Australian-listed mineral exploration company Aldoro Resources has started its first diamond drilling programme at its Avondschaduw prospect in Namibia, targeting potential copper and gold deposits.
The company plans to drill two holes in the Damara Belt near Kalkfeld.
The programme aims to establish whether underground geological features identified through earlier surveys contain copper-gold mineralisation.
Aldoro executive chair Quinn Lee says the start of drilling was an important step in expanding the company’s exploration activities in Namibia.
“Maiden diamond drilling at Avondschaduw has commenced, marking an important milestone in executing the Namibian copper-gold exploration portfolio strategy we outlined to shareholders in February,” Lee says.
The first hole is planned to reach a depth of 680 metres, while the second hole will reach 400 metres. The holes will test two priority targets identified through electrical and magnetic surveys.
Lee says the company’s technical team had identified two targets for drilling.
“Following ground magnetic and IP surveys across the prospect, our technical team has delineated two priority chargeability anomalies supported by strong structural features,” he says.
The electrical surveys, known as induced polarisation (IP), identified underground areas that retain an electrical charge and coincide with zones of lower electrical resistance.
These features can be associated with sulphide minerals, which may contain valuable metals, but they do not confirm a mineral discovery.
Aldoro says magnetic surveys also identified distinct magnetic low zones associated with the targets.
The company interprets these features as possible signs of hydrothermal alteration and volcanic massive sulphide (VMS) mineralisation.
VMS deposits can contain copper, gold and other metals. However, whether these minerals are present at Avondschaduw, and in what quantities will only become clearer after drilling and laboratory analysis.
The prospect is located within the central zone of the Damara Belt, a geological region considered prospective for mineral exploration.
The wider survey area covers three exclusive prospecting licences (EPLs), EPL 7372, EPL 7373 and EPL 7895. Both planned drill holes are within EPL 7895.
Lee says the programme forms part of the company’s broader strategy to diversify its mineral exploration portfolio.
“This programme advances our strategy to diversify Aldoro’s critical minerals portfolio through copper-gold exploration in Namibia, alongside the continued development of our flagship Kameelburg Project,” he says.
Drilling at the first hole is under way, with the second hole planned after its completion. The company will log and prepare the recovered rock core for laboratory testing.
Aldoro expects laboratory assay results in the first quarter of 2027, subject to laboratory turnaround times.
The results will help establish whether the targets contain copper or gold mineralisation.
Further exploration would still be required to determine the size, quality and potential commercial value of any deposit.
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