Regal Resources (ASX:RER), on behalf of the Kalongwe Mining JV,...

Regal Resources (ASX:RER), on behalf of the Kalongwe Mining JV, has re-commenced a 5,000 metres diamond drilling program at the Kalongwe Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Phase 2 work programs are expected to be completed by the end of the year and include resource upgrade drilling, further metallurgical test work, scoping studies into a low capital cost start-up operation, and exploration for additional copper targets.

Phase 1 drilling included a monster intercept of 76.7 metres at 4.06% copper and 0.59% cobalt from 37.4 metres.
 
Additionally, Regal is investigating options to increase its interest in Kalongwe Mining, and potential opportunities to secure future capital support that will be required should the project move into a development stage.

In July, CSA Global reported a maiden JORC Mineral Resource for Kalongwe of 276,000 tonnes of copper and 42,500 tonnes of cobalt.

This is contained within 10.4Mt at 2.65% copper with 4 million tonnes at 0.72% cobalt, and a cobalt only resource of 1.94Mt at 0.69% cobalt.

One rig is already at Kalongwe and is close to completing the first hole, where copper mineralisation is reported as being intersected from 108.7 metres and continues to at least 190 metres.

Regal intends to appoint independent engineering and mining consultants to provide input into the Scoping Study and to advise on the optimum commercial development route for the project.

If the results of the Scoping Study are positive, Regal will consider several options including proceeding directly to a Feasibility Study in first quarter 2015.

The project is situated 15 kilometres south from Ivanhoe Mines' Kamoa deposit, which is considered Africa’s largest recent high grade copper discovery, and 45 kilometres from the copper mining and processing centre at Kolwezi.