Botswana Drilling Programme

Summary by AI BETAClose X

Arc Minerals Limited has selected an experienced drilling contractor for an upcoming diamond drilling program at its PL135/2017 licence, part of the Virgo project in Botswana's Kalahari Copper Belt. The phased program will test high-priority target areas along 14 kilometers of inferred contact and areas of structural complexity, with the total campaign expected to exceed 6,000 meters. The company will analyze drill core using a portable x-ray fluorescence machine and send samples for assaying at an internationally recognized laboratory.

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Arc Minerals Limited
17 August 2026
 

Arc Minerals Ltd / EPIC: ARCM / Market: AIM / Sector: Mining

 

17 August 2026

 

Arc Minerals Ltd

("Arc" or "the Company")

 

Botswana Drilling Programme

 

Arc Minerals (LSE: ARCM), an exploration company focused on discovering and developing Tier 1 copper deposits in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has selected an experienced drilling contractor for the imminent exploration diamond drilling programme at its PL135/2017 licence that forms part of the Virgo project, located in the Zone 5 corridor of the Kalahari Copper Belt ('KCB') in the Republic of Botswana.

 

The drill programme (Figure 1.) will adopt a phased approach, testing the identified high-priority target areas along 14 kilometres ("km") of D'kar-Ngwako Pan Formation ('DKF-NPF') contact inferred by the recently completed Induced Polarisation ("IP") chargeability/resistivity survey, as well as the areas displaying structural complexity with the potential to host trap sites. The target areas are shown in Figure 1 and described as follows:

 

-     SOUTH FOLD AREA (> 5km long):

Testing strike extension to 1km east of discovery hole DD004. Sub-vertical coincident chargeability and resistivity anomaly identified in an Insight Section from the IP survey. An area where both ground magnetic data and Insight Sections from the IP survey show structural complexity creating favourable potential mineral trap sites.

 

-     CENTRAL AREA (> 3km long):

Potential 'Jog'. Regional magnetics show a cross-cutting dyke extending into this area from Zone 9.  Zone 9 falls on the northern side of this dyke whilst our proposed drill holes are split on either side of this dyke which runs through the middle of 'Jog' and into the Kgwebe volcanics.

 

-     Z9 AREA (> 2km long):

Drill holes positioned to target the near-surface extents of the Zone 9 mineralisation which MMG have intersected at depth on their side of the licence boundary. Regional magnetics show a cross-cutting dyke extending into this area from Zone 9.

 

The phased drill programme will be carried out by G D E Botswana Drilling & Exploration Pty Ltd ("Global Drill"), a Global Drilling & Exploration Group company. Global Drill is a reputable and well-established drilling contractor with extensive experience in the KCB.

 

While the drilling programme is adaptive and therefore subject to changes, the company expects the total drilling campaign to exceed 6,000 meters.

 

During the work programme, the Company will continually analyse the drill core using a portable x-ray fluorescence ('pXRF') machine, followed by sample selection for preparation and assaying at an internationally recognised laboratory.



Remy Welschinger, Chief Executive Officer of Arc Minerals, commented:

 

"I look forward to a very exciting drilling programme. We are the only junior with a licence positioned within the Zone 5 corridor, meters away from recent priority copper discoveries made within the Khoemacau mining project of MMG."

 

The image appears to be a geological map showcasing various formations and drilling data, including areas for proposed, drilled, and inferred contacts, with specific formations like Karoo, Mamuno, and Kwebe mentioned. AI-generated content may be incorrect.















Figure 1. Apparent chargeability faded contoured image showing the inferred redox contact (DKF-NPF Contact), previously drilled holes and proposed holes.

 

Qualified Person

Mr Vassilios Carellas (BSc (Hons), MAusIMM) is the Chief Operating Officer for Arc Minerals and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012). Mr Carellas consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the technical matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

 

 

ENDS

 

For further information visit www.arcminerals.com or contact:

 

Arc Minerals Ltd

 

Rémy Welschinger, CEO

E: info@arcminerals.com

Zeus Capital Ltd

Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker

 

Katy Mitchell / Harry Ansell

T: +44 (0) 20 3829 5000 

Shard Capital Partners LLP

Joint Broker

 

Damon Heath

T: +44 (0) 20 7186 9952

Notes

Arc Minerals Ltd (LSE: ARCM) is an AIM-quoted copper exploration company focused on developing assets across two of Africa's most prospective copper belts. The Virgo Project, in Botswana, is situated in the Kalahari Copper Belt within the highly prospective MMG Zone 5 corridor. The Company also holds the Kabompo West Project in Zambia, located within the Western Domes of the Central African Copper Belt, host to multiple Tier 1 copper deposits. Arc is led by an experienced team with expertise across mining, capital markets and in-country operations.

 

 

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