Micromine has extended its reach into Zambia, delivering modelling and estimation expertise to underpin the initial resource estimate for the Star Zinc project, located near the country’s capital, Lusaka.
Galileo Resources (AIM:GLR), which holds a 95% interest in the project (the Zambian government holds the other 5% interest), recently reported the resource had a future economic extraction potential of approximately 500,000 tonnes at 16% zinc.
This would deliver a six-year life-of-mine producing 12,000 tonnes of zinc metal per year.
Following two phases of drilling, between December 2017 to March 2018 and August to October 2018, the company drilled a total of 52 holes and extracted core samples, which were used as the input for geological modelling and resource estimation.
Micromine was used for import, validation, quality assurance/ quality control verification assessment, 3D solid modelling, geostatistics and block model grade interpolation estimation.
Micromine software is ideal for this type of project as it provides the accuracy and efficiency needed to check for overlaps and missing intervals, trace errors, missing survey data, lithology and collars.
MICROMINE’s implicit modelling functionality also enables highly accurate 3D models to be created using the data sets, which can be readily analysed and iterated to finalise geological and grade interpretations.
For the Star Zinc project, a surface wireframe of the base of the laterite and saprolite regolith horizon was created that was converted to a solid using the digital terrain model. Two mineralized wireframes were also generated to represent the low and high grade hypogene zinc domains.
Further modelling, extrapolation and extensive analysis was then undertaken to determine the resource estimate.
Based on that result, and its reliability, Galileo Resources has stated it will apply for a mining permit “without delay”.
To find out how Micromine can benefit your exploration and mining activities, visit our Micromine product page or contact us.
