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Mozambique Update

31st Jan 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 3163A
North River Resources Plc
31 January 2011
 



North River Resources plc / Ticker: NRRP / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining

31 January 2011

North River Resources plc ('North River')

Update on the Monte Muande Project in Tete, Mozambique

 

North River Resources plc, the AIM listed southern African multi-commodity resource company, is pleased to announce an update from its Joint Venture partner Baobab Resources plc ('Baobab' or 'the Company') in relation to North River's Monte Muande licences in the Tete province of Mozambique ('the Project'), which are prospective for magnetite, phosphorus, uranium and gold.

 

North River Managing Director David Steinepreis said, "The JV with Baobab for the development of Monte Muande is progressing well with these latest results underpinning the prospectivity of this multi-commodity project area. The work programme, undertaken and fully funded by Baobab, is yielding encouraging drill hole and trench results with significant magnetite/phosphorus intercepts and geochemistry demonstrating the potential for a significant mineralised extension.

 

"Baobab's drilling campaign, which is due to commence on the Project shortly, will add further credence to what is emerging as a significant multi-commodity project, in one of the world's premier exploration and development addresses. We look forward to future results from Baobab on the Monte Muande project, in which North River has a current 40% interest, as the Project progresses up the development curve and delivers value to all stakeholders."

 

To view figures and diagrams relating to the announcement set out below please visit www.northriverresources.com for the full version of the Baobab release.

 

Baobab announcement:

 

Monte Muande Data Review Returns Positive Results

 

Baobab Resources plc ('Baobab' or the 'Company') is an iron ore, base and precious metals explorer with a portfolio of mineral projects in Mozambique. The Company announced on 15 November 2010 the signing of a Joint Venture with North River Resources plc ('North River') in relation to North River's Monte Muande magnetite/phosphorus, base and precious metal project (the 'Project') in the Tete province of Mozambique. Baobab has the right to earn up to 90% equity in the project. The Company is pleased to present an update on work completed.

 

Highlights

 

·; Compilation of trench and drill hole data from the Geological Institute of Belgrade (GIB) 1983-1985 exploration campaign at the Monte Muande magnetite/phosphorus deposit is nearing completion. Significant Head Grade intercepts include:

 

Diamond Drill Holes*:

D-12: 40.1m @ 23.2% Fe and 4.98% P2O5 from surface

D-21: 44.1m @ 33.3% Fe and 3.21% P2O5 from 44.4m

G-16: 62.3m @ 25.1% Fe and 4.74% P2O5 from 13.5m

H-16: 39.5m @ 22.2% Fe and 5.91% P2O5 from surface

LM-11.5: 39.6m @ 28.1% Fe and 4.71% P2O5 from surface

 

Trenches*:

T-3: 41.5m @ 49.5% Fe and 1.04% P2O5

T-11: 71.0m @ 34.7% Fe and 1.56% P2O5

T-12: 85.0m @ 40.1% Fe and 2.07% P2O5

T-13: 57.0m @ 43.2% Fe and 2.41% P2O5

T-14: 52.0m @ 39.4% Fe and 3.32% P2O5

 

·; Soil geochemistry completed by Omegacorp during 2006-2007 delineates an anomalous corridor of iron (>15% Fe) and phosphorus (>1% P) extending from the GIB work area 4km to the southwest, overlying a robust magnetic trend.

 

·; Geochemistry also outlines a discrete 2,500m x 400m copper in soil anomaly immediately west of the southwestern limit of the Fe/P corridor, overlying a parallel magnetic trend.

 

·; Baobab has commissioned Coffey Mining consultants to review the GIB and Omegacorp data and generate a magnetite/phosphorus Exploration Target for the Monte Muande area as well as make preliminary investigations into potential mineral processing flow sheets.

 

·; The south-western corner of exploration licence 1119L is underlain by 12km2 of lithologies of the Lower Karoo, which hosts the coal resources at Vale's Moatize and Riversdale's Benga and Zambeze projects. Mapping completed By Mavuzi Resources Ltd in 2008 identified evidence of coal exposed in river banks. Baobab has commissioned consultants to make a more detailed assessment of the coal potential as soon as field conditions allow.

