Power Metal Resources plc announced an update with regard to the Strategic Joint Venture (SJV) with Kavango Resources plc covering precious, base and strategic metal opportunities in Botswana. The SJV South Ghanzi Project covers two prospecting licences in the KCB (PL036/2020 and PL037/2020) covering an area of 1,294 km2. The South Ghanzi Project area includes lengthy geological reduction-oxidation (redox) boundaries, close to surface, that represent prospective exploration targets.

The redox boundaries were formed several hundred million years ago in active sedimentary basins flooded by shallow seas. Organic matter accumulating on the sea floor created anoxic conditions, which formed a chemical barrier to metal ions rising upwards through the sediments as the basin subsided. The change in chemistry caused the precipitation of metal species (carbonates, sulphides etc.) including copper and silver on or just below the redox boundary.

Subsequent tectonic activity folded the sedimentary layers, which was often accompanied by the concentration of metals into the fold hinges. Several large-scale copper/silver ore deposits have been discovered on the KCB in association with fold hinges in areas now held under licence by Sandfire Resources (ASX:SFR) and Cupric Canyon. These deposits are relatively close to surface and may be amenable to open pit mining operations.

Accumulations of sulphide metals can be traced along the strike of redox boundaries (sometimes for many kilometres), since they often have a higher magnetic signature than the surrounding rock. The SJV Ditau Project comprises two prospecting licences (PLs) (PL169/2012 & PL010/2019) that cover an area of 1,386km2. Geophysical and geochemical analyses by Kavango in the two PLs have identified 10 magnetic geophysical ring structures.

The ring structures are potential associated with alkaline and carbonatite intrusions. Alkaline rocks are the principal source of REEs including the much sought-after elements Neodymium (Nd) and Praseodymium (Pr), which are used in the manufacture of the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs), magnets and other high-tech applications.One of the geophysical ring structures is a 7km x 5km magnetic and gravity anomaly with significant zinc-in-soils values. Assay and whole rock geochemistry results from two drill holes drilled on this ring structure in 2019 by Kavango demonstrated the presence of an extensive zone of altered Karoo sediments sitting above a mafic intrusive body.

The alteration extended to over 300m in depth in both holes, which were 1.8km apart. The geochemistry obtained from the drill core suggested that the alteration was due to "fenitization", a type of extensive alteration associated with alkali magmatism and carbonatites. Fenite alteration is particularly associated with carbonatite intrusions, where it occurs as an aureole or halos around the carbonatite intrusive.

It can indicate the presence of mineralised intrusions in a similar way that alteration patterns are used in other ore systems, such as porphyry copper deposits. Kavango suspects that the post-Karoo fenitized rocks intersected at Ditau may be comparable to the Longonjo weathered carbonatite in Angola being developed as a neodymium and praseodymium open pit mine by Pensana Metals Limited.