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Under the agreement struck in April, Rio could earn up to 75% of the licences totalling 506sq.km, adjacent to First Quantum Minerals' Kansanshi mine.
"Under the terms of the earn-in agreement, Rio Tinto had two full field seasons to complete the initial work programme and they completed the [$3 million] programme in a matter of months," Midnight Sun president and CEO Al Fabbro said.
He said Rio had elected to proceed to stage one, where it could earn 51% by spending $16 million on the project within four years and paying $1 million in cash to the junior.
"I am very pleased to see the attention Rio Tinto is giving this project," he said.
He said a 3,000m diamond drilling programme was underway.
Midnight Sun had previously reported drilling results of 11.3m at 5.71% copper near surface at Solwezi's 22 Zone.
The company had increased its ownership of the two Solwezi licences in September from 60% to 80.65%.
Midnight Sun is led by people, including Fabbro, who previously held leadership positions at West Africa-focused producer Roxgold.
Midnight Sun shares (TSXV: MMA) have ranged from C3-27.5c over the past year.
They closed up 13.3% to 25.5c, valuing it at $25.9 million (US$20 million).