 

·; Baobab has scheduled 2,000m of diamond drilling at the Monte Muande deposit to commence during April 2011.

 

Commenting today, Ben James, Baobab's Managing Director, said: "the data compilation of historical work has paid off handsomely. The North River JV area is shaping up to be a robust, multi-commodity project in what is becoming a major mining and infrastructure hub of southern Africa. The drill hole and trench results highlight the potential grades of the deposit while the soil geochemistry indicates that the magnetite/phosphorus mineralisation extends for a considerable distance to the southwest where it has yet to be drill tested.

 

"The Company looks forward to reviewing the results from the commissioned studies over the coming months and, in particular, to collaring the first drill hole into the Muande deposit in 25 years."

 

"All of the above indicates that in the coming months the Company should be able to add substantially to the current 400 to 700 million tonne target announced for the Massamba Group alone."

 

Monte Muande Project Background

 

The Monte Muande project comprises two exploration licences covering an area of 338km² located approximately 25km northwest of the provincial capital of Tete. The licences are valid until Q3 2014.

 

The licences are underlain by the Proterozic aged Chacocoma Granite and flanking Tete Mafic Complex. A carbonatite of Cretaceous age has intermittently intruded the eastern and northern margins of the Chacocoma Granite. The south-western corner of licence 1119L is underlain by 12 square kilometres of Lower Karoo lithologies (Figure 1*).

 

Previous exploration has targeted mineralisation within the carbonatite. During the 1980s, the Geological Institute of Belgrade (GIB) conducted exploratory works at the Monte Muande magnetite/phosphorus deposit. GIB completed two phases of vertical diamond drilling between 1983 and 1985 totalling 5,570m, 2,960m of which falls within the Joint Venture area. The institute also completed more than 10km of trenching (Figure 2*).

 

Regrettably sampling of the first phase of drilling and trenching was not systematic. The available analytical results do, however, demonstrate the potential of the deposit. A complete listing of significant intercepts from both drilling and trenching is tabulated below (please note that this is historical data and the Company cannot yet confirm its veracity). Iron grades are generally higher, and phosphorus lower, in trench samples than in the drill core. This may be a function of the near surface chemical weathering of the marble host rock or reflect different sampling techniques.

 

More recently, Omega Corp (and latterly Mavuzi Resources) completed detailed exploration programmes investigating the uranium, gold, copper and coal potential of the area.

 

During 2006-2007, Omegacorp completed a detailed soil geochemical survey over an area of 19 square kilometres extending from the Monte Muande deposit in the northeast to the southern limit of the 1054L licence boundary, 9km to the southwest. The sampling grid overlies a robust, linear magnetic trend marking the margin of the Chacocoma Granite.

 

Contouring of the iron (Fe) and phosphorus (P) soil analyses has delineated a corridor of >15% Fe and >1% P anomalism extending from the GIB work area 4km to the southwest. The geochemistry also outlines a discrete 2,500m x 400m copper (Cu) in soil anomaly immediately west of the southwestern limit of the Fe/P corridor, overlying a parallel magnetic trend (Figures 3, 4 and 5*). Both sets of anomalies remain undrilled.

The soil geochemistry also identified the Boa Viseau gold anomaly, located centrally within the survey area. Boa Viseau was subsequently diamond drilled in late 2007, returning a best intercept of 6.40m @ 2.01g/t Au from 46.10m (0.5g/t Au cut-off).

 

Mavuzi Resources completed a preliminary review of the coal potential of the 12 square kilometres of Lower Karoo lithologies underlying the southwestern corner of 1119L. Field work identified carbonaceous rich units exposed in river banks along the Mufa River. No further work was completed.

