Drilling Begins at Copper Top Hill: Can Patriot Unlock Zambia’s Next Copper Prize?

Exploration Milestone in Zambia’s Copperbelt

Patriot Resources Limited has taken a significant step forward in its Zambian copper exploration campaign with the commencement of diamond drilling at the Copper Top Hill prospect, part of the Sugarloaf Licence in the Central Copperbelt. This maiden drilling program is designed to test the depth extent, strike continuity, and structural controls of a recently discovered copper mineralised zone that extends over 800 metres.

Initial surface sampling at Copper Top Hill has been encouraging, with portable XRF analyses returning copper grades as high as 3.12%, and an average of 0.62% copper across a substantial 800 by 240-metre area. These results have set the stage for a 3,000-metre drilling campaign aimed at better understanding the subsurface geometry and potential scale of this mineralised system.

Strategic Location and Infrastructure Synergies

The Sugarloaf Licence is strategically located near Sinomine’s Kitumba Copper Mine, which is undergoing a major USD $600 million development including a permitted processing plant and smelter. The Copper Top Hill prospect lies just 4.4 kilometres from Kitumba, positioning Patriot to leverage existing infrastructure and potentially reduce capital expenditure for future development.

Patriot’s Executive Chairman, Hugh Warner, highlighted the significance of this proximity, noting that it provides a compelling pathway to advance the project efficiently. The drilling program also aims to establish whether there is a geological connection between Copper Top Hill and the nearby Sugarloaf pit, located approximately 850 metres to the southwest, which could further enhance the project’s resource potential.

Broader Exploration Strategy and Next Steps

Patriot’s broader strategy focuses on unlocking value across its extensive 709 square kilometre landholding in Zambia’s Mumbwa District, the largest tenure position in the area. The company targets near-surface, high-grade copper systems that offer capital-efficient development opportunities, aligning with the district’s reputation for higher-grade, lower-tonnage deposits.

Following the drilling campaign, Patriot plans to generate a JORC-compliant resource estimate and progress towards reserve definition. Additional work will include pit optimisations, process route reassessments, and detailed infrastructure design. The company is also negotiating a toll treatment agreement with Sinomine Resources Group to process Sugarloaf ore at the Kitumba plant, which could accelerate the path to production.

Initial assay results from the drilling program are expected by the end of July 2025, which will provide the market with the first insights into the subsurface mineralisation and help guide further exploration and development decisions.