TIDMALBA
RNS Number : 2528J
Alba Mineral Resources PLC
08 September 2016
8 September 2016
Alba Mineral Resources plc
("Alba" or the "Company")
Alba completes bulk sampling at former graphite mine
within Amitsoq project in southern Greenland
Alba Mineral Resources plc (AIM: ALBA) is pleased to announce
that it has successfully completed a bulk sampling exercise at the
Amitsoq graphite project in southern Greenland.
Highlights
-- 179 kgs of graphite ore sampled from a vein that had
previously been exploited when the Amitsoq mine was operational
-- Vein found to have a true thickness of 16.58 metres
-- Samples will now be sent to a laboratory for metallurgical test work and analysis
-- Bulk-sampling exercise part of Alba's drive to implement a
fast-track route to prove up the economic viability of the Amitsoq
project
Introduction
The Company commissioned SRK Exploration Services Ltd to sample
one of the graphite-bearing veins at the site of the former Amitsoq
graphite mine. The vein was sampled where it has been exposed in
outcrop and in what appears to be an old surface box cut that was
created during previous mining operations. The 179 kilograms of
samples will now be sent to a laboratory for metallurgical test
work to be carried out on the graphite ore. We will report on the
results of the test work in due course.
The objective of the test work is to help establish the most
economic route for the beneficiation of Amitsoq graphite ore.
Bulk sampling exercise
The particular vein selected for sampling appears to have been
exploited with a number of adits when the Amitsoq mine was
operational. At the location selected for sampling, the vein has a
true thickness of 16.58 metres, which is greater than had been
anticipated. A total of 13 channel samples were taken. Photographs
of the sampling exercise can be seen on the Alba website (see the
"Image Gallery" section). The channel samples were offset from each
other where necessary in order to cover the outcrop morphology.
They are however geologically contiguous across dip, thus providing
continuity of sampling through the whole thickness of the vein, and
cover a strike distance of 48.5 metres.
The total mass of the samples is 179 kilograms. The vein
material showed only minor mineralogical variation in terms of
quartz content. Further work is required to establish continuity of
the measured thickness along strike. However, the adits that were
visited appeared to be on the same structure as that sampled.
Mineralogically, the vein is composed of graphite with pyrite,
chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite together with quartz blebs or
stringers. The depth of surficial hematite/limonite staining,
derived from weathered sulphides, is minimal and was immediately
covered by the silver appearance of the graphite carried in the
blade's cooling water, this being an indicator of the presence of
graphite in the ore rock (see the relevant photo in the "Image
Gallery" section of the Alba website).
The amount of shearing varied across the vein and in places
small quartz-filled tension gashes were seen to be perpendicular to
the vein. The only textural variation found was in terms of the
degree of shearing. One major internal shear was observed but
appeared to be conformable with the hanging and footwall
contacts.
Looking forward, we intend to embark on further field work
including mapping and channel sampling all veins that crop out on
the peninsula, airborne and ground geophysical surveys (magnetics
and electromagnetics), underground mapping and sampling in the
existing adits and surface drilling to evaluate the strike and dip
extent of the graphite bearing veins in the Amitsoq licence.
Work undertaken to date at Amitsoq
Alba's work to date at Amitsoq has confirmed the following:
-- Test work carried out on hand/grab samples collected during a
field expedition returned excellent results, showing graphitic
carbon contents varying from 20.5% to 35.4%, with an overall mean
graphitic carbon content of 28.7%, significantly higher than the
previously reported historic average grade of 20% and higher than
most reported advanced graphite projects globally.
-- Measurements of the discrete graphite flakes suggests that
the mean flake-size varies from 300-500 um, 'Jumbo' to 180-300 um
'Large', however the single most common flake size is in fact
'Super-Jumbo' (>500 um). The larger flake sizes attract a
premium in the market.
-- The results of a remote sensing study were highly
encouraging, highlighting several anomalies for a variety of
commodities. Numerous and continuous graphitic horizons were
suggested along strike and proximal to the Amitsoq graphite
mine.
-- Additional FeO anomalies are interpreted to be favourable
targets for platinum group metals, orogenic lode gold and intrusion
related copper-zinc mineralization.
-- Anomalies have been identified with geology similar to
economic gold mineralisation at the nearby Nalunaq gold mine (circa
340,000 ounces of gold produced to date). Nalunaq is only some 14
miles to the north-east of one of our own gold target areas and
other known gold areas occur some three miles to the north-east in
an adjacent licence.
Mike Nott, Alba's CEO, commented:
"All the results of our work so far at the Amitsoq Project have
been very encouraging and justify our entry into the Project.
Further information will be released in due course about our
proposed forthcoming airborne survey, which is an integral part of
our drive to implement a fast-track route to prove up the economic
viability of the Amitsoq Project."
For further information please contact:
Alba Mineral Resources
plc
Michael Nott, CEO +44 20 7264 4366
Cairn Financial Advisers
LLP
James Caithie/Liam Murray +44 20 7148 7900
Dowgate Capital Stockbrokers
Limited
Jason Robertson / Neil
Badger +44 1293 517744
About Alba
Alba holds a 15 per cent interest in Horse Hill Developments
Limited, the company which has a 65 per cent participating interest
and operatorship of the Horse Hill oil and gas project (licences
PEDL 137 and PEDL 246) in the UK Weald Basin. Alba has also elected
to earn a 5% interest in Production Licence 235, which comprises
the producing onshore Brockham Oil Field.
Alba has the right to earn up to 70 per cent of the Amitsoq
Graphite Project in Southern Greenland. In addition, the Company
has recently renewed its Limerick base metal and gold licence in
the Republic of Ireland, and has applied for the reissue of a
uranium permit in northern Mauritania. The new Mauritanian permit
will be on a reduced area, and is centred on known uranium-bearing
showings.
Alba continues actively to review and discuss other project
opportunities which have value-enhancing potential for the Company
whether by acquisition, farm in or joint venture in a range of
jurisdictions around the world.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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