What ARC Minerals does

ARC Minerals Ltd (LSE: ARCM) is an AIM-quoted, pre-revenue copper exploration company registered in the British Virgin Islands with its head office in London's Berkeley Square. The company identifies, evaluates, acquires, and develops natural resource projects focused on sediment-hosted copper mineralisation in two of Africa's most prospective copper belts: the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana (Virgo Project, approximately 138.6–208.3 km²) and the Western Domes region of north-western Zambia (Kabompo West Project, approximately 680 km²).

The company's technical approach centres on systematic exploration along the D'Kar Formation/Ngwako Pan Formation (DKF/NPF) contact zone — the proven mineralised horizon of the Kalahari Copper Belt — using magnetic and induced polarisation geophysical surveys, soil geochemistry (approximately 87,000 samples at Kabompo West), and drilling programmes (approximately 27,000m historically at Kabompo West and a 3,000m maiden programme in 2024 at Virgo). Notable drilling outcomes include 18m at 2.35% Cu and 39m at 1.47% Cu at Kabompo West, and 3m at 1.29% CuEq within 6m at 0.82% CuEq at Virgo. The company holds a unique tenancy position as the only junior licence holder within MMG's Zone 5 corridor in Botswana.

ARC Minerals does not generate operating revenue. Its business model relies on periodic equity raises (e.g., a ~$4.06 million round on 24 April 2026), historical and prospective joint venture partnerships with major mining companies, and potential asset-level transactions to fund exploration. A joint venture with Anglo American on Zambian tenements was terminated in October 2025, after which Arc resumed full control of the Handa Resources Limited vehicle. Primary counterparties are major mining companies seeking Tier-1 copper exposure; the strategy is to advance assets to a stage where JV, partial sale, or royalty outcomes can be realised. The company is led by a board with senior mining and capital-markets experience, including a new CEO appointed in December 2025.

Name

ARC Minerals

Legal name

Arc Minerals Ltd

Website

https://arcminerals.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ARC Minerals Ltd (LSE: ARCM) is an AIM-quoted, pre-revenue copper exploration company advancing the Virgo Project in Botswana's Kalahari Copper Belt and the Kabompo West Project in Zambia, targeting Tier-1 copper discoveries for future joint venture or asset sale to major mining companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Copper Mineral Exploration

NAICS

Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)

SIC

Metal Mining (1000)

akta.pro primary industry

Copper Exploration & Resource Development (IMAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling) (IMAKAKAA)

Keywords

• Copper exploration
• Mineral exploration
• Mining assets
• Copper deposits
• Natural resources

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Pre-revenue Exploration Stage: Arc Minerals is a pre-revenue copper exploration company. The company does not generate revenue from operations and is dependent on external funding, joint venture arrangements, or asset transactions to fund its exploration activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ARC Minerals is an AIM-quoted copper exploration company focused on identifying, evaluating and developing natural resource projects in Africa. It operates two core assets: the Virgo Project in Botswana's Kalahari Copper Belt, situated within MMG's Zone 5 corridor, and the Kabompo West Project in Zambia's Western Domes region covering approximately 680 km². The company advances these projects through geophysical surveys, geochemistry (soil sampling) and drilling programmes, with the intent of ultimately securing joint venture partners or realising value through strategic asset-level transactions with major mining companies.

Product overview

Arc Minerals is an AIM-quoted copper exploration company operating two distinct exploration projects: the Virgo Project in Botswana's Kalahari Copper Belt (208.3 km²) and the Kabompo West Project in Zambia's Western Domes region (680 km²). These projects are focused on discovering and developing Tier 1 copper deposits essential for global electrification and infrastructure demand. The company applies disciplined exploration methods including geophysical surveys, soil sampling, and drilling to identify copper mineralisation along proven geological horizons.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Virgo Project (Botswana) Copper exploration project in Botswana's Kalahari Copper Belt covering 138.6 km², positioned within MMG's Zone 5 corridor. The project targets sediment-hosted copper mineralisation along the DKF/NPF contact horizon and is the only junior licence holder within the Zone 5 corridor. Intended for major mining company joint venture or acquisition.
• Kabompo West Project (Zambia) District-scale copper exploration project in Zambia's Western Domes region covering 680 km², in an underexplored extension of the Central African Copperbelt near Sentinel, Kansanshi and Lumwana mines. Backed by extensive historical work including geophysics, soil sampling and drilling, with multiple defined targets across a broad trend. Intended for major mining company joint venture or acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 18m @ 2.35% Cu and 39m @ 1.47% Cu drilling results at Kabompo West
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered former flagship and core.

• Anglo Americanformer flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Anglo American was a joint venture partner with Arc Minerals related to Zambian mining tenements. The joint venture was terminated on 20 October 2025 after Anglo American withdrew and surrendered all interests in the Zambian mining tenements. As part of the separation agreement, Arc resumed full control of the JV entity Handa Resources Limited. Approximately $800,000 remains in the JV company's bank account.
• Handa Resources LimitedcoreOthersHanda Resources Limited was the joint venture entity through which Arc Minerals and Anglo American held their Zambian mining tenements. Following the termination of the Anglo American JV in October 2025, Arc Minerals resumed full control of Handa Resources Limited. Arc Minerals settled with multiple parties including Handa Resources, Unico Minerals, Kopara Investments, Zambia Mineral Exchange Corporation, Lunda Resources, and Mumena Mushinge to enable development of the Kabompo West project.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Trilogy Metals: Copper-focused junior developer with district-scale copper assets and a JV-finance-led model. Comparable as a non-producing copper junior with similar financing, exploration and partnership economics to Arc Minerals.

Broad incumbents

• Khoemacau Copper Mining: Copper producer in the Kalahari Copper Belt operating the Motheo and existing Zone 5 / Mango deposits. Direct incumbent peer for Arc's Botswana project given shared mineralised horizons.
• Sandfire Resources: Mid-cap copper producer that acquired MOD Resources and now operates the T3 copper project in the Kalahari Copper Belt. Comparable as a KCB-focused copper exposure and a likely acquirer of juniors like Arc.
• Barrick Gold: Operates Lumwana copper mine in Zambia's Western Domes region — the same geological belt that hosts Arc's Kabompo West. Relevant incumbent comparable and candidate JV/acquirer for Arc's Zambian ground.
• First Quantum Minerals: Operates Sentinel and Kansanshi copper mines in Zambia, geographically adjacent to Arc's Kabompo West project. Comparable as a near-neighbour incumbent and a natural potential partner/acquirer.
• Anglo American plc: Former joint-venture partner with Arc on the Zambian mining tenements, withdrawing in October 2025. Comparable as a Tier-1 miner active in African copper and a likely future counter-party for Arc's assets.
• MMG Limited: Operates the Zone 5 copper mine in the Kalahari Copper Belt immediately adjacent to Arc Minerals' Virgo Project. MMG is the producing Tier-1 anchor inside which Virgo sits, making it the most directly comparable operating peer.

Direct peers

• Cobre Limited: ASX-listed junior copper explorer focused on the Kalahari Copper Belt in Botswana. Direct peer to Arc Minerals' Virgo Project — same geological play (DKF/NPF contact), same jurisdiction, comparable early-stage exploration model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ArcMinerals
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arc-minerals-limited

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ARC Minerals