LSE-listed Aterian has identified several new mineralised zones at its Jebilet Est copper project in Morocco.

Among these discoveries is a copper sample that returned a grade of 9.25% from isolated vein outcrops in an area of thin soil cover. This sample was recovered from a previously untested area.

This recent work has reaffirmed the strong grades reported earlier at the project, the company said on October 7.

The Jebilet Est project covers an area of 73.6 km² and is situated within a current and historically productive mining district. Located 35 km north-east of Marrakech, it lies in the Marrakech-Safi region and 14 km north of Aterian's Jafra silver/lead project.

The recent fieldwork uncovered additional quartz-carbonate vein targets. Aside from the 9.25% copper sample, other findings included 2.09% and 0.88% copper from newly identified vein outcrops, which have been traced discontinuously over a 450 m strike length.

The primary target vein zone, located on the western part of the licence area, saw its strike length extended by 250 m, bringing it to a total of 3.25 km.

Sampling from this area returned up to 0.56% copper, while previous efforts yielded grades of up to 4.43%. Multiple veins were observed over an apparent surface width of up to 120 m, outcropping in metasediments or adjacent soil cover near the main vein zone.

Aterian has also acquired a GEM Systems Overhauser magnetometer to support further exploration at Jebilet Est. Using this, a ground magnetics survey will be conducted in the fourth quarter over priority targets within the project.

"The Jebilet Est project stands out as a particularly promising prospect and one of our key assets in Morocco, which is located within a region historically known for copper mineralisation," Aterian chairperson Charles Bray said.

The newly defined targets will be prioritised for future exploration, he said, supported by ground magnetics surveys.

“We aim to utilise our in-house expertise to aid and expedite target identification and prioritisation significantly,” Bray said.

He added that Aterian was currently processing airborne geophysical data from its Azrar and Tata copper projects in the Anti-Atlas mountains.

He pointed to Morocco’s favourable mining policies, stable political environment and robust infrastructure as key factors contributing to its potential for the development of copper discoveries.