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Operational Update at Moonlight Iron Ore project

23rd Mar 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 3953D
Ferrum Crescent Ltd
23 March 2011
 



 

 

 Ferrum Crescent Limited

("Ferrum Crescent", the "Company" or the "Group")(ASX: FCR, AIM: FCR)

Operational Update at Moonlight Iron Ore project, South Africa

 

Highlights

·; Reverse circulation drill programme complete over 1,500m

o Iron mineralisation encountered in all 12 holes drilled

o intersections of mineralisation considerably thicker than predicted by current geological model

·; HQ diamond core drilling is partly complete and on schedule, part of a detailed metallurgical programme that is expected to provide the foundation for developing a process flow sheet for a premium concentrate product required for DRI grade pellets

·; Core storage and processing facility constructed on site

o Core cutting, sampling and bulk density measurement now to be conducted on site; resulting in improved sample turnaround

·; Moving towards completion on schedule of the Definitive Feasibility Study

 

 

Ferrum Crescent today announces an operational update at its Moonlight Iron Ore Project. The previously announced reverse circulation ("RC") drill programme has been completed on schedule, with iron mineralisation encountered in all holes. It is significant that intersections of iron mineralisation (hematite and magnetite) encountered in the programme were considerably thicker than predicted by the current geological model in this area of the deposit.

 

Significant intersections of visually determined iron mineralisation include*:

·; 42m from 97m downhole in FCL088

·; 27m from 104m downhole in FCL089

·; 43m from 91m downhole in FCL092

·; 21m from 74m downhole in FCL096

*Note - full details of visual intercepts are shown in Table 2.

 

Moonlight contains a JORC compliant resource of 74Mt in the Indicated Resource category and 225Mt in the Inferred Resource category at a grade of 30 per cent. iron.

 

RC Drilling

 

The RC drilling was planned to provide additional information to allow refinement of the geological model in areas of sparse drilling. Cumulative intercepts of visually determined iron mineralisation from all holes totalled 378m (Table 1). This is significant when compared with predictions form the current JORC compliant model, which suggested that only some 319m of mineralisation were likely to be intersected. Apart from increasing the confidence in the updated geological model, the result suggests locally increased tonnages of mineralisation.

 

Mineralisation was intersected in all holes, confirming the continuity of the quartz magnetite horizons in areas of sparse drilling. Table 2 shows the detail of intercepts greater than or equal to 5m in width.

 

In total, 668 (1m) samples are being prepared for assay, with the results expected to be available by the end of April.

 

 

Hole

Visual Iron Intercepts (m)*

Previously Predicted

Iron Intercepts (m)

FCL087

20

10

FCL088

42

40

FCL089

44

32

FCL090

39

35

FCL091

34

27

FCL092

69

32

FCL093

36

36

FCL094

15

17

FCL095

37

25

FCL096

21

30

FCL097

12

25

FCL098

9

10

Total

378

319

 

Table 1: Cumulative iron mineralisation intercepts (greater than 5m) by drill hole

·; Based on visual examination of RC drill chip samples

 

 

 Core drilling

 

11 HQ diamond core holes, for a total 1,000m, have been planned to provide more detailed geological information on the mineralisation and further to verify the use of historical drill data and checks on bulk density measurements. Importantly, the core holes have been located to provide bulk material for a detailed phase of metallurgical testing that will commence at the conclusion of the drilling.

 

Three holes of the 11 hole HQ core programme have been completed, amounting to some 30% of the planned metres. Core recovery of shallow mineralisation in the partially weathered zone has exceeded expectations with excellent recovery through mineralised zones. The programme is ongoing and scheduled for completion by mid April.

 

A core storage and processing facility has been constructed on site. Together with administrative and office facilities and the appointment of site based personnel, this enables Ferrum to move into an operational mode to facilitate completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study on schedule.

 

Site Infrastructure

 

Infrastructure, including covered core storage, work areas, office unit and electrical generators, has been established on the farm Moonlight and will allow core cutting sampling and bulk density measurements to be done at site by specialist technicians. This will result in a more rapid turnaround of samples with reduction in transport requirements.

