Patriot Maps Fishtie-Style Copper Targets Days After Securing Zambian Licence
Patriot maps Fishtie-style targets just days after Zambian licence acquisition
Patriot Resources has completed its first site visit and reconnaissance mapping on Licence 33543-HQ-LEL, acquired only on 29 July 2026. The technical team, led by Chief Geologist Eugene Gotora, was on the ground within days, with mapping completed 31 July – 3 August 2026. Field mapping identified lithological and structural features interpreted to be comparable to those hosting the Fishtie/Kashime copper deposit, owned by First Quantum Minerals and Mimosa Resources.
The licence covers approximately 16.15 km² (1,614.77 Ha) and is located roughly 12 km north of Mkushi, approximately 17 km along strike from Fishtie/Kashime. Patriot holds a 90% interest in the licence, held by MNS Global World Import and Export Limited. The licence is valid until 30 November 2027.
The information relating to the Fishtie/Kashime deposit is provided for geological context only and should not be interpreted as indicating the presence of similar mineralisation on Patriot’s licence. There is no certainty that further exploration work will realise similar success as Fishtie/Kashime deposit.
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What the field team found on the ground
Reconnaissance mapping identified what is interpreted to be the surface expression of a stratigraphic style and lithological unit comparable to that hosting Fishtie-style copper mineralisation: a siliceous siltstone with magnetite–ankerite–apatite banding, in contact with basement schist.
Key field observations:
- Prospective host unit — siliceous siltstone with magnetite–ankerite–apatite banding within the Grand Conglomérat Formation (the main copper-bearing unit at Fishtie/Kashime), in contact with basement schist.
- Basement geology — quartz-muscovite-biotite schists and gneisses, trending Northeast–Southwest.
- Carbonate cap — Kakontwe Limestone; massive limestone and dolomite mapped at a historical lime mine within the licence.
- Laterite development — indicating residual iron enrichment and intense weathering.
- Structural setting — Northeast regional trend truncated by North-northwest and North conjugates; intersections interpreted as favourable fluid pathways.
Regional magnetic survey data indicates a low-magnetic shear zone or structural jog coincident with mapped siltstones. The zone is approximately 3 km long × 0.7 km wide, providing a defined target window for follow-up exploration. Structural jogs commonly act as zones of enhanced fracturing and fluid flow, making them favourable sites for mineralisation.
Dominic Duggan, CEO and Managing Director
“Patriot’s technical team, led by Chief Geologist Eugene Gotora, have been on the ground at Mkushi, within days of announcing the acquisition of Licence 33543-HQ-LEL. We have mapped what we interpret to be the surface expression of the Fishtie-style mineralisation within our licence. That is a fast start on ground we acquired for a modest upfront cost, and it sets up a clear pathway to target definition and Phase 1 drilling.”
No sampling has been undertaken, and the mineralised potential of the licence remains untested.
Understanding the Fishtie-style copper model
Why does matching the geology of a nearby deposit matter before a single drill hole is completed? For exploration geologists, identifying the same host rocks and structural features as a known deposit is a low-cost way to prioritise drill targets and de-risk early exploration.
Being approximately 17 km along strike from Fishtie/Kashime means Patriot’s licence sits along the same mineralised corridor (Lusale Basin). If the same host rocks extend onto Patriot’s ground, the geological “recipe” for copper mineralisation may be present.
Structural jogs — where fault systems intersect — are particularly important. These zones of enhanced fracturing can channel hydrothermal fluids that deposit copper. Patriot’s licence hosts a 3 km × 0.7 km structural jog coincident with the mapped siltstones and carbonate cap.
However, matching the geological ingredients of a nearby deposit is not proof of copper. It simply identifies where to focus follow-up work: trenching, geophysical surveys, and drilling.
| Geological Feature | Observed at Fishtie/Kashime | Mapped on Patriot Licence | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host lithology | Siliceous siltstone with magnetite–ankerite–apatite banding | Siliceous siltstone with magnetite–ankerite–apatite banding | Main copper-bearing unit; indicates prospective host sequence present |
| Carbonate cap | Kakontwe Limestone overlying Grand Conglomérat Formation | Kakontwe Limestone mapped at historical lime mine | Regional stratigraphic correlation; copper mineralisation occurs beneath carbonate seal |
| Structural controls | High-angle normal faults controlling mineralisation distribution | Northeast trend truncated by North-northwest and North conjugates | Fault intersections create fluid pathways favourable for copper deposition |
| Basement contact | Grand Conglomérat overlying basement schist/quartzite | Siltstone in contact with basement schist | Basement-cover contact often hosts copper mineralisation in Zambian Copperbelt deposits |
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How this fits Patriot’s Zambian and Peruvian pipeline
Licence 33543-HQ-LEL complements Patriot’s recent Tonic copper discovery in the Mumbwa District, announced 8 July 2026, expanding the company’s Zambian footprint. Together, the two licences provide exposure to prospective large-scale copper targets within Zambia’s Copperbelt.
The flagship Tassa Silver Project in Peru remains the company’s priority. Work is ongoing to progress a community agreement to support a Phase 1 infill and extension drilling programme.
Future plans at Licence 33543-HQ-LEL:
- Phase 1 drill programme planned during 2026, subject to completion of target generation.
- Follow-up work flagged: trenching, geophysical surveys, and future drilling.
- Priority targets: fault intersections between the 011° oblique set and regional Northeast and North-northwest trends.
Patriot now holds a portfolio of copper and silver exploration projects across prospective jurisdictions. Multiple targets give shareholders diversified exploration exposure with near-term catalysts, including the upcoming Phase 1 drilling programme at Licence 33543-HQ-LEL and progress at Tassa Silver.
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