25th Sep 2009 07:03
Nyota Minerals Limited ('Nyota' or the 'Company')
Nyota Update on Drilling Programme and Exploration Progress at Muremera Nickel Project
Highlights
Current drilling programme now complete
Five out of seven holes intersected separate, sulphide-mineralized ultramafic bodies
Drilling successfully intersected two styles of magmatic mineralization believed necessary for the future discovery of nickel sulphide bodies;
These styles of magmatic mineralization are diagnostic and when identified through extensive drilling can be important indicators of high-grade nickel sulphide deposits
David Evans, consulting geologist to the Muremera Nickel Project said, "The technical case for continued exploration at Muremera is clear-cut. The licence area is adjacent to, and covers the same structure and stratigraphy as the Kabanga deposits of Tanzania. Although there have been no significant economic intersections to-date at Muremera, the results are never-the-less encouraging, and "par for the course" in this type of geophysically-led exploration for nickel in the Kibaran belt."
Nyota Minerals, which is engaged in the exploration and evaluation of diversified mineral deposits in Africa, is pleased to report exploration drilling at its Muremera Nickel Project in Burundi, Africa, has identified sulphide-mineralized ultramafic bodies, a necessary step in the process of defining nickel sulphide deposits.
Exploration drilling was completed at seven target holes between May and June 2009. Of these, one was follow-up exploration on a previously-drilled target and six targets were identified from new high-priority VTEM surveys.
The main results of the drilling are:
- Five out of seven holes intersected separate, sulphide-mineralized ultramafic bodies: Two of these were new discoveries.
- Two styles of magmatic mineralization were encountered. The first occurring as moderate to strongly disseminated sulphides in olivine cumulates, and the second, vein-type semi-massive sulphides in gabbroic rocks just below the main olivine cumulate unit.
- Typically exploration for nickel sulphides is a systematic process and early drilling programmes frequently are aimed at identifying prospective geological formations specifically to identify these styles of magmatic mineralization as they can be indicators of, high-grade nickel bearing sulphide deposits such as those discovered at the neighbouring Kabanga North, thought to be the world's largest undeveloped nickel sulphide deposit. Encouragingly, four out of seven drill holes contain these styles of magmatic mineralization.
- The Ni tenor (Ni in 100% sulphides) of the sulphides discovered to date varies from 0.5% to 1%.
- Stratigraphically lower olivine cumulate bodies were encountered in two of the ultramafic bodies. Whilst the mineralization encountered to date in these holes is weak, they represent important evidence of multiple pulses of ultramafic magma, a positive indicator for existence of higher tenor sulphides at Muremera.
|
BOREHOLE NO |
TARGET |
HOLE ID |
COORD X UTM36 |
COORD Y UTM36 |
COORD Z |
DIP AZIMUTH |
HOLE DIP |
HOLE LENGTH (M) |
|
1 |
C27 MUR F |
MURF D001 |
223920 |
9669621 |
1445 |
130 |
-60 |
223.69 |
|
2 |
C28 MUR E |
MURE D001 |
223799 |
9668406 |
1445 |
110 |
-60 |
300.63 |
|
3 |
MUR A1 C |
MURA D002 |
220053 |
9660669 |
1500 |
130 |
-60 |
124.68 |
|
4 |
C77 |
MURA D003 |
218973 |
9659207 |
1510 |
130 |
-60 |
300 |
|
5 |
MUR A3 FW |
MURA D005 |
219028 |
9658434 |
1600 |
130 |
-60 |
350.29 |
|
6 |
C21 RUJ B |
RUJB D002 |
228084 |
9674018 |
1435 |
350 |
-60 |
200.97 |
|
7 |
5 MUR C3HW |
MURC D001 |
225083 |
9671149 |
1475 |
135 |
-60 |
250.36 |
|
TOTAL |
1750.62 |
Melissa Sturgess, CEO of Nyota commented, "There is significant work that still needs to be done to hone in on the nickel deposits that we believe to be present at Muremera, but encountering both styles of magmatic mineralisation is a very promising step. Sulphide mineralisation is an essential prerequisite in order to identify nickel bearing zones of the type targeted at Muremera, and so achieving this is a good indication that we are getting closer. Any high tenor sulphide bodies that may occur within the Muremera Licence are expected to be similar to those found at Kabanga taking the form of discrete tubular or lenticular bodies. Now that we know we are focussing in on the right areas within the Licence, we are in a position to utilise all of our recent and historical data to refine the exploration process with a view to delineating economic targets".
The technical exploration and mining information contained in this Announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr RN Chapman. Mr Chapman has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity to which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and as a qualified person under the AIM Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies. Mr Chapman is an employee of Mineral Exploration Management Limited, an independent geological consultancy established in 2005 and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and metallurgy (Aus.I.M.M).
Mr Chapman consents to the inclusion in this Announcement of such information in the form and context in which it appears.
For further information please contact:
Melissa Sturgess
Nyota Minerals Limited
(+44) (0)78 2555 1397 or melissa.sturgess@nyotaminerals.com
In United Kingdom
Richard Brown/ Richard Greenfield
Ambrian Partners Limited
(+44) (0)20 7634 4700
Press enquiries
Charlie Geller or Leesa Peters
Conduit PR
+44 (0)20 7429 6604/ +44 (0)79 7006 7320
Or visit: http://www.nyotaminerals.com
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