 

* Figures are available in the Company's website version of this announcement available for download from: www.baobabresources.com/Pages/invest_centre/Aim_Releases.html

 

Forward Programme 2011

 

The Company expects to complete the compilation of historical work this week at which time it will hand over the data pack to internationally respected consultants Coffey Mining Pty Ltd ('Coffey'). Coffey has been commissioned to review the data and associated reports to estimate a magnetite/phosphorus Exploration Target for the Monte Muande area. Coffey's metallurgical team will also make preliminary investigations into potential mineral processing flow sheets to generate discrete magnetite and phosphate concentrate products.

 

Baobab has scheduled an initial phase 2,000m of diamond drilling at the Monte Muande deposit to commence in Q2 2011.

 

Baobab has also commissioned Mozambique consultants Gondwana Consultorias Lda to complete a detailed field assessment of the coal potential underlying 1119L.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geological Institute of Belgrade Vertical Diamond Drill Hole Results: Significant Intercepts

HOLE ID

EAST

NORTH

RL

TOTAL

FROM

TO

LENGTH

Fe

P2O5

DEPTH

(m)

(m)

(m)

(%)

(%)

B-10

553,220

8,236,505

442

47

1.9

13.7

11.8

19.0

1.50

31.7

35.9

4.2

29.2

3.80

C-9

553,113

8,236,382

461

50

0.0

5.7

5.7

31.8

3.16

D-7

552,946

8,236,254

484

49

0.0

3.8

3.8

30.0

0.94

23.3

37.3

14.0

20.7

2.01

D-10

553,231

8,236,301

471

50

18.0

19.6

1.6

48.2

1.27

D-12

553,442

8,236,316

435

50

0.0

40.1

40.1

23.2

4.98

D-21

554,339

8,236,431

452

100

44.4

88.5

44.1

33.3

6.21

D-23

554,538

8,236,457

478

100

0.0

15.0

15.0

20.9

4.12

G-16

553,855

8,236,263

494

77

13.5

75.8

62.3

25.1

4.74

H-12

553,471

8,236,108

469

100

31.0

97.2

66.2

20.6

5.25

33.4

47.8

14.4

42.3

5.86

H-13

554,055

8,236,283

486

100

0.0

14.8

14.8

36.6

6.05

H-15

553,772

8,236,146

473

48

1.2

33.6

32.4

20.5

4.92

H-16

553,869

8,236,162

485

60

0.0

39.5

39.5

22.2

5.91

I-7

552,989

8,235,950

500

100

96.3

109.0

12.7

20.2

0.89

I-18

554,083

8,236,086

484

54

0.0

9.4

9.4

17.8

3.98

26.5

48.5

22.0

24.9

8.02

K-6

552,900

8,235,835

487

52

0.0

4.0

4.0

60.0

0.75

K-11

553,399

8,235,898

500

53

3.7

13.1

9.4

21.4

3.94

51.1

54.4

3.3

18.7

5.11

L-9

553,219

8,235,768

529

65

26.8

34.0

7.2

19.2

5.00

43.5

52.3

8.8

24.8

3.04

L-10

553,313

8,235,784

522

100

3.5

10.5

7.0

29.1

3.97

53.5

59.0

5.5

21.1

5.27

68.8

85.0

16.2

20.5

6.87

L-11

553,414

8,235,792

501

50

26.6

30.2

3.6

19.8

7.18

LM-11.5

553,453

8,235,735

502

40

0.0

39.6

39.6

28.1

4.71

M-10

553,333

8,235,671

507

50

17.0

27.4

10.4

20.2

4.52

M-10.5

553,380

8,235,673

498

18

0.0

18.0

18.0

22.5

3.04

MN-10

553,338

8,235,614

493

25

12.0

18.0

6.0

24.2

2.88

MN-10.5

553,388

8,235,621

489

40

0.0

20.3

20.3

27.9

3.37

MN-9.5

553,283

8,235,660

495

40

21.0

40.0

19.0

19.2

3.71

NP-9.5

553,303

8,235,506

470

39

0.0

11.5

11.5

27.4

2.07

25.0

39.0

14.0

25.3

4.89

NP-11

553,452

8,235,527

474

25

0.0

25.0

25.0

22.6

5.08

P-10.5

553,410

8,235,465

460

25

9.0

14.0

5.0

23.1

5.61

Sample preparation and analytical methodology unknown. Collar coordinates have been transformed from local grid to WGS84 UTM36S.

