12th Feb 2016 07:00
North River Resources plc / Ticker: NRRP / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining
North River Resources plc ("North River" or the "Company")
Drilling campaign successfully delineated additional extensions of known lodes
and identified additional high grade targets
North River Resources plc, the AIM quoted resource company focused on the Namib Lead-Zinc Project in Namibia ("Namib" or the "Project"), wishes to provide an update on its drilling campaign, since the previously announced JORC compliant mineral estimate in August 2014
Highlights
- 4,828 metres drilled since August 2014
- Results provide management with further confidence in the previously announced JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate
- Delineated extensions of known lodes and high grade targets indicated by significant intersections including:
o NLDDK070: 3.6m @ 15.6% Zn, 1.0% Pb
o NLDDK071: 7.3 @ 14.9% Zn, 3.2% Pb & 4.5m @ 9.3% Zn, 13.6% Pb
o NLDD062: 3.8m @ 10.9% Zn, 8.7% Pb
o NLDD061: 5.7m @ 16.8% Zn, 6.9% Pb
o NLDD056: 8.7m @ 9.6% Zn, 3.7% Pb,
- Resource expansion drilling campaign announced on 19 November 2015 underway; the targeting of drill holes is informed by the results of the infill drilling campaign. Results of the resource expansion drilling will be released in due course.
Detail
As previously announced, North River has been undertaking a drilling campaign at the Namib Lead-Zinc project. Since the last Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of August 2014, a total of, 4828 metres of drilling have been completed in 66 holes. Of these, 52% (34 holes) had significant intercepts, see details in Table 1.
The drilling campaign focussed primarily on targeting both new extensions of known mineralised shoots, as well as infill drilling to potentially convert Inferred Mineral Resources into the Indicated Mineral Resource category. Drilling was undertaken mainly in the top half of the North Orebody and also below the historic South Mine, which is around 200m below surface. The majority of the Company's current Inferred Mineral Resources lie below the South Mine, which is also referred to as the Southern orebody (see figures in appendix). In general, the drilling results in both areas have met management's expectations and increased its confidence in the Mineral Resource.
Figure 1: Plan view of the mine |
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/7809O_-2016-2-11.pdf
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Drilling below the Junction stope, and between the Junction and the Central stopes of the Southern orebody targeting resource expansion, has yielded encouragingly high grade results: - NLDDK070: 3.6m @ 15.6% Zn, 1.0% Pb - NLDDK071: 7.3 @ 14.9% Zn, 3.2% Pb & 4.5m @ 9.3% Zn, 13.6% Pb - NLDD062: 3.8m @ 10.9% Zn, 8.7% Pb - NLDD061: 5.7m @ 16.8% Zn, 6.9% Pb - NLDD056: 8.7m @ 9.6% Zn, 3.7% Pb |
Figure 2: Long section looking NE of the mine |
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/7809O_1-2016-2-11.pdf
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Table 1: Significant intercepts table
Location | Hole_Type | Hole_ID | NAT_East | NAT_North | NAT_RL | Max_Depth | Dip | Azimuth | mFrom | mTo | IntervalWidth | TrueWidth | Zn_pct | Pb_pct |
South | Diamond | NLDD048* | 475311.03 | 7509661.75 | 99.91 | 160.19 | -56 | 289 | 80.90 | 85.73 | 4.83 | 3.00 | 2.24 | 2.48 |
South | Diamond | NLDD048* | 475311.03 | 7509661.75 | 99.91 | 160.19 | -56 | 289 | 92.78 | 97.10 | 4.32 | 2.00 | 2.77 | 0.55 |
South | Diamond | NLDD049* | 475258.70 | 7509706.73 | 99.74 | 184.71 | -47 | 140 | 28.28 | 31.68 | 3.40 | 3.40 | 9.20 | 9.74 |
