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Positive Deep Mineralisation Survey at Namib

6th Sep 2013 07:00

RNS Number : 3700N
North River Resources Plc
06 September 2013
 



Click on, or paste the following link into your web browser, to view the associated PDF document:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/3700N_-2013-9-5.pdf 

 

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

6 September 2013

North River Resources plc ('North River' or 'the Company')

Positive Deep Mineralisation Survey at Namib Lead Zinc Mine

 

North River, the resource development company focused on base metal assets in Namibia, is pleased to announce encouraging results from its recent first stage "proof of concept" drilling and electromagnetic surveying at its 100% owned Namib Lead Zinc Mine in Namibia ('Namib').

 

Highlights:

 

· Encouraging electromagnetic survey results indicate deep mineralisation under the Namib Lead Zinc Mine Southern ore-body

· Mineralisation intercept at 382m below surface on the Junction ore-body, the deepest intercept yet at the project

· First near-mine VTEM target drilling intercepts mineralisation at 112m below surface

· Survey results will guide future drilling and together with desk top reviews of tailings, in-situ ore and of the Northern ore-bodies, will enhance maiden JORC resource of 668,000 tonnes at 6.6 % zinc, 2.5 % lead, 46 g/t silver

· Pre-Feasibility Study underway ahead of a Feasibility Study at Namib to advance development and subsequent Mining Licence application

 

Martin French, Managing Director of North River, commented:

 

"We are very pleased with results of this "proof of concept" phase of drilling and down hole electromagnetic surveying at our Namib Lead Zinc Mine. It gives enhanced confidence of deep mineralised extensions to the Southern and Junction ore-bodies. It is also encouraging that our first exploration of a near mine target discovered mineralisation at depth. The Company is now moving ahead to focus on resource expansion, and the required studies for the Mining Licence application."

 

Exploration Update:

 

The Company conducted down-hole electromagnetic ('DHEM') surveys on three new holes drilled in June 2013, together with four existing deep holes drilled in 2007. The purpose of this work programme was to provide further evidence of deep mineralisation under and around the existing mine, and to guide future drilling. The objective was not to enhance the current resource; however this will be the focus of the next stage of work by the Company at Namib.

 

DHEM involves using the current in a surface loop to induce eddy currents into any potential conductor(s) underground, which in this case would likely be mineralisation. It then lowers a probe slowly down the borehole to detect these eddy currents. The magnetic field from the eddy currents in the subsurface conductor(s) are then measured in detail. This field data is then modelled as "plates" that can be incorporated into 3D models to give an indication where potential mineralisation is located.

 

The red dots on the first graphic included on the associated PDF document represent some of the notable DHEM responses. The responses shown on hole NLDD001-4 are from probes on historic holes drilled in 2007; NLRCDD001, 2 and NLRC109 are new holes drilled by North River in June 2013.

 

The interpretation of this geophysics programme was carried out by Southern Geoscience of Australia. The principal aim was to provide further evidence of mineralisation continuing at depth below the main, previously mined Southern ore-body. As highlighted in a previous release (12/04/2013), North River had identified and compiled numerous historic (non-JORC compliant) intersections from a drilling campaign conducted in 1966 under the Southern ore body which gave a good indication that the ore continues to a depth of at least 300m below surface.

 

The chief objective of re-entering NLDD001-3 was to provide further verification of mineralisation contacts to 300m below Southern, and to provide guidance of the direction and nature of mineralisation for resource drilling.

 

The survey provided numerous responses around the surveyed holes to their maximum depth of around 300m. The historic drill intercepts provide evidence that the Southern ore body is also broader than the DHEM modelling implies. Further conductive responses from the probe were shown building at the bottom of the survey holes. The modelled plates indicate conductive materials to a depth of approximately 700m below surface.

 

The second graphic included on the associated PDF document shows the old mine workings and resource shapes, with the newly modelled DHEM rectangular plates superimposed upon them.

 

The DHEM survey in holes NLDD004 and NLRCDD001 was designed to test the extension of the Junction ore body. Multiple conductive responses from NLDD004 are consistent with underground drilling and mineralised intercepts obtained in 2011. The new hole, NLRCDD001, intercepted 42cm of mineralisation with 7.8% zinc, 0.08% lead, 7ppm silver and 10.3ppm indium at 382m below surface. While the intercept was narrow, it is significant as it is the deepest mineralisation yet discovered at Namib. To that end, conductive responses from the probe around the same depth indicate that this was probably a "near miss" of a larger conductor.

 

NLRCDD002 become blocked at 270m, preventing a proper DHEM survey at this time.

 

An additional hole, NLRC109 was drilled on a gossan along strike of the Northern ore bodies. This represents the first drilled target of North River's exploration programme for near-mine and regional targets.

 

The hole was drilled to 200m and intersected 3m of sulphides, mainly pyrrhotite at 112m below surface with lower grades of zinc and lead. Previous drilling on the gossan intersected numerous zinc intervals, and there is an ore model in place above the recent intersection. Generally, there are indications that grades can be variable on this gossan. The Company plans further work to investigate this mineralisation in detail and is preparing further near-mine and regional targets for testing.

 

The Board is satisfied that this initial programme has provided further confidence of deep ore at Namib. It is the view of the Board that the project should now move quickly to enhance the resource. This will be initially conducted via desk top reviews of the tailings dump, ore in-situ in the mine structure and of the Northern ore-bodies and the Company will provide further announcements concerning this in due course.

 

In addition, North River is now preparing for drilling from underground. The Company has placed an order to purchase a Kempe drill, and is constructing and installing an explosives magazine, fuel tanks at surface, and an underground ventilation system.

 

In its next phase of works at Namib, North River will be working with its consultants to determine a resource on the tailings dump, the in-situ ore within the mine, extensions below the mine, as well as re-working the modelling of the resource on the Northern Ore-bodies. Concurrently, the Company is preparing a pre-feasibility study which it expects to be quickly followed by a feasibility study.

 

Jacana Joint Venture

 

In February 2011 North River signed a Joint Venture Heads of Agreement with Jacana Resources Ltd to explore one of North River's licence areas in Mozambique. Both parties have now agreed not to proceed with the venture due to independent decisions by each to focus on other projects.

 

Dominic Claridge of North River Resources has reviewed and approved the technical information contained within this announcement in his capacity as a qualified person, as required under the AIM rules. Dominic Claridge is a member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and has had over 10 years experience in Lead and Zinc exploration and mining operations.

 

**ENDS**

 

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

 

Martin French

North River Resources Plc

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930 6966

Andrew Emmott

Ritchie Balmer

Strand Hanson Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409 3494

Will Slack

Ocean Equities Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7784 4370

Andrew Monk

Andrew Raca

VSA Capital Limited

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3005 5000

Susie Geliher

St Brides Media & Finance Ltd

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236 1177

 

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