31st Oct 2013 07:00
31 October 2013
For immediate release
West African Minerals Corporation
("WAFM" or the "Company")
South Djadom Block 2 Mineral Resource Estimate
and Drilling Update
West African Minerals Corporation (AIM: WAFM) announces the results of the Block 2 incremental Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) at its South Djadom property in southeast Cameroon. The Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared by independent consultants, The MSA Group ("MSA"), in accordance with The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2010).
HIGHLIGHTS
· Block 2 Inferred Mineral Resource of 35.4 Mt @ 29.5% Fe at a 25% Fe cut-off grade. This includes a higher grade colluvial and eluvial cap and near-surface enriched mineralisation of 2.6 Mt @ 37.4% Fe at a 35% cut-off grade
· CIM (NI-43-101 compliant) Blocks 1 and 2 combined total Inferred Mineral Resource stands at 111.5 Mt of Inferred Mineral Resource @ 30.0% Fe at a 25% Fe cut-off grade including 15.6 Mt @ 40.7% at a 35% Fe cut-off grade
· To date the combined Inferred Mineral Resource of Blocks 1 and 2 extends from surface to between 100 and 150 metres below surface and remains open along strike to the southeast
· Enrichment of the primary Banded Iron Formation (BIF) extends variably from surface to depths up to 40 metres with the majority of the enriched mineralisation shallower than 20 metres.
Brad Mills, President of WAFM commented:
"The Block 2 results further enhance the value of the South Djadom resource, building the overall picture of a substantial near-surface resource in this part of Cameroon. We have now moved the focus of our exploration program back to our near-coastal Binga lease with infill core and RC drilling of targets identified in 2012 by widely-spaced scout drilling. The goal of this work is to identify the continuity and grade of the mineralisation on this portion of our leasehold in preparation for more detailed economic evaluation in 2014. We are also preparing the large untested geophysical anomalies on our North Djadom and Lele leases with surface sampling, mapping and geophysics in preparation for drill testing in 2014."
Technical Description of the Resource
The Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate was prepared by independent consultants, The MSA Group ("MSA"), in accordance with The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2010). The effective date of this Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate is 28 October 2013.
The combined Blocks 1 and 2 Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) for South Djadom is based on data from 10,174 metres of drilling from 126 boreholes, including the assay results of infill reverse circulation (RC) drilling and angled diamond core drilling (DD) herein reported for Block 2 (below).
Drilling at Block 2 identified a steeply-dipping stratigraphic package that contains BIF units alternating mainly with ferruginous schists and amphibolites. The drill-confirmed Iron mineralisation occurs over a strike length of approximately 2 km within a sequence that varies in width from 40 to 90 metres. The results to date indicate that the BIF stratigraphic sequence is locally enriched (> 40% Fe) over intervals from 5 to 10 metres in depth and moderately enriched (30%-40% Fe) to depths of up to 40 metres. The reported Inferred Mineral Resource is considered an initial resource and further drilling on the Mineral Resource at Blocks 1 and 2 may potentially increase the deposit size.
IRON ORE INFERRED MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE
To date, the Company has completed 4,500 metres of infill reverse circulation and diamond drilling at South Djadom Block 2 in southeast Cameroon. The total Inferred Mineral Resources of 35.4 Mt @ 29.5% Fe at a 25% cut-off grade in Block 2 includes a higher grade colluvial and eluvial cap and near-surface enriched mineralisation of 2.6 Mt @ 37.4% at a 35% cut-off grade.
The Inferred Mineral Resource from South Djadom Block 2 is set in tables 1 and 2 below:
Table 1: South Djadom Block 2 Mineral Resource at a 25% Fe cut-off as at 28 October 2013
Block | Resource Category | Tonnes (Mt) | Fe % | SiO2 % | Al2O3 % | P % | LOI% |
S. Djadom Block 2
| Measured | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Indicated | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Meas. + Ind. | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
Inferred | 35.4 | 29.5 | 44.9 | 5.5 | 0.06 | 3.8 |
Notes:
(1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves have no demonstrated economic viability.
(2) The effective date of the Mineral Resource is 28 October 2013.
(3) Mineral Resources for South Djadom Block 2 have been classified according to The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2010).
(4) The iron grades presented represent total iron. The proportion of recoverable iron has yet to be determined through mineralogical and metallurgical test work
(5) WAFM has a 100 per cent. interest in the Djadom Block. Accordingly, the Gross and Net Attributable Inferred Mineral Resource are the same. WAFM is the Operator of the Djadom Block.