 

Geological Institute of Belgrade Trench Results: Significant Intercepts

HOLE ID

EAST

NORTH

TOTAL

COLLAR

FROM

TO

LENGTH

Fe

P2O5

Total

Internal Dilution

LENGTH

AZIMUTH

(m)

(m)

(m)

(%)

(%)

Samp

Total (m)

Max (m)

T-3

552,702

8,235,944

323.0

93

123.0

164.5

41.5

49.5

1.04

3

9.0

9.0

T-4

552,797

8,236,133

435.0

119

49.0

92.0

43.0

38.9

1.98

5

4.5

4.5

T-7

552,893

8,236,256

339.0

126

200.0

206.0

6.0

61.4

0.20

1

0.0

0.0

234.0

237.0

3.0

51.6

2.00

1

0.0

0.0

262.0

265.0

3.0

63.2

3.09

1

0.0

0.0

T-8

552,916

8,236,279

504.0

100

67.0

73.0

6.0

63.7

0.50

1

0.0

0.0

447.0

494.0

47.0

35.3

1.93

3

9.5

9.5

T-8A

552,966

8,234,929

137.0

109

19.5

39.5

20.0

22.9

1.84

3

9.0

9.0

T-9

553,270

8,235,707

103.0

108

12.5

30.0

17.5

23.9

1.55

5

10.0

7.5

97.0

101.5

4.5

60.5

2.06

1

0.0

0.0

T-9A

552,769

8,235,738

27.0

98

8.0

25.0

17.0

16.5

3.01

3

13.0

13.0

T-9B

552,710

8,235,819

243.0

77.0

97.0

20.0

43.3

1.60

4

3.5

2.5

142.0

156.5

14.5

31.6

3.70

3

7.0

7.0

211.0

216.5

5.5

50.8

1.20

1

0.0

0.0

T-10

553,131

8,235,807

800.0

101

128.5

143.0

14.5

28.2

4.89

3

0.5

0.5

177.0

199.5

22.5

35.4

2.87

3

7.0

7.0

329.5

339.0

9.5

23.6

5.95

1

0.0

0.0

T-11

553,161

8,235,843

234.0

79

3.0

10.0

7.0

63.0

1.14

1

0.0

0.0

101.0

107.0

6.0

53.5

5.04

1

0.0

0.0

144.0

215.0

71.0

34.7

1.56

9

30.5

14.0

T-11/III

553,996

8,236,017

284.0

87

19.5

22.5

3.0

66.2

0.68

1

0.0

0.0

129.0

147.0

18.0

29.3

2.59

4

3.0

3.0

T-12

553,702

8,236,105

140.0

95

43.0

128.0

85.0

40.1

2.07

12

22.0

12.0

T-12/I

554,040

8,236,114

100.0

87

5.0

27.0

22.0

43.7

1.14

5

6.0

5.0

90.0

93.0

3.0

65.0

0.46

1

0.0

0.0

T-12/II

554,310

8,236,160

25.0

87

19.0

22.0

3.0

64.8

0.23

1

0.0

0.0

T-13

553,304

8,236,155

1400.0

78

57.0

82.5

25.5

21.7

1.92

4

11.0

11.0

102.5

105.0

2.5

67.1

1.03

1

0.0

0.0

135.0

186.0

51.0

32.2

3.49

3

0.0

0.0

220.0

228.0

8.0

36.4

6.75

1

0.0

0.0

265.0

273.0

8.0

27.2

6.01

1

0.0

0.0

489.0

495.0

6.0

62.4

1.83

1

0.0

0.0

568.0

570.0

2.0

63.3

2.29

1

0.0

0.0

687.0

698.0

11.0

35.1

5.50

1

0.0

0.0

955.0

989.0

34.0

25.0

4.26

3

1.0

1.0

1209.0

1266.0

57.0

43.2

2.41

6

4.0

4.0

1283.0

1292.0

9.0

27.1

0.96

1

0.0

0.0

T-14

553,724

8,236,278

374.0

98

64.0

68.0

4.0

62.1

2.54

1

0.0

0.0

85.0

87.0

2.0

64.7

0.92

1

0.0

0.0

