Kipushi Mine underground. Source: Euromin Project

The latest estimate of Ivanhoe's Kipushi Big Zinc zone will not stun the market. It was already well-known that the deposit, part of the past-producing Kipushi mine, contained masses of ridiculously high-grade zinc.

But in upgrading historic resources Ivanhoe, which owns 68% of the project, clearly shows that the Big Zinc zone is a quite a bit bigger than previously defined. Combining 84 of its own drillholes to 107 historic drillholes by Gecamines, Ivanhoe now reports Big Zinc contains 10.2 million tonnes at 34.89% zinc.

There simply isn't another known zinc deposit like it on the planet. A little too gushy for you? Well it's true.

Before Ivanhoe took over the reins at Kipushi, Big Zinc was pegged at about half the latest score in a historic resource. So, through extensive drilling Ivanhoe has shown that the body is a good bit better looking than that old resource.

Big Zinc is part of the wider Kipushi project where Ivanhoe says historic mining between 1924 and 1993 yielded 60 million tonnes grading 11% zinc and 7% copper. Indeed, in this regard, Ivanhoe also outlined 1.63 million tonnes grading 4.01% copper, 2.87% zinc and 22 g/t silver in measured and indicated resources in other mineralized zones adjacent to Big Zinc.

Next for the project is a preliminary economic assessment.

Curious to see Kipushi core? Ivanhoe is said to display it at Roundup today and tomorrow in the Core Shack.

NR: Ivanhoe Mines reports independent mineral resource estimate for its historic Kipushi mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo