UPDATE: Noronex has just announced the launch of a major reverse circulation (RC) drilling program at its Cgae Cgae copper project in Botswana. This urgent initiative marks the company’s first foray into the unexplored ground hidden beneath the Kalahari Desert sands.
The ambitious 3,000-metre drilling campaign is backed by mining giant South32 and aims to uncover buried copper systems that could replicate the rich deposits found in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Positioned on the north-western rim of the Kalahari Copper Belt, this project is strategically located near Sandfire’s 59.9Mt Motheo copper mine, making it a prime target for significant copper discoveries.
This groundbreaking program, contracted to Rotsdrill Exploration, is the first time Cgae Cgae has ever seen a drill bit. The drilling will primarily involve vertical holes reaching depths of up to 150 metres, focusing on promising geophysical highs and copper-in-soil hits identified in recent airborne surveys. Notably, the drilling will penetrate approximately 10 to 30 metres of sand before reaching the basement rocks, where copper mineralisation may lie.
If successful, this drilling initiative could open a new exploration frontier in Botswana and solidify Noronex’s partnership with South32. The recent acquisition of the Cgae Cgae project includes two promising leases, and under the terms of the deal, South32 will invest $5 million in exploration over the next five years for a 60 percent stake in the joint venture. Noronex will retain operational management.
This partnership follows Noronex’s earlier move in 2024 to allocate 60 percent of its Humpback and Damara copper projects in Namibia to South32, which lie within the same lucrative geological corridor as the Cgae Cgae leases. The combined projects cover an extensive 7,677 square kilometres of highly prospective terrain, recognized as a significant geological zone for copper mining.
In total, South32 has committed $15 million for the Humpback-Damara projects over five years, raising its total investment in Noronex’s Kalahari copper portfolio to $20 million—an impressive $1 million every quarter, a substantial backing for a junior explorer.
Noronex recently completed a seven-hole RC drilling program at Damara, yielding promising results that display key similarities to renowned discoveries in the Central African Copper Belt. One standout hole revealed copper grades of up to 800 parts per million in basement rocks, indicating the potential of a robust mineral system.
Furthermore, the drilling uncovered Kwebe-style volcanic rocks interspersed throughout the ancient gneiss basement, which are often linked to magnetic intrusions and are believed to have played a vital role in forming Botswana’s copper wealth, including deposits like the 3.5Mt Khoemacau and 1.4Mt/57Moz silver Boseto holdings.
With drilling operations now active and copper prices on the rise, Noronex is positioning itself at a critical moment in one of the world’s most exciting exploration regions. The combination of strategic location, strong financial backing from South32, and the potential for significant mineral discoveries makes this development one to watch closely.
Stay tuned for further updates as Noronex’s drilling program unfolds.