125.0

177.0

52.0

39.4

3.32

9

15.5

8.0

310.0

317.5

7.5

67.6

1.83

1

0.0

0.0

T-14A

553,351

8,236,284

267.0

97

6.0

28.0

22.0

33.1

3.17

5

8.0

7.0

82.0

103.0

21.0

19.3

2.87

3

11.0

11.0

114.0

131.0

17.0

18.6

3.00

4

12.0

6.0

181.0

188.0

7.0

26.1

6.99

1

0.0

0.0

213.0

216.0

3.0

51.0

4.27

1

0.0

0.0

T-15

553,403

8,236,371

1259.0

91

7.0

34.5

27.5

21.7

6.71

2

0.0

0.0

96.0

117.0

21.0

65.8

0.68

1

0.0

0.0

164.0

168.0

4.0

58.6

2.38

1

0.0

0.0

303.0

306.0

3.0

52.8

3.09

1

0.0

0.0

342.0

352.0

10.0

61.8

4.38

1

0.0

0.0

456.0

463.0

7.0

26.0

5.72

1

0.0

0.0

581.0

583.0

2.0

59.2

3.37

1

0.0

0.0

845.0

888.0

43.0

27.9

2.92

4

9.0

9.0

908.0

912.0

4.0

63.6

1.52

1

0.0

0.0

1052.0

1056.0

4.0

64.0

1.59

1

0.0

0.0

T-16

553,394

8,236,476

1242.0

83

257.0

261.0

4.0

64.0

0.76

1

0.0

0.0

625.0

632.0

7.0

33.9

6.09

1

0.0

0.0

858.0

862.5

4.5

51.5

4.12

1

0.0

0.0

1114.0

1150.0

36.0

30.0

3.99

2

0.0

0.0

T-20

553,199

8,236,387

45.0

101

38.0

45.0

7.0

43.2

7.10

2

0.0

0.0

T-22A

553,779

8,236,172

106.0

95

53.0

106.0

53.0

24.5

3.30

7

23.0

10.5

T-23

553,904

8,236,233

24.0

112

15.5

18.5

3.0

57.0

1.60

1

0.0

0.0

T-25

552,857

8,236,002

26.0

102

13.5

20.0

6.5

28.9

4.15

1

0.0

0.0

T-26

552,789

8,236,049

74.0

111

49.5

54.0

4.5

67.7

0.59

1

0.0

0.0

T-28

553,102

8,236,532

63.0

89

16.5

24.5

8.0

21.9

3.92

3

2.5

2.5

T-30

553,160

8,236,530

20.0

112

8.0

16.0

8.0

20.4

4.95

1

0.0

0.0

T-31

553,311

8,236,228

24.0

98

1.5

16.0

14.5

36.1

5.86

1

0.0

0.0

T-33

553,736

8,236,060

61.0

92

6.0

56.5

50.5

34.9

10.26

2

0.0

0.0

MW-1

552,870

8,236,147

44.0

127

11.0

37.0

26.0

47.1

0.65

3

7.0

7.0

MW-2

553,036

8,235,974

100.0

99

36.0

38.0

2.0

67.0

0.59

1

0.0

0.0

MW-3

553,305

8,235,746

27.5

112

3.0

23.0

20.0

64.0

2.29

1

0.0

0.0

MW-4

553,265

8,235,878

25.0

34

0.0

4.5

4.5

59.5

3.89

1

0.0

0.0

MW-5

553,338

8,235,906

10.0

166

1.0

9.0

8.0

58.0

5.49

1

0.0

0.0

MW-6

553,399

8,236,109

34.0

88

16.5

24.0

7.5

42.0

2.74

1

0.0

0.0

MW-9

554,065

8,236,182

30.0

17

2.0

13.5

11.5

54.5

4.12

1

0.0

0.0

MW-10

554,046

8,236,104

29.5

118

6.0

17.5

11.5

66.0

1.37

1

0.0

0.0

MW-11

554,035

8,236,049

14.5

82

3.0

8.5

5.5

66.0

1.14

1

0.0

0.0

MW-12

554,413

8,236,048

28.0

17

9.5

27.5

18.0

41.2

0.95

3

6.0

6.0

 