(6) Source: MSA Mineral Resource Estimate
Table 2: South Djadom Block 2 Inferred Mineral Resource
S.Djadom Block 2 Inferred Mineral Resources as at 28 October 2013 | ||||||
25% Fe Cut-off Grade | ||||||
Mineralisation Domain | Tonnes | Fe | SiO2 | Al2O3 | P | LOI |
(millions) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | |
Cap | 2.9 | 34.5 | 31.5 | 10.5 | 0.07 | 7.4 |
Enriched Leached Zone | 11.8 | 31.1 | 40.9 | 6.7 | 0.05 | 7.1 |
Transitional | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Magnetite-rich BIF | 20.7 | 27.9 | 49.1 | 4.2 | 0.06 | 1.5 |
Total | 35.4 | 29.5 | 44.9 | 5.5 | 0.06 | 3.8 |
Table 3: South Djadom Blocks 1 and 2 Inferred Mineral Resources
S. Djadom Blocks 1 and Block 2, Inferred Mineral Resources as at 28 October 2013 | ||||||
25% Fe Cut-off Grade | ||||||
Mineralisation Domain | Tonnes | Fe | SiO2 | Al2O3 | P | LOI |
(millions) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | |
Cap | 9.7 | 38.7 | 25.6 | 10.2 | 0.06 | 7.4 |
Enriched Leached Zone | 29.6 | 32.7 | 40.1 | 6.0 | 0.06 | 6.0 |
Transitional | 0.9 | 31.4 | 42.9 | 4.0 | 0.08 | 4.0 |
Magnetite-rich BIF | 71.3 | 27.8 | 49.6 | 3.6 | 0.06 | 1.7 |
Total | 111.5 | 30.0 | 45.0 | 4.8 | 0.06 | 3.3 |
The geological model for Block 2 was represented by wireframes of the iron mineralisation that were constructed using both lithological logging and iron assay results. The model was sub-divided into a Banded Iron Formation (BIF) proto-ore (Magnetite-rich BIF), overlain by a zone of leaching-induced enrichment (Enriched Leached Zone). In places a higher grade blanketing cap has been modelled that is of colluvial and eluvial origin (Cap). The top two metres of the model were discounted to account for soil and other non-iron enriched material.
The wireframes were filled with block model cells of 50mE by 10mN by 10mRL in order to represent the interpreted geological continuity. The Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Drilling sample data were composited to 5 m lengths and the percentages of Total Iron, (Fe), Silica (SiO2), Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3), Phosphorous (P) and Loss on Ignition (LOI) were estimated into the model using Inverse Distance Squared.
A number of density measurements on drill core were conducted on site by using the Archimedes principle and augmented by gas pycnometry measurements at the assay laboratory. A regression equation based on the linear relationship between percentage total iron and density was then used to estimate in-situ bulk density.
The Mineral Resources were reported above a total iron cut-off grade of 25%. All the reported Mineral Resources are classified as Inferred Mineral Resources in accordance with The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (2010).
SOUTH DJADOM BLOCK 2 DRILL RESULTS
Mineralisation
Table 4 below lists the significant intercepts >30% Fe from the scout and infill drilling through to drill hole DRC354. A map of all the drill holes reported in Table 4 is available on the website at www.westafricanminerals.com or http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/8116R_-2013-10-30.pdf.
Table 4 - Minimum 30% Fe over 5 metres
Borehole | Scout /Infill | Depth from (m) | Depth to (m) | Downhole Length (m) | Hole Inclination | Fe % | Al2O3 % | P % | S % | SiO2 % | LOI % |
DDD022 | Infill | 2 | 10 | 8 | -50 | 41.1 | 6.2 | 0.09 | 0.03 | 28.6 | 5.3 |
DDD022 | Infill | 25 | 30 | 5 | -50 | 33.4 | 4.5 | 0.09 | 0.07 | 40.0 | 7.6 |
DDD022 | Infill | 38 | 60 | 22 | -50 | 35.2 | 2.6 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 41.3 | 2.1 |
DDD023 | Infill | 0 | 7 | 7 | -50 | 39.1 | 7.7 | 0.13 | 0.05 | 28.7 | 6.9 |
DDD023 | Infill | 68 | 83 | 15 | -50 | 32.2 | 2.5 | 0.07 | 0.12 | 46.3 | 0.4 |
DDD023 | Infill | 85 | 97 | 12 | -50 | 31.7 | 2.8 | 0.08 | 0.14 | 46.3 | 0.3 |
