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The resource estimate was subdivided into the upper polymetallic zone and the lower copper zone, with the latter's high-grade inferred mineral resource at 1.1 million tonnes at 1.1% copper and 13g/t silver containing 26 million pounds (11,793.4 tonnes) of copper and 460,000 ounces of silver at a 0.5% copper cut-off grade.
The upper zone's inferred mineral resource includes a high grade domain of 750,000t at 8% zinc, 3.4% lead, 50g/t silver and 0.35g/t gold containing 132Mlb of zinc, 57Mlb of lead, 1.2 million ounces of silver and 8,400oz of gold at a 4% zinc cut-off grade.
The zone also has a lower-grade domain of 590,000t at 1.6% zinc, 0.5% lead, 13g/t silver and 0.15g/t gold containing 20Mlbs of zinc, 7Mlbs of lead, 247,000oz of silver and 2,800oz of gold at a 1% zinc cut-off grade.
Asiamet said mineralisation remained open in multiple directions at both zones and there were many potential targets to expand the resource base.
BSZ is part of the company's 100%-owned KSK contract of work where it is carrying out exploration drilling aimed at growing the resource base.
It is also carrying out infill drilling aimed at converting part or all of BKZ resource to measured and indicated resource categories.
The company is planning to undertake a metallurgical testing programme to assess the performance of the BKZ resource mineralisation and will continue onto a preliminary economic assessment if tests glean positive results.
Asiamet CEO Peter Bird said the initial mineral resource estimate was a value-adding milestone and the BKZ inventory had the potential to significantly enhance the economics of any mine development in the area, while also being close to existing roads and the proposed infrastructure for its BKM copper project.
"Our ability to discover and delineate this high grade, near surface polymetallic deposit in such a short timeframe clearly demonstrates the largely untapped potential of both the BK district and the broader KSK CoW," he said.
He said multiple surrounding targets would continue to deliver further growth in Asiamet's mineral inventory in the future.
