Patriot Resources Limited has commenced its maiden diamond drilling program at the newly discovered Copper Top Hill Prospect, located within the Sugarloaf Licence in Zambia’s Central Copperbelt.
The campaign, which includes up to 3,000 meters of diamond drilling, is designed to test the depth, strike continuity, and structural controls of copper mineralization identified across an 800-meter-long surface zone. Recent surface sampling at Copper Top Hill returned copper values of up to 3.12% Cu, with an average of 0.62% Cu across a broad area of 800m by 240m.
Located just 850 meters northeast of the historical Sugarloaf copper pit, the Copper Top Hill Prospect is part of a broader 709 km2 landholding in the highly prospective Mumbwa District. The project lies just 4.4 km from Sinomine’s permitted Kitumba Copper Mine and processing plant, offering significant potential for low-capex development through infrastructure synergies.
Commenting on the drilling program Patriot Resources Executive Chairman Hugh Warner confirmed:
“The commencement of drilling at the Copper Top Hill Prospect is a significant milestone for Patriot. The grades and lateral extent of surface mineralization are highly encouraging, and this drill program will provide our first insights into the subsurface geometry and scale of this copper system. With access to established infrastructure and strong in-country support, we are well-positioned to rapidly advance our Zambian portfolio.”
Initial assay results from the drilling campaign are expected by the end of July. The program also aims to investigate potential geological continuity between Copper Top Hill and the nearby Sugarloaf deposit.
Patriot’s broader strategy includes advancing the Sugarloaf Licence to JORC Resource definition and developing a pipeline of high-grade copper assets in one of the world’s most prospective emerging copper jurisdictions