 

 

 

WGS Lo29

WGS Lo29

Hole

Visual Iron Intercepts

Previously Predicted Iron Intercepts

Hole

East (m)

North (m)

Depth (m)

From (m)

To (m)

Width (m)

From (m)

To (m)

Width (m)

FCL087

-81225

-2572350

130

0

13

13

0

10

10

24

31

7

FCL088

-80425

-2571500

150

97

139

42

75

90

15

90

115

25

FCL089

-80425

-2571700

115

63

73

10

40

57

17

94

101

7

80

95

15

104

131

27

FCL090

-80425

-2571900

105

21

37

16

5

20

15

70

81

11

60

70

10

86

98

12

85

95

10

FCL091

-80225

-2571700

160

79

93

14

65

77

12

106

118

12

90

105

15

138

146

8

FCL092

-80225

-2571500

165

82

87

5

105

117

12

91

134

43

130

150

20

139

160

21

FCL093

-80025

-2571600

160

85

100

15

84

90

6

108

113

5

95

105

10

133

149

16

125

145

20

FCL094

-80025

-2571800

70

30

38

8

20

30

10

56

63

7

50

57

7

FCL095

-79825

-2571700

140

29

42

13

60

70

10

67

74

7

110

125

15

102

107

5

111

118

7

125

130

5

FCL096

-79625

-2571750

74

95

21

5

10

5

45

60

15

75

85

10

FCL097

-79425

-2571800

95

50

62

12

50

75

25

FCL098

-79225

-2571800

95

67

76

9

60

70

10

 

Table 2: Intercepts of iron mineralisation greater than or equal to 5m in width

Note:

1) Intercepts are determined visually by the logging geologist;

2) Intercepts included where the amount of iron mineralisation in a 1m sample is determined to be greater than 50% of the sample;

3) Samples awaiting assay;

4) All samples logged over 1m intervals;

5) Grid is South African WGS Lo29;

6) Holes located by hand held GPS;

7) All holes drilled vertical using 5.25 inch, face sampling hammer;

8) Predicted intercepts based on the polygons in current JORC compliant resource model.

 

SECTION 102 APPLICATION

 

The Company has obtained the right to prospect for limestone, marble and nickel through the granting of a section 102 application under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 2002 (South Africa). This application was submitted when the Company identified the occurrence of these minerals over the Moonlight Project. The effect of its grant will be that these minerals will be covered by the mining right upon its grant. Limestone and marble are necessary agents in the metallurgical processing of magnetite.

 

 

Commenting Ed Nealon, Executive Chairman of Ferrum Crescent said:

 

"The completion of the RC drilling programme at Moonlight has produced positive mineralisation results throughout all holes drilled. The significant intersections of iron mineralisation encountered were considerably thicker than predicted by the current geological model in this area of the deposit and further reinforces our understanding and confidence in the project, as well as indicating locally increased tonnages of mineralisation. We continue to be very confident that we will be able to achieve the tonnages of magnetite mineralisation published by South Africa's ISCOR in the 1990s, and confidence in our target* for Moonlight of 450 to 650 mt of magnetite mineralisation remains high.

 

"With regards to our core drilling programme, 11 HQ diamond core holes have been planned which will provide detailed geological information on the mineralisation and allows detailed metallurgical testing to commence; the results of which we expect mid April. Additionally, we have improved our operational facilities on site, resulting in more efficient sample turnaround times. Combined with the ongoing drill programmes, we are moving towards facilitating completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study on schedule."

 

* The term "target" should not be misunderstood or misconstrued as an estimate of Mineral Resources and Reserves as defined by the JORC Code (2004), and therefore the terms have not been used in this context. It is uncertain if further exploration or feasibility study will result in the determination of a Mineral Resource or Mining Reserve.

 

 

 

Competent Person's Statement:

The information in this report is based on information compiled by Lindsay Cahill, who is a Member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Cahill has sufficient experience 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 2004 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Cahill is a consultant to the mining industry. This report is issued with Mr Cahill's consent as to the form and context in which the exploration results appear.

 

 

 

 

Australia and Company enquiries

UK and press enquiries

Ferrum Crescent Limited

Ed Nealon T: +61 419 905 546

Executive Chairman

Robert Hair -T: + 61 414 926 302

Company Secretary

Ocean Equities Limited (Broker)

Guy Wilkes T: +44 (0)20 7786 4370

Ambrian Partners Limited (Nominated Adviser)

Richard Swindells T: +44 (0) 20 7634 4856

Jen Boorer T: +44 (0) 20 7634 4859

For more information on the Company visit www.ferrumcrescent.com

Threadneedle Communications Limited

Laurence Read/Beth Harris T: +44(0)20 7653 9855

 

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