South | Diamond | NLDD049* | 475258.70 | 7509706.73 | 99.74 | 184.71 | -47 | 140 | 129.28 | 133.40 | 4.12 | 4.10 | 10.34 | 0.58 |
South | Diamond | NLDD050* | 475311.19 | 7509661.64 | 99.90 | 163.59 | -58 | 298 | 90.23 | 93.38 | 3.15 | 2.00 | 3.96 | 0.04 |
South | Diamond | NLDD050* | 475311.19 | 7509661.64 | 99.90 | 163.59 | -58 | 298 | 96.15 | 103.76 | 7.61 | 2.00 | 2.76 | 0.50 |
South | Diamond | NLDD051* | 475309.76 | 7509659.99 | 100.06 | 99.00 | -52 | 271 | 29.92 | 35.25 | 5.33 | 2.00 | 18.60 | 0.59 |
South | Diamond | NLDD051* | 475309.76 | 7509659.99 | 100.06 | 99.00 | -52 | 271 | 41.47 | 51.56 | 10.09 | 6.50 | 15.52 | 0.41 |
South | Diamond | NLDD052* | 475310.63 | 7509662.02 | 99.93 | 170.00 | -57 | 306 | 23.00 | 26.46 | 3.46 | 2.10 | 3.82 | 1.08 |
South | Diamond | NLDD053* | 475258.48 | 7509706.89 | 99.79 | 182.67 | -49 | 154 | 38.71 | 41.77 | 3.06 | 2.15 | 7.33 | 3.79 |
South | Diamond | NLDD053* | 475258.48 | 7509706.89 | 99.79 | 182.67 | -49 | 154 | 51.38 | 83.00 | 31.62 | 6.85 | 12.37 | 0.35 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD054 | 475309.88 | 7509659.92 | 100.03 | 91.08 | -54 | 260 | 11.21 | 16.26 | 5.05 | 3.80 | 6.08 | 7.20 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD054 | 475309.88 | 7509659.92 | 100.03 | 91.08 | -54 | 260 | 42.27 | 51.62 | 9.35 | 5.50 | 12.85 | 2.96 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD055 | 475258.26 | 7509707.27 | 99.79 | 102.37 | -49 | 164 | 27.80 | 37.50 | 9.70 | 3.70 | 10.03 | 1.31 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD055 | 475258.26 | 7509707.27 | 99.79 | 102.37 | -49 | 164 | 38.79 | 41.96 | 3.17 | 2.15 | 1.90 | 2.95 |
South | Diamond | NLDD056 | 475310.87 | 7509661.75 | 99.95 | 181.92 | -42 | 290 | 55.62 | 65.62 | 10.00 | 8.00 | 13.46 | 5.90 |
South | Diamond | NLDD056 | 475310.87 | 7509661.75 | 99.95 | 181.92 | -42 | 290 | 87.46 | 93.58 | 6.12 | 5.00 | 3.40 | 0.82 |
South | Diamond | NLDD056 | 475310.87 | 7509661.75 | 99.95 | 181.92 | -42 | 290 | 98.74 | 116.90 | 18.16 | 8.70 | 9.63 | 3.74 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD057 | 475258.26 | 7509707.59 | 99.81 | 154.00 | -59 | 168 | 105.23 | 110.23 | 5.00 | 2.00 | 11.18 | 0.04 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD058 | 475310.46 | 7509662.18 | 99.94 | 196.92 | -43 | 303 | 12.62 | 17.00 | 4.38 | 3.30 | 2.68 | 1.93 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD058 | 475310.46 | 7509662.18 | 99.94 | 196.92 | -43 | 303 | 58.95 | 68.28 | 9.33 | 6.50 | 7.78 | 0.75 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD058 | 475310.46 | 7509662.18 | 99.94 | 196.92 | -43 | 303 | 70.50 | 79.15 | 8.65 | 6.80 | 6.30 | 0.58 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD059 | 475258.31 | 7509707.74 | 99.82 | 205.00 | -66 | 165 | 38.65 | 43.71 | 5.06 | 2.20 | 4.98 | 0.14 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD060 | 475309.16 | 7509659.63 | 100.05 | 60.08 | -46 | 249 | 7.17 | 18.80 | 11.63 | 3.80 | 5.95 | 7.34 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD061 | 475309.94 | 7509662.13 | 99.98 | 135.51 | -40 | 289 | 116.67 | 130.63 | 13.96 | 5.70 | 16.79 | 6.93 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD062 | 475310.00 | 7509662.00 | 100.00 | 171.00 | -39 | 284 | 45.49 | 50.51 | 5.02 | 3.75 | 2.87 | 0.06 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD062 | 475310.00 | 7509662.00 | 100.00 | 171.00 | -39 | 284 | 146.19 | 157.43 | 11.24 | 3.80 | 10.90 | 8.69 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD063 | 475258.70 | 7509706.73 | 99.70 | 154.29 | -69 | 151 | 39.00 | 49.31 | 10.31 | 5.50 | 12.51 | 2.59 |
