Midnight Sun to Retain 100% Interest in Dumbwa Target
Midnight Sun to Retain 100% Interest in Dumbwa Target
Midnight Sun Unveils Dumbwa Exploration Plans for 2025 led by Dr. Kevin Bonel
Vancouver, British Columbia, February 18 th, 202 5 - Midnight Sun Mining Corp. (TSXV:
MMA / OTC: MDNGF) (“Midnight Sun” or the “Company ”) announces that the previously
announced Dumbwa earn-in agreement with KoBold Metals Company (“KoBold”) (see news
release dated February 20 th, 2024) has been terminated . Midnight Sun retain s 100%
ownership of its flagship Dumbwa Target, one of four key targets on the Company’s Solwezi
Project in Zambia. Since announcement of the earn -in, no field work was carried out by
KoBold on Dum bwa. Midnight Sun is preparing to launch a 2025 Dumbwa e xploration
program under the direction of Midnight Sun’s COO, Dr. Kevin Bonel.
Midnight Sun’s President & CEO, Al Fabbro, stated: “Midnight Sun has remained one of the
longest standing explorers in the heart of the prolific Domes Region of Zambia. For 1 3
years, we have explored our vast land package, making significant discoveries of both high-
grade oxide copper near surface, and high -grade sulfide copper mineralization at depth.
We have never lost sight of the unique position we are in, to explore multiple top -tier
copper targets in arguably the top location in the world for copper discovery . The Domes
Region of Zambia is undeniably special, as evidenced by the world-class mining companies
and the mines they operate surrounding us.
“Dumbwa is a huge, high-grade exploration target, featuring a 20 kilometre long copper-in-
soil anomaly that represents an incredible opportunity for Midnight Sun to make a
transformative copper discovery. Dumbwa has long been seen as an analog to Barrick’s
billion tonne Lumwana Mine, located just west of us , which features almost identical
geology. Lumwana has just undergone a major transition, leading to Barrick’s
announcement of a new feasibility study for a super-pit expansion at the mine which would
lead to doubling the mine’s annual copper production.1
“Dr. Bonel, the geologist responsible for leading the exploration team that transformed
Lumwana into a tier -one asset, joined our team this past year . We now have his expertise
driving Midnight Sun’s exploration at Dumbwa. Beyond Lumwana, Kevin has a career’s
worth of experience in the belt, and several major discoveries to his credit. We have
already seen his effectiveness, having recently led the successful drilling campaign
completed on our Kazhiba Target, confirming very high -grade oxide copper mineralization,
identifying extensions and additional targets, and firmly establishing proof of concept for
our oxide copper plans with First Quantum.
“With Kevin at the helm of our geological team, we have the proven technical capability and
depth in-house to drive Dumbwa and our entire Solwezi Project forward. We now control
the exploration and ownership of these properties , and we look forward with positivity,
excitement, and total confidence i n our team and assets. It is time to launch our
exploration plans for Dumbwa and unlock the true value of this outstanding target.”
Midnight Sun’s COO , Dr. Kevin Bonel , stated: “ The Dumbwa target is a near surface, low
strip, huge scale exploration opportunity with very similar geology and mineralisation to
Lumwana. I could not be more delighted to see Midnight Sun regain 100% control over the
asset and to have the opportunity to personally steer the team toward a new and major
discovery on the proje ct. This is as good as a target gets in the Zambia n Copper Belt. Over
my decades of experience in the belt, ideal targets that have turned into mines featured
key characteristics such as a strong geological team in place, a large coherent soil anomaly
that is consistent with the ‘right geology’ , bedrock exposure close to or at surface, and
biological anomalies such as copper clearings. Dumbwa has all these criteria in abundance.
“What initially struck me about the Dumbwa Target was the remarkable similarity to
Lumwana. They are b oth north -south trending, 15 degrees east -dipping schist-hosted
mineralised zones and both have multiple, stacked, mineralized horizons. Previous drilling
has demonstrated that the copper -in-soil anomaly at Dumbwa is directly tied to bedrock
schist-hosted copper sulfide mineralisation. But, by comparison, the geochemical anomaly
at Dumbwa tends to have a higher copper tenor at surface and is laterally more extensive
than found at Lumwana.
“The geological team is excit ed to get the 2025 exploration program underway which will
start with an extensive IP campaign to determine the precise location and orientation of
the mineralised Dumbwa units . This will be immediately followed by carefully targeted
drilling to determine the full lateral extent of the copper mineralized system at Dumbwa
which underlays the strong, coherent, copper soil anomaly that remains largely untested
along its strike length.
“Beyond the excitement of Dumbwa, we have something incredibly special coming together
at Kazhiba, with our recent high -grade drill results and the new oxide and sul fide targets
we have developed. We also have top notch oxide and sulfide targets at Mitu, which we are
about to explore.
“Having just one of these targets is enough to center a company around, but to have the
optionality and potential upside of all three under one roof is utterly unique . Throughout
my career I have been fortunate enough to lead several significant discoveries, including
those which ha ve helped transform Barrick’s Lumwana Mine. I have complete confidence
that we could repeat that success on multiple fronts across Midnight Sun’s Solwezi Project
and cannot wait to attack the outstanding opportunity at Dumbwa.”
2025 Exploration Plans for Dumbwa
Although the soil anomaly over Dumbwa is well defined, and in places has extremely high
copper tenors the soil anomaly has never been tied precisely to the mineralised units
beneath the anomaly.
To resolve this, the Company is planning a detailed geological mapping campaign coupled
with a wide -spaced induced polarization “ IP” survey along the 20 kilometre long Dumbwa
target. The results from this survey should locate the sub -surface extent of the mineralised
units and provide valuable information on the deeper trend and dip.
The results of the geological mapping and IP s urvey will be used to guide follow up drilling
to intercept the mineralised units, build the geological and mineralisation models, and
begin to form and demonstrate the potential of Dumbwa as a large tonnage, near surface,
copper deposit. The ground mapping and IP survey are anticipated to commence in Q2 of
2025 with drilling to closely follow the conclusion of the surveys.
Qualified Person: Darin Labrenz, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under NI 43 -101, has reviewed
and approved the technical data and contents of this release.
About Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun is focused on exploring our flagship Solwezi Project, located in Zambia.
Situated in the heart of the Zambia -Congo Copperbelt, the second largest copper
producing region in the world, our property is vast and highly prospective. Our Solwezi
Project is surrounded by world -class producing copper mines, including Africa’s largest
copper mining complex right next door, First Quantum’s Kansanshi Mine. Led by an
experienced geological team with multiple discoveries and mines around the world to their
credit, Midnight Sun goal is to find and develop Zambia’s next generational copper deposit.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF MIDNIGHT SUN MINING CORP.
Al Fabbro
President & CEO
For Further Information Contact:
Adrian O’Brien
Director of Marketing and Communications
Tel: +1 604 809 6890
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Sources: 1) https://www.barrick.com/English/news/news-details/2024/lumwana-super-pit-expansion-
officially-launched/default.aspx