Sample preparation and analytical methodology unknown. Only results of >50% Fe have been recorded for intercepts less than 6m. Total number of samples constituting the intercept, cumulative dilution within the intercept (intervals

 

Details of North River Joint Venture

 

North River Resources plc is an AIM listed multi commodity resource development company, focussed on southern Africa. Its current portfolio includes significant gold, base metal and uranium assets in Namibia and uranium, gold and copper assets in Mozambique. North River has an active development plan with the aim of generating production in the near term. North River is approximately 45% owned by AIM listed Kalahari Minerals plc.

 

Baobab Resources plc is actively developing iron / vanadium / titanium resources at its Tete Project in Mozambique. With a view to consolidating its strategic position in the Tete area, the Company approached North River with the objective of entering into an unincorporated Joint Venture relationship for the purpose of undertaking exploration activities at the Muande Project and, subject to exploration success, developing mining operations.

 

A legally binding Heads of Agreement outlines a three stage investment to earn an increasing participatory interest in the Project. North River has the option to participate pro-rata at both Stage 2 and 3 to maintain their 40% interest in the Project.

 

·; Stage 1 - Baobab commits to funding a First Work Programme at a cost of not less that US$625,000 over a period of not more than 12 months. The work programme will include 2,000m of diamond drilling. Baobab's participatory interest in the Project upon the completion of Stage 1 will be 60%.

 

·; Stage 2 - Subject to having completed the First Work Programme satisfactorily Baobab shall have the exclusive right to undertake a Pre-Feasibility Study over a period of not less than 12 months. Against Baobab having completed the Pre-Feasibility Study, its participatory interest in the Project shall increase to 75% (if North River elects not to participate).

 

·; Stage 3 - Upon completion of the Pre-Feasibility Study, Baobab will have the option to increase their participatory interest by an additional 15% (to 90% if North River elects not to participate) by undertaking and funding a Definitive Feasibility Study over a period of not less than 18 months.

 

Baobab has been nominated as the operator of the Joint Venture, reporting to a management committee represented by both parties to the Joint Venture. A review of historical exploration and data compilation is currently underway with drilling scheduled for Q2 2011.

 

A COPY OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AND ACCOMPANYING FIGURES IS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD FROM THE COMPANY'S WEBSITE www.baobabresources.com

 

For Further Information please contact:

 

Baobab Resources plc

Tel: +61 (0)8 9430 7151

Ben James: Managing Director

 

 

 

Baobab Resources plc

Jeremy Dowler: Chairman

 

Tel: +44 (0)1372 450529

Strand Hanson Limited

Tel: +44 (0)20 7409 3494

James Harris / Angela Peace

 

Northland Capital Partners

Charles Vaughan / Gavin Burnell

 

 

Tel: +44 (0)20 7492 4763

 

**ENDS**

 

For further information please visit www.northriverresources.com or contact:

 

David Steinepreis

North River Resources Plc

Tel: +44 (0) 79 1340 2727

Luke Bryan

North River Resources Plc

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7292 9110

Guy Wilkes

Ocean Equities Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7784 4370

Stuart Faulkner

Strand Hanson Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494

David Altberg

Strand Hanson Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494

Hugo de Salis

St Brides Media & Finance Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177

Susie Geliher

St Brides Media & Finance Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177

 

Notes:

North River Resources plc is an AIM listed emerging southern African focussed multi commodity resource development company. Its current portfolio includes gold, base metal and uranium assets in Namibia; uranium, and base and precious metal interests in Mozambique. North River's strategy is to identify, acquire and develop a portfolio of resource opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa at various stages of development in order to create value for its shareholders. The Company has a highly experienced board and management of industry and corporate professionals, led by David Steinepreis and Luke Bryan.

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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