Talisman Metals has acquired three new exploration licences adjacent to its existing Tirzzit Copper Project in Morocco.

Granted by the Agadir office of the Ministry of Energy and Mines through a direct claim process from the Moroccan Government, the additional permits cover a total surface area of 47km² and increase the company’s total exploration area from 16.5km², a 2.8-fold expansion.

All three licences are set to remain valid until 24 July 2029.

The project, including the newly acquired licences, is located within the Agadir regional mining department, around 225km east of Agadir and approximately 85km north-east of the Tizert copper-silver mine.

This mine, which is an active operation, extracts four million tonnes annually.

The copper mineralisation at Tirzzit is contained within the Neoproterozoic-age Adoudou Formation and is classified as a sediment-hosted stratiform copper-silver system.

According to Talisman, the geological context of the newly acquired licences is favourable for further discoveries.

This assessment is based on mineralised outcrops, a deep regional geological structure running north-east across the Anti-Atlas, and the presence of large domes and antiforms (paleo horst) similar to those at the Tizert deposit.

Iron gossan identified on the surface also indicates potential mineralisation at depth.

Talisman CEO Tim McCutcheon said: “The significant increase in the Tirzzit Copper Project footprint gives Talisman more opportunities to uncover mineralisation and expand westwards on mapped mineralised zones.

“Morocco is opening up opportunities by allowing companies to acquire new licenses. Even though Talisman is a small, new player in the Moroccan exploration sector, we have the know-how and flexibility to act quickly and decisively to benefit our company and its future prospects.”

The company’s planned exploration over the initial four-year term for the new permits includes detailed geological mapping, rock-chip sampling focused on the Basal Series and stream sediment geochemical surveying.

Talisman reports it will also carry out ground electromagnetic and induced polarisation surveys on key target areas to define conductive and chargeable horizons to depths of up to 400m.

Last month, Talisman started mobilising a new drilling programme at the Tirzzit project, with Geosond Maroc SARL contracted to complete around 3,000m of reverse circulation drilling.