DRC266 | Infill | 1 | 10 | 9 | -90 | 37.6 | 7.1 | 0.11 | 0.08 | 30.7 | 7.9 |
DRC270 | Infill | 0 | 68 | 68 | -90 | 37.9 | 1.9 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 39.8 | 2.2 |
DRC276 | Infill | 1 | 6 | 5 | -90 | 36.2 | 10.9 | 0.06 | 0.07 | 29.1 | 7.7 |
DRC276 | Infill | 31 | 37 | 6 | -90 | 34.8 | 3.2 | 0.03 | 0.14 | 36.0 | 9.1 |
DRC277 | Infill | 16 | 33 | 17 | -90 | 40.1 | 5.4 | 0.02 | 0.05 | 27.8 | 8.7 |
DRC279 | Infill | 9 | 17 | 8 | -90 | 38.8 | 6.4 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 29.2 | 7.9 |
DRC279 | Infill | 48 | 53 | 5 | -90 | 31.6 | 2.3 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 47.2 | 0.2 |
DRC280 | Infill | 2 | 21 | 19 | -90 | 39.7 | 6.3 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 29.9 | 6.6 |
DRC281 | Infill | 5 | 11 | 6 | -90 | 39.4 | 12.6 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 21.9 | 8.3 |
DRC281 | Infill | 15 | 47 | 32 | -90 | 41.8 | 2.5 | 0.02 | 0.04 | 32.1 | 4.8 |
DRC282 | Infill | 2 | 9 | 7 | -90 | 34.4 | 15.3 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 24.9 | 9.6 |
DRC333 | Infill | 8 | 22 | 14 | -50 | 41.4 | 4.3 | 0.02 | 0.02 | 30.7 | 5.1 |
DRC335 | Infill | 2 | 9 | 7 | -50 | 36.5 | 5.2 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 37.4 | 5.1 |
DRC336 | Infill | 28 | 33 | 5 | -50 | 32.6 | 6.1 | 0.05 | 0.08 | 38.0 | 8.5 |
DRC337 | Infill | 43 | 54 | 11 | -50 | 35.4 | 1.7 | 0.08 | 0.07 | 43.5 | 0.3 |
DRC338 | Infill | 5 | 10 | 5 | -50 | 39.0 | 10.4 | 0.10 | 0.03 | 24.5 | 7.6 |
DRC339 | Infill | 0 | 5 | 5 | -50 | 33.9 | 9.9 | 0.08 | 0.05 | 31.7 | 8.0 |
DRC339 | Infill | 35 | 72 | 37 | -50 | 34.2 | 2.1 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 44.0 | 1.0 |
DRC340 | Infill | 0 | 21 | 21 | -50 | 36.4 | 7.0 | 0.03 | 0.04 | 32.9 | 7.9 |
DRC341 | Infill | 25 | 35 | 10 | -50 | 33.7 | 6.1 | 0.06 | 0.05 | 36.6 | 8.1 |
DRC341 | Infill | 37 | 42 | 5 | -50 | 30.1 | 6.2 | 0.01 | 0.26 | 41.2 | 7.0 |
DRC342 | Infill | 2 | 13 | 11 | -50 | 47.8 | 9.0 | 0.08 | 0.02 | 15.9 | 6.0 |
DRC343 | Infill | 0 | 7 | 7 | -50 | 37.0 | 8.2 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 32.0 | 4.5 |
DRC343 | Infill | 30 | 37 | 7 | -50 | 37.9 | 4.4 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 32.1 | 7.6 |
DRC343 | Infill | 56 | 70 | 14 | -50 | 34.5 | 1.9 | 0.07 | 0.11 | 43.7 | 0.3 |
DRC344 | Infill | 0 | 11 | 11 | -50 | 39.0 | 6.6 | 0.10 | 0.03 | 30.7 | 6.0 |
DRC345 | Infill | 0 | 18 | 18 | -50 | 40.0 | 7.2 | 0.11 | 0.07 | 26.0 | 9.1 |
DRC345 | Infill | 30 | 38 | 8 | -50 | 37.5 | 5.2 | 0.09 | 0.09 | 31.9 | 8.2 |
DRC345 | Infill | 83 | 91 | 8 | -50 | 30.5 | 3.3 | 0.07 | 0.17 | 47.6 | 0.5 |
DRC346 | Infill | 4 | 9 | 5 | -50 | 36.7 | 13.8 | 0.07 | 0.06 | 23.5 | 9.2 |
DRC346 | Infill | 35 | 47 | 12 | -50 | 38.7 | 3.9 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 32.4 | 7.0 |
DRC348 | Infill | 3 | 21 | 18 | -50 | 37.1 | 5.6 | 0.07 | 0.02 | 36.5 | 4.7 |
DRC349 | Infill | 1 | 18 | 17 | -50 | 35.4 | 6.0 | 0.06 | 0.04 | 36.9 | 5.6 |
DRC349 | Infill | 33 | 38 | 5 | -50 | 34.8 | 6.5 | 0.06 | 0.08 | 35.1 | 7.8 |
DRC351 | Infill | 5 | 13 | 8 | -50 | 32.2 | 15.2 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 26.9 | 10.2 |
DRC351 | Infill | 15 | 21 | 6 | -50 | 41.6 | 6.8 | 0.14 | 0.14 | 20.7 | 11.1 |
DRC351 | Infill | 22 | 32 | 10 | -50 | 44.8 | 3.1 | 0.07 | 0.09 | 24.1 | 7.9 |
DRC352 | Infill | 3 | 17 | 14 | -50 | 43.5 | 6.2 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 23.7 | 7.8 |
DRC353 | Infill | 3 | 12 | 9 | -50 | 37.5 | 7.2 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 33.0 | 5.6 |
DRC353 | Infill | 16 | 21 | 5 | -50 | 42.5 | 3.7 | 0.19 | 0.04 | 28.8 | 7.1 |
DRC354 | Infill | 0 | 29 | 29 | -50 | 36.6 | 6.4 | 0.09 | 0.04 | 34.8 | 5.9 |
Stated thicknesses are apparent as the relationship between borehole trace and the orientation of the BIF package is variable.