Central | Diamond | NLDD063 | 475258.70 | 7509706.73 | 99.70 | 154.29 | -69 | 151 | 57.38 | 64.25 | 6.87 | 2.90 | 5.78 | 0.48 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK034* | 475079.82 | 7509909.61 | 289.48 | 60.96 | -51 | 326 | 46.22 | 50.63 | 4.41 | 3.70 | 13.88 | 1.33 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK035* | 475079.58 | 7509908.77 | 289.67 | 74.57 | -62 | 9 | 37.81 | 42.46 | 4.65 | 4.10 | 8.98 | 5.86 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK043 | 475188.90 | 7509825.09 | 170.45 | 50.32 | -24 | 201 | 25.11 | 29.80 | 4.69 | 3.45 | 17.28 | 0.00 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK053 | 475137.11 | 7509854.24 | 171.87 | 33.60 | -1 | 238 | 14.73 | 19.50 | 4.77 | 4.30 | 32.85 | 0.09 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK054 | 475135.71 | 7509854.98 | 172.11 | 33.00 | 2 | 262 | 20.44 | 25.00 | 4.56 | 4.55 | 1.83 | 0.27 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK055 | 475183.02 | 7509815.64 | 170.95 | 25.50 | -2 | 176 | 8.97 | 13.95 | 4.98 | 3.85 | 19.83 | 0.03 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK058 | 475166.68 | 7509833.10 | 170.33 | 34.50 | -41 | 223 | 11.91 | 19.91 | 8.00 | 3.75 | 9.59 | 3.01 |
Table 1: Significant intercepts table (continued) | ||||||||||||||
Location | Hole_Type | Hole_ID | NAT_East | NAT_North | NAT_RL | Max_Depth | Dip | Azimuth | mFrom | mTo | IntervalWidth | TrueWidth | Zn_pct | Pb_pct |
North | Diamond | NLDDK070 | 475252.79 | 7509727.19 | 118.98 | 60.00 | -17 | 289 | 21.67 | 25.22 | 3.55 | 3.55 | 15.63 | 1.01 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK071 | 475252.81 | 7509727.20 | 118.81 | 64.50 | -25 | 300 | 17.15 | 29.61 | 12.46 | 7.30 | 14.91 | 3.18 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK071 | 475252.81 | 7509727.20 | 118.81 | 64.50 | -25 | 300 | 45.00 | 50.00 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 9.31 | 13.59 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK072 | 475252.78 | 7509727.04 | 118.80 | 90.00 | -31 | 287 | 10.98 | 15.64 | 4.66 | 4.60 | 2.33 | 3.87 |
North | Diamond | NLDDK072 | 475252.78 | 7509727.04 | 118.80 | 90.00 | -31 | 287 | 70.63 | 82.00 | 11.37 | 9.30 | 2.56 | 1.99 |
North | RC | NLRC110 | 474976.54 | 7510037.21 | 309.46 | 25.00 | -56 | 43 | 10.00 | 14.00 | 4.00 | 3.10 | 1.61 | 0.06 |
North | RC | NLRC111 | 474948.87 | 7510006.53 | 306.40 | 60.00 | -51 | 51 | 44.00 | 48.00 | 4.00 | 3.90 | 6.50 | 0.79 |
North | RC | NLRC112 | 475004.25 | 7510005.28 | 309.46 | 30.00 | -68 | 40 | 19.00 | 22.00 | 3.00 | 2.85 | 3.04 | 0.03 |
North | RC | NLRC113 | 475021.63 | 7509959.03 | 308.21 | 65.00 | -60 | 40 | 41.00 | 54.00 | 13.00 | 13.00 | 8.55 | 4.41 |
North | RC | NLRC114 | 475037.60 | 7509946.17 | 309.18 | 64.00 | -52 | 40 | 36.00 | 46.00 | 10.00 | 9.90 | 9.22 | 0.43 |
North | RC | NLRC115 | 475089.64 | 7509909.56 | 311.57 | 69.00 | -59 | 43 | 58.00 | 61.00 | 3.00 | 3.00 | 4.27 | 0.93 |
North | RC | NLRC120 | 475029.62 | 7509952.60 | 308.69 | 63.00 | -57 | 41 | 37.00 | 44.00 | 7.00 | 7.00 | 2.09 | 4.57 |
North | RC | NLRC121 | 474997.64 | 7509987.38 | 308.46 | 60.00 | -55 | 41 | 42.00 | 47.00 | 5.00 | 4.80 | 5.44 | 2.31 |
