LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Copper-gold exploration and development company Bezant updated the market on the Hope and Gorob drill programme on Tuesday, targeting previously-untested near-surface mineralisation.
The AIM-traded firm said the compilation of historical data identified a total of eight known targets for immediate drilling in the prospective Matchless Copper Belt.

A total of 2,000 metres of drilling was allocated to test the up-dip extensions to known mineralisation, previously drilled at depth by other exploration companies

Eight diamond drill holes had been completed at the Gorob Prospect for a total of 395.96 metres out of the 2,000 metre programme, with drill holes consistently intersecting visible copper mineralisation at and near surface.

The company said the rig had now moved along strike to the Vendome prospect, and would aim to test strike continuity within that zone.

A 140 metre-deep vertical shaft excavated in the 1970's, meanwhile, had been located at the Hope prospect.

Bezant said investigation of the shaft and its alignment with known and projected near-surface mineralisation indicated scope for a high-grade near-term production opportunity.

The shaft location, in relation to drilled mineralisation and the latest surface projections, was expected to "significantly reduce" future capital expenditure on underground development.

"The exploration programme for Hope and Gorob has been directed towards testing for the presence of near surface sulphides and oxides," said executive chairman Colin Bird.

"To date there has been very little oxide, but we are very pleased that all holes drilled include sulphide zones of reasonable thickness.

"The intersections have been as close as 20m from surface and visual inspection suggest that copper values will be consistent with deeper intersections."

Bird said photographs suggested "strong mineralisation", with the programme designed to develop a resource at less than 150 metres deep - a portion of which would be "open pit-able", minimising the time needed to reach production.

"The shallower ore programme will be spread across various points along the 17 kilometre separating Hope and Gorob, with a view to test the continuity of mineralisation."

At 1259 GMT, shares in Bezant Resources were up 0.73% at 0.17p.

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