QUALIFIED PERSON
The technical information contained in this announcement has been reviewed by Dr Brendan Clarke, the Head of Geology of The MSA Group. Dr Brendan Clarke is a Member of the Geological Society of South Africa and a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions. Dr Clarke has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation under consideration and to the activities which are being reported, to qualify as a Qualified Person for the purposes of this announcement. The MSA Group has implemented best-practice QAQC protocols on the South Djadom prospect including the insertion of standards, blanks and duplicates into the sampling stream. The MSA Group has reviewed the results of the QAQC programme to date and is satisfied that the assay results reported in this release are both accurate and precise.
For further information contact:
West African Minerals Corporation | Anton Mauve Managing Director
Donna Yoshimatsu Investor Relations and Corporate Secretary
| +44 (0) 1624 639396
+1 (416) 722-2456 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) | Roland Cornish Michael Cornish
| +44 (0)20 7628 3396 |
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Broker) | Ewan Leggat
| +44 (0) 20 3463 2260 |
GTH Communications | Toby Hall Suzanne Johnson Walsh | +44 (0) 20 7822 7493/7492 |
About West African Minerals Corporation
West African Minerals Corporation (AIM: WAFM) is an iron ore mining and exploration group focused on West Africa with interests in iron ore exploration permits in Cameroon and Sierra Leone. Through its 100 per cent owned subsidiary Compagnie Minière du Cameroun SA, WAFM owns six exploration permits in Cameroon covering a total Block of approximately 6,000 square kilometres and spanning the coast to the eastern deposits. The Sierra Leone licences comprise five exploration licences with potential for enriched hematite schists typical of the Marampa Group over a total Block of approximately 687 square kilometres.
Further information on the Group is available at www.westafricanminerals.com.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
Amphibolite | A metamorphic rock comprised mainly of the Mg-Fe-Ca-silicate mineral amphibole, generally with an orientated fabric.
|
Al2O3 | Chemical symbol for aluminium oxide. |
Banded iron formation (BIF) | A distinctive type of rock often found in Precambrian sedimentary rocks; the structure consists of repeated thin layers of iron oxides, either magnetite or haematite, alternating with bands of iron-poor silica rich shale and chert. |
Direct shipping ore (DSO) | High-grade haematite is often referred to as "Direct Shipping Ore" or "DSO" as it does not require beneficiation, or employs a relatively simple crushing and screening process, before shipment for use in steel mills. |
Fe | Chemical symbol for iron. |
Ferruginous schist | An iron-rich crystalline metamorphic rock having a foliated or parallel structure due to the recrystallisation of the constituent minerals. |
LOI | Loss on ignition. A test designed to measure the amount of moisture or impurities lost when a sample is ignited during analysis. |
P | Chemical symbol for phosphorus. |
S | Chemical symbol for sulphur. |
SiO2 | The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica (from the Latin silex), is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2. |
Strike | Horizontal direction or trend of a geological structure. |
Reverse circulation drilling (RC) | A drilling method that utilizes a large rotary drill and air compressor to collect rock samples quickly and efficiently. The high speed and low cost of RC drilling makes it an ideal method for obtaining mineral samples. |
Diamond drilling (DD) | A drilling method that uses a large rotary drill with a hollow drill bit and core barrel that allows for the collection of intact core samples. While slower and more expensive than RC drilling, the collection of intact core samples allows for greater observation and interpretation of rock types, mineralisation styles and structural features. |
Inferred Mineral Resource | An Inferred Mineral Resource is that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality can be estimated on the basis of geological evidence and limited sampling and reasonably assumed, but not verified, geological and grade continuity |
Mineral Resource | A Mineral Resource is a concentration or occurrence of diamonds, natural solid inorganic material, or natural solid fossilized organic material including base and precious metals, coal, and industrial minerals in or on the Earth's crust in such form and quantity and of such a grade or quality that it has reasonable prospects for economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade, geological characteristics and continuity of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge. |
ENDS
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