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK036** | 475221.82 | 7509770.51 | 169.25 | 20.00 | -45 | 127 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK037** | 475220.28 | 7509773.63 | 169.60 | 26.70 | -53 | 130 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK038 | 475188.81 | 7509825.46 | 170.10 | 69.26 | -41 | 218 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK039 | 475189.22 | 7509825.12 | 170.65 | 50.74 | -8 | 183 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK040 | 475187.52 | 7509827.70 | 170.00 | 7.39 | -40 | 234 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK041 | 475185.06 | 7509826.50 | 170.41 | 55.00 | -15 | 247 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK042 | 475187.52 | 7509827.70 | 170.00 | 6.57 | -5 | 273 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK044 | 475187.57 | 7509827.76 | 170.17 | 34.20 | -36 | 252 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK045 | 475189.60 | 7509826.43 | 170.11 | 111.74 | -45 | 227 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK046 | 475188.88 | 7509826.64 | 170.07 | 11.97 | -46 | 239 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK047 | 475188.90 | 7509825.13 | 170.16 | 56.30 | -36 | 201 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK048 | 475188.42 | 7509825.28 | 170.08 | 91.19 | -53 | 226 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK051 | 475140.25 | 7509852.14 | 171.87 | 26.36 | 1 | 190 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK052 | 475138.49 | 7509853.34 | 171.79 | 26.30 | -3 | 213 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK056 | 475180.30 | 7509818.59 | 170.87 | 21.00 | 1 | 227 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK057 | 475178.79 | 7509820.52 | 170.91 | 8.56 | 1 | 268 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK059 | 475166.80 | 7509832.69 | 172.68 | 27.00 | 42 | 228 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK060 | 475156.99 | 7509842.86 | 170.70 | 30.00 | -38 | 220 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK061 | 475180.53 | 7509819.01 | 169.66 | 52.00 | -40 | 223 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK062 | 475183.02 | 7509815.64 | 170.95 | 27.00 | 2 | 204 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK063 | 475177.87 | 7509822.03 | 171.13 | 37.50 | 0 | 292 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
5Level | Diamond | NLDDK064 | 475137.08 | 7509854.22 | 171.70 | 27.00 | -4 | 218 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | Diamond | NLDDK065 | 474980.39 | 7509997.44 | 277.14 | 79.50 | -9 | 98 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
Table 1: Significant intercepts table (continued) | ||||||||||||||
Location | Hole_Type | Hole_ID | NAT_East | NAT_North | NAT_RL | Max_Depth | Dip | Azimuth | mFrom | mTo | IntervalWidth | TrueWidth | Zn_pct | Pb_pct |
North | Diamond | NLDDK066 | 474980.11 | 7509997.57 | 276.66 | 57.00 | -29 | 96 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | Diamond | NLDDK067 | 474979.59 | 7509998.39 | 277.51 | 54.00 | -1 | 81 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | Diamond | NLDDK068 | 474980.75 | 7509996.65 | 276.48 | 52.50 | -27 | 5 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | Diamond | NLDDK069 | 474979.94 | 7509997.89 | 276.71 | 52.50 | -21 | 91 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | RC | NLRC116 | 475081.17 | 7509899.52 | 311.57 | 88.00 | -60 | 42 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | RC | NLRC117 | 475140.76 | 7509869.16 | 311.57 | 60.00 | -59 | 47 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | RC | NLRC118 | 475142.35 | 7509857.23 | 311.57 | 70.00 | -59 | 44 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | RC | NLRC119 | 475092.84 | 7509931.19 | 311.57 | 50.00 | -58 | 68 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
North | RC | NLRC122 | 475173.93 | 7509835.94 | 314.05 | 65.00 | -49 | 46 | No Significant Intercepts | |||||
* Holes reported in MRE update of 19 September 2014, but true widths have been updated to reflect the current geological interpretation
