Metal Bank has secured surface exploration rights over Area 47 in Jordan, a region considered highly prospective for copper and molybdenum mineralisation.

The move aligns with the company's broader Middle East and North Africa (MENA) strategy.

During a recent four-day reconnaissance field programme, ASTER remote sensing analysis, together with limited historical surface data, identified an alteration zone of 4km² within Area 47.

This zone is believed to be a potential mineralised intrusion.

The exploration efforts yielded promising results, with 43 stream sediment samples from within and adjacent to the ASTER target area showing anomalous levels of multiple metals.

Additionally, 11 rock chip samples were assayed, revealing up to 0.7% copper, 0.2% lead and 37 parts per million molybdenum in zones of hydrothermal breccia and gossan, as well as copper oxide mineralised breccia.

The Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS), where Area 47 is located, is a geological region spanning the Red Sea and parts of several countries including Jordan.

Metal Bank is also seeking a grant of exploration rights over Area 65.

Upon securing the rights, the company plans to conduct systematic surface evaluations and detailed studies to bring the three projects, including Malaqa, Area 65 and Area 47, to drill-ready status.

Metal Bank chair Inés Scotland said: “Area 47 forms part of MBK’s three-project strategy in Jordan. The plan is to systematically work up all three projects, Malaqa, Area 47 and Area 65 (once granted) to drilling status at the same time to provide cost-effective scale due to the need to import a drill rig and team from Saudi Arabia.

“Our three-project strategy in Jordan forms part of our greater MENA strategy combining both Saudi Arabia and Jordan for highly prospective copper and critical minerals exploration.

“The Southern region, the prolific Nubian Shield, which hosts abundant world class deposits, and our early work in this region will continue to provide further project opportunities in the future.”