrick’s Lumwana Mine, located just a short distance to the west. It is one of four key prospects that comprise our Solwezi Project.
Ideal targets that have turned into mines in the Zambian Copper Belt, typically feature key characteristics such as a large coherent soil anomaly that is consistent with the ‘right geology’, bedrock exposure close to or at surface, and biological anomalies such as copper clearings. Dumbwa has all these criteria in abundance.
“What initially struck me about the Dumbwa Target was the remarkable similarity to Lumwana. They are both north-south trending, 15 degrees east-dipping schist-hosted mineralised zones and both have multiple, stacked, mineralized horizons. Previous drilling has demonstrated that the copper-in-soil anomaly at Dumbwa is directly tied to bedrock schist-hosted copper sulfide mineralisation. But, by comparison, the geochemical anomaly at Dumbwa tends to have a higher copper tenor at surface and is laterally more extensive than found at Lumwana.” – Dr. Kevin Bonel, COO, Midnight Sun Mining
Dumbwa in detail
Successive campaigns of soil sampling and shallow Air Core drilling have tested oxide copper potential and limited diamond drilling has returned positive results. During 2015 and 2016, 50 air-core and 6 diamond drill holes were completed at Dumbwa. The strong north-south copper anomaly indicates a high degree of structural control with potential cross-cutting fault zones adding to the complexity of the regional geology. Based on the Company’s interpretation and past drill results, Dumbwa is a target worth pursuing at depth.
The Dumbwa mineralization is located within the highly folded and faulted Pre-Katanga Basement rock of the Solwezi Dome. The dominant lithology of the mineralized zone is fine to medium grained quartz biotite muscovite garnet “basement” gneisses that become schistose in localized areas. Surface mineralization is associated with intense potassic alteration of the basement gneisses. Mineralization appears to be structurally controlled and occurs as multiple zones of disseminated and veinlet hosted Cu of hydrothermal origin. Cu mineralization occurs as malachite within the oxidized zone, and chalcopyrite, bornite and minor chalcocite within the sulphidized zone.
Kazhiba (22 Zone)
2022 Drill highlights include
| Hole | True Width (m) | Cu (%) | Co (%) | Ni (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTDD044 INCL INCL | 11.50 4.15 5.80 | 1.41 1.29 1.86 | 0.11 0.13 0.07 | 0.03 0.09 0.02 |
| MTDD045 | 7.30 | 0.58 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| MTDD047 | 26.10 | 0.32 | 0.07 | 0.05 |
| MTDD048 | 22.25 | 0.39 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
Kazhiba, which features our high grade 22 Zone, is located 20 kilometers northwest of the Solwezi Dome and is less than 10 kilometres from the western mine gate of First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mine complex. Kazhiba is underlain by a previously undiscovered basement dome similar to those at both Kansanshi and Solwezi. Domes are believed to be associated with the copper mineralization at nearby mines, including both First Quantum’s Kansanshi and Sentinel mines as well as Barrick’s Lumwana Mine.
The 22 Zone was discovered by follow up shallow drilling in 2012 over a subtle copper anomaly with thick overburden. The discovery hole intersected 11.3 metres of 5.71% Copper, near surface. Additional intercepts include 21 metres of 3.26% Copper and 6.4 metres of 5.08% Copper.1 Drill campaigns in 2013 (reverse circulation) and 2014 (diamond drilling) extended the high grade, near surface discovery. Drilling has now confirmed a high-grade copper oxide blanket, the source of which is yet to be found.
Kazhiba in detail
A 2024 program completed on our Kazhiba Target delineated and confirmed a high-grade oxide-copper blanket. The program consisted of RC drilling, IP and Partial Ionic Leach Sampling TM and most importantly established “Proof of Concept” with regards to our plan with First Quantum. Kazhiba is a strongly variable, near-surface (low strip), unexploited, oxide-copper opportunity featuring a high-grade oxide copper blanket.
Drill Highlights from the 2024 program include: 10.69% Cu over 21 metres, 5.60% Cu over 26 metres, and 3.01% Cu over 15 metres, and 4.66% Cu over 7 metres1, all near surface
The program also Identified a north/northeastern extension, and potential sulfide sources, which give us new targets for exploration work and room for growth. Drill results from the 2024 Program will form the initial basis of an internal resource, and follow up drilling is planned to re-start April 2025. Exploration work on oxide copper targets is underway now and will be ongoing.
Historical Kazhiba Details:
Kazhiba, which features our high grade 22 Zone, is located 20 kilometers northwest of the Solwezi Dome and is less than 10 kilometres from the western mine gate of First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mine complex. Kazhiba is underlain by a previously undiscovered basement dome similar to those at both Kansanshi and Solwezi. Domes are believed to be associated with the copper mineralization at nearby mines, including both First Quantum’s Kansanshi and Sentinel mines as well as Barrick’s Lumwana Mine.
The 22 Zone was discovered by follow up shallow drilling in 2012 over a subtle copper anomaly with thick overburden. The discovery hole intersected 11.3 metres of 5.71% Copper, near surface. Additional intercepts include 21 metres of 3.26% Copper and 6.4 metres of 5.08% Copper.1 Drill campaigns in 2013 (reverse circulation) and 2014 (diamond drilling) extended the high grade, near surface discovery. Drilling has now confirmed a high-grade copper oxide blanket, the source of which is yet to be found.
