Shuka Minerals discovers new zinc, copper and vanadium orebody at Zambia’s Kabwe mine

Shuka Minerals Plc, a Kenyan-based dynamic and innovative mining and development company, has identified a previously unknown near-surface orebody at the Kabwe Zinc Mine in Zambia, with drilling returning high-grade zinc, lead and vanadium mineralisation alongside copper.

The discovery, made during the ongoing 2026 exploration programme by African-focused mine operator and developer, strengthens Shuka Minerals’ efforts to expand the resource potential of the historic Kabwe project beyond previously reported mineralised zones.

New orebody at Kabwe delivers high-grade zinc intercepts

Shuka Minerals said its ninth drill hole, KBDD09, intersected the new orebody a few hundred metres south of the previously unmined Speaks and Mine Club zones.

The 161.3-metre hole returned 10.45 metres grading 3.35% zinc from 2.95 metres, followed by 26.6 metres at 8.30% zinc between 48.4 and 75 metres. A further 43.7-metre interval from 75 to 118.7 metres averaged 10.77% zinc, including 10.8 metres grading 18.30% zinc from 86.6 to 97.4 metres.

Within the mineralised zone, a section from 112.3 to 115 metres averaged more than 28% zinc and 0.79% vanadium, while a peak portable XRF reading reached 64.95% zinc. Lead mineralisation was also significant, including 2.8 metres grading 5.4% lead.

Kabwe resource expansion potential

The discovery adds to the mineralisation previously identified at Kabwe, one of Zambia’s historic zinc and lead mining districts. Kabwe Zinc Mine is globally renowned for its extraordinary ore quality, with zinc grades historically reaching as high as 43% and average production grades of around 25%. 

Mining at Kabwe dates back to 1904, and more than 14.56 million tonnes of ore have been extracted to date, underscoring its status as one of the most prolific zinc operations in mining history.

A 2023 NI 43-101 report by Behre Dolbear estimated the Speaks orebody at 1.944 million tonnes of indicated and inferred resources grading 12% zinc and 2% lead. The Mine Club orebody at Kabwe contains a further 0.666 million tonnes grading 11.7% zinc and 0.8% lead, alongside silver and vanadium oxide. Shuka Minerals said the newly identified orebody would be additional to these previously reported resources.

Copper and vanadium add to discovery

The company said copper and vanadium mineralisation were detected within the new orebody, consistent with historically reported copper oxide and vanadium oxide mineralisation around the Kabwe project.

Chief Executive Officer Richard Lloyd said the intersection of zinc, lead, copper and vanadium in the same intervals could indicate richer mineral-bearing fluids and a zonal structure across the wider orebody. Drill holes KB010 and KB011 have also targeted the new orebody, with results expected in due course. The initial drilling programme has been extended to 2,500 metres following the strong results received so far.

Shuka Minerals said further exploration will assess the continuity and scale of the newly identified mineralisation, with laboratory assays to verify the portable XRF results under JORC and NI 43-101 standards.