Staff Reporter
NAMIBIA is fast emerging as a global hotspot for critical metals after new discoveries at the Graceland Prospect in the Otavi Mountain Land confirmed exceptionally high grades of copper, silver, zinc, germanium and antimony.
The results, announced this week by Golden Deeps Ltd, reinforce Namibia’s reputation as a key supplier of minerals vital for renewable energy, semiconductors and global technology markets. The Graceland find, located near the historic Tsumeb mine in northern Namibia, has drawn international attention as the country strengthens its position in the global critical metals supply chain.
The exceptional mineral suite identified at Graceland is analogous to the nearby world-class Tsumeb deposit. The Otavi Mountain Land (OML) is renowned globally as a host to major, historically mined high-grade polymetallic deposits. The famous Tsumeb mine, situated 20km north of Graceland, historically produced 27Mt of ore grading 4.3% Cu, 10% Pb, 3.5% Zn, 95 g/t Ag, and 50 g/t Ge.
Channel sampling results from the Gossan 1 outcrop at Graceland included spectacular individual grades:
- Up to 31.7% copper (Cu).
- Up to 961 g/t silver (Ag).
- Up to 23.5% zinc (Zn).
The highest germanium grade received so far from Graceland: 351 g/t germanium (Ge).
- Up to 1,118 g/t antimony (Sb).
Golden Deeps, which holds six Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPLs) covering over 440 km² in the OML, is now focusing on identifying subsurface sulphide bodies below the weathered surface gossans.
A geophysical crew has been mobilised to the Graceland site and is commencing a detailed Induced Polarisation (IP) – Resistivity survey across the priority high-grade gossan zones. This survey is specifically designed to detect potential bodies of high-grade critical metals sulphide mineralisation lying beneath the eroded surface gossans, echoing the geological signature found below the modest surface gossan at the Tsumeb mine.
The exceptional grades of copper, silver, zinc, lead, germanium, and antimony identified at Graceland are highly relevant to current global supply pressures. These metals are critical components for renewable energy systems and photo-voltaic (solar energy) cells, with germanium also serving as a key semiconductor for computer chips.
The exploration efforts in Namibia are timely given the growing classification of these elements as critical metals. Zinc, germanium, gallium, and antimony are already listed on the US Critical Minerals list, and the US Geological Survey (USGS) recently proposed adding copper, silver, and lead. Global markets are actively seeking alternative supplies after China banned the export of germanium, gallium, and antimony to the United States in December 2024.
Golden Deeps CEO Jon Dugdale emphasised the high potential of the area: “These initial channel sampling results from Graceland have confirmed the exceptional grades of copper, silver and zinc at Gossan 1, as well as the highest germanium grade so far of 351 g/t germanium and antimony to 1,130 g/t Sb”.
Mr. Dugdale added that the company is “eagerly awaiting… the results of the IP survey, so we can model drilling targets for ‘Tsumeb-look-alike’ high-grade copper-silver-zinc-lead-germanium deposits”.
PICTURED: Graceland prospect on Golden Deeps’ Otavi Mountain Land Projects in Namibia. Photo: Golden Deeps Ltd
PDF link New, Exceptionally High-Grade Copper, Silver, Zinc and Germanium Results at Graceland Announcement: https://bit.ly/48IWxzO