In an attempt to detect the underlying source of the oxide mineralization at the 22 Zone, 6.7 kilometres of NSAMT geophysics was run in the vicinity, and a conductive zone was indicated. To date, this conductive zone has not been drill tested.
It is currently thought that the 22 Zone and environs may be underlain by a basement dome similar to those at Kansanshi and Solwezi. This doming is believed to be intimately associated with the processes resulting in the copper mineralization at those sites.
Drill highlights include
| Hole | True Width (m) | Cu (%) |
|---|---|---|
| SLZ-13-RC-002 | 21.0 | 3.26 |
| SLZ-14-DD-010 | 11.3 | 5.71 |
| SLZ-14-DD-005 | 6.4 | 5.08 |
| SLZ-14-DD-001 | 4.5 | 6.27 |
Underlain by a previously undiscovered basement dome similar to those at Kansanshi and Solwezi. Domes are believed to be associated with the copper mineralization at each of Kansanshi, Lumwana, and Sentinel.
Mitu
Mitu is a target area located in the southwestern portion of our Solwezi Project. Early exploration at Mitu identified “ore shale” type mineralization on the flank of the Solwezi Dome, crosscut by Kansanshi style veins. A series of near surface Cu-Co-Ni-Au intercepts, identified and confirmed copper-cobalt mineralization, including an impressive drill intercept of 11.6 metres grading 3.44% Copper. Additional drill results included:
- MDD-16-01 – 8.0 m of 1.22% Cu, 0.09% Co, and 0.05% Ni and 14.0 m of 1.02% Cu, 0.03% Co, 0.06% Ni
- MDD-16-06 – 30.3 m of 0.49% Cu, 0.03% Co, and 0.05% Ni and 9.0 m of 0.49% Cu, 0.02% Co, 0.03% Ni
- MDD-16-09 – 9.4 m of 1.03% Cu, 0.14% Co, and 0.04% Ni
- MDD-16-11 – 28 m of 0.82% Cu, 0.03% Co, and 0.05% Ni
The discovery of structurally controlled Kansanshi-style mineralized veins represented an additional mineralizing event in the area and drilling delineated a 1 kilometre by 500 metre zone of mineralization which remains open. A VTEM survey carried out over the target delineated multiple conductive zones, all occurring in favourable geology, over more than 17 kilometres on strike.
Further results from drilling carried out in 2022 confirmed a new and exciting revelation, concluding that copper mineralisation intercepted at Mitu is associated with cobalt, nickel, and anomalous gold. This suite of metals is comparable in mineralization style and grade to that at First Quantum’s Sentinel Mine, located approximately 120 kilometres west of Midnight Sun’s Solwezi Project. This new discovery provides proof of concept and revealed more insight into the mineralisation at Mitu, strengthening our conviction that more than one multi-generational copper deposit may exist on our 506 square kilometre property, and this establishes a new analog for Mitu.
Mitu in detail
The Mitu area was targeted for drilling as a potential location of ore shale type base metal mineralization based on evidence from geochemical and geological surveys conducted by the Company and previous operators between 2010 and 2015. Ore shale mineralization is the dominant form of copper, cobalt, and nickel deposition in the Zambia-Congo Copper Belt, the second largest copper production area in the world.
Mineralization is associated with shale units which form chemical and physical “traps” for base metals at or near the favourable contact between the Upper and Lower Roan units. This contact zone along the western flank of the Solwezi Dome extends for over 17 kilometres on the Company’s License areas. Diamond drilling has confirmed the association of copper, cobalt, nickel, and gold with the carbonaceous shales, returning intercepts of up to 3.44% Copper over 11.4 metres. Further exploration work is required to delineate the geometry of the sub-basin to successfully target the prospective carbonaceous shale unit.
Extensive soil sampling and shallow drilling have also established extensive oxide copper potential at Mitu.
Crunch Zone
The Crunch Zone exploration target is situated between the Kazhiba Dome in the northwest and the Solwezi Dome in the southeast. This newly identified structural target features a wedged fan of tight structural folds, located between domal structures, and linked to Kansanshi via a succession of sedimentary host rock. A VTEM survey identified the largest untested continuous EM conductive target/anomaly on the property, and this trend occurs in the same stratigraphy as that surrounding the neighbouring Kansanshi Mine. The anomaly remains largely untested & continuous for over 5 kilometres in length and 2 kilometres on strike. The sheer size and scale demonstrated by this anomaly, clearly indicates that appropriate investigation and attention is warranted. This conductive trend represents a potential new discovery at the Crunch Zone.
Crunch in detail
Based on geophysical data, it appears a northeast trending wedge of Copperbelt strata is ‘crunched’ between the domes showing interference fold patterns that abruptly terminate against the domal structures. An analysis of a VTEM electromagnetic survey identified the largest untested continuous EM conductive target/anomaly on the property and suggests that mineralized fluids may have migrated along major faults or thrusts which occurred where the Copperbelt strata encountered the dome structures.
