Baobab Resources plc is pleased to present an update of activities at the Massamba Group iron / vanadium / titanium project where a 160 million tonne resource upgrade was announced on 30 August 2011.
Highlight
1. Resource drilling programs at the Massamba prospects of Ruoni North and South have been completed.
2. Analytical results from holes on the first two Ruoni North drill traverses have been returned. The traverses, spaced 170 meters apart defined a broad, heavily mineralized zone from surface dipping moderately to the southwest.
3. Significant drill intercepts up to 73 meters in length, report an average head grade of 41% Fe with saleable DTR concentrate grades averaging 58% Fe, 0.8% V2O5 and 13% TiO2 at a mass recovery of 46%.
4. All Chitongue Grande resource expansion drill samples have reached the ALS laboratory in Australia. Consultant, Coffey Mining Pty Ltd, has commenced preliminary data validation and geological modelling.
5. Drilling has commenced at the Tenge prospect.
Mr Ben James MD of Baobab said "Baobab is pleased to announce that it has completed the scheduled 2011 drilling campaigns required to define the targeted resource base of 300Mt at the Massamba Group. Drilling is continuing in the Tenge area where the Company believes there is an exceptional opportunity to add substantially to the resource inventory.
He said that "Drilling at Ruoni North and South has defined consistent packages of high head grade, high mass recovery mineralization that appear to be thickening markedly as they converge in the fold hinge area underlying the Tenge prospect. The Company remains on track to deliver a series of resource updates over the coming months and looks forward to releasing further significant drill results as they come to hand."
Resource Drilling: Tenge/Ruoni Prospect
Tenge/Ruoni is the easternmost prospect area of the Massamba Group. Drilling at Tenge/Ruoni is progressing rapidly and has intersected a heavily mineralized package varying in thickness from 60 meters to 150 meters. Mineralization has been synformally folded with the fold hinge plunging gently to the west-northwest. Exploration campaigns in the prospect area have been divided into three resource blocks:
1. Ruoni North
Representing 1 kilometers of strike along the northern limb of the fold. Thirty reverse circulation and diamond holes have been completed to date across seven traverses for an aggregate total of 5,750 meters. Drilling has intersected a substantial package of mineralization from surface dipping at 25 degree to 50 degree to the southwest.
2. Ruoni South
Representing 1.2 kilometers of strike along the southern limb of the fold. Twenty seven RC and diamond holes have been completed for an aggregate total of 5,200 meters. Mineralization in the Ruoni South area is generally steeper dipping.
3. Tenge
Representing the hinge zone of the fold and covering a strike length of approximately 1.3 kilometres. Drill sites are being constructed in preparation for two diamond rigs scheduled to commence drilling in early September. RC drilling has already commenced. Approximately 3,000m has been designed to assess the Tenge area.
Analytical results from RC holes RNRC0001 to RNRC0005, drilled over two cross sections spaced 170m apart at Ruoni North have been returned. Sample preparation at 1m composite intervals was completed by ACT-UIS laboratories in Tete, Mozambique prior to dispatch to ALS Chemex laboratories in Perth, Western Australia for further compositing, Davis Tube Recovery and X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry analysis.
Drill hole collar details and significant intercepts are tabulated below. The results demonstrate an overall improvement in Fe head grades and mass recoveries. The average Fe concentrate grade is lower and V2O5 and TiO2 higher than reported in the other Massamba group resource blocks but remains within a typical saleable range for titano-magnetite concentrate. Metallurgical test work is on-going to determine the best grind fraction/magnetic strength conditions to optimise the concentrate quality. Baobab will also be conducting studies into blending the various concentrate streams to further enhance the finished product.