** Geotechnical holes drilled and not sampled.
Significant Intercepts are based on the following criteria:
· Minimum intercept length 3 m
· Maximum internal waste 1 m
· Cutoff Pb/Zn combined 1 %
· True thickness lengths were obtained by measuring intercepts manually from a perpendicular-to-dip sectional review. Lengths are approximate due to the variable nature of the lodes.
Diamond core samples were half core samples and are selectively sampled based on observable sulphide mineralisation. Approximately one metre of waste is sampled either side of mineralisation. RC drill holes were sampled on one metre intervals and was half-split using a riffle splitter to collect a 2 - 2.5 kg sample that was sent for analysis.
Samples were prepared and analysed for iron, lead and zinc (as well as As, Ca, Co, and Cu) at Bureau Veritas Namibia (Swakopmund). They were fused with sodium peroxide, dissolved in dilute HCL and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Optical Emission Spectrometry. Sample pulps were sent from Bureau Veritas to the Inspectorate of Metals and Minerals, Rustenburg, South Africa for silver analysis (as well as Bi, In, Sb and Sn) using a mixed acid digest (including Hydrofluoric, Nitric, Hydrochloric and Perchloric Acids) with an Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) Mass Spectrometry finish. Silver assay results are pending and will be reported once they are received.
The Quality Assurance Quality Control (QAQC) programme included certified reference materials (CRMs) from African Mineral Standards (AMIS) in Johannesburg, South Africa; blanks and duplicate samples. QAQC results were monitored and where issues were noted, the laboratories were requested to re-assay the affected samples. The metal values in the above table have all passed the QAQC process, although batches from drill holes NLDD054, NLDD055, NLRC110, NLRC111, NLRC112, NLRC113, NLRC114, NLRC120 and NLRC121 were re-assayed due to QAQC failures in the original assaying. Silver values have not been reported at this stage due to problems with the ICP MS machine at the Inspectorate delaying the re-assay of affected silver samples (which originally failed the QAQC process).
Drilling already completed helps to inform the targeting of the ~3,800m resource expansion drilling campaign that is currently ongoing and which was announced by the Company on 13 November 2015. This resource expansion drilling campaign is targeting mineralisation below the Northern part of the existing orebody as well as the Southern part.
The Company is targeting the release of an updated JORC (2012 Edition) resource statement by the end of the second quarter of 2016, which will include all the drilling done after the last MRE update and the current resource expansion drilling campaign.
As previously announced, the Company received from the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Namibia a Notice of Preparedness to Grant the mining licence for the Namib Lead and Zinc Project subject to a number of conditions. The Company has until the 28th February 2016 to accept the Notice and then 60 days to submit proposals in relation to these licence conditions. The proposals need to be agreed with the Ministry ahead of the issue of the mining licence. The notice is dated 28 January 2016 and more details pertaining to that can be read on the Company website.
As per the requirements of the disclosure of Exploration Results under JORC (2012 Edition), JORC Table 1 can be found at the following link:
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/7809O_2-2016-2-11.pdf
The information in this release that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr. Galen White, Principal Geologist of CSA Global (UK) Ltd and a Competent Person who is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM). Mr White has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves. Mr. White consents to the inclusion in this release, of matters based on his information, in the form and context which it appears.
North River CEO, James Beams, said, "I am encouraged that the results of the drilling have confirmed previous drilling and I am very pleased to share the high grade drill results from the Southern orebody. I look forward to providing regular updates on the resource expansion drilling campaign and other pre-construction work streams over the coming months".
**ENDS**
For further information please visit www.northriverresources.com or contact:
James Beams | North River Resources Plc | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7025 7047 |
Andrew Emmott / Ritchie Balmer | Strand Hanson Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 |
Jonathan Williams / Kim Eckhof | RFC Ambrian Limited | Tel: +44 (0) 20 3440 6800 |
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