Africo intersects highest grade intersections to date at Kalukundi's Principal Fragment; identifies new mineralisation at SE Anticline Fragment
Principal - 7.75% Cu and 2.68% Cobalt over a drilled width of 32.88m,
SE Anticline - 1.47% Cobalt over a drilled width of 28.86m
VANCOUVER, Aug. 4 /CNW/ - Africo Resources Ltd (TSX: ARL) is pleased to report positive results from a drilling programme undertaken on its Kalukundi Project in the Katanga Province of the Southern DRC. A programme of infill drilling was focused on establishing the continuity in depth of mineralisation on the Principal Fragment and to determine the potential for mineralisation of the SE Anticline Fragment.
Assay results from this drilling have returned some of the best values encountered on the project to date and confirm that the central part of the Principal Fragment is highly anomalous in cobalt as well as hosting excellent copper grades. The best intersection from BH K107 grades at 7.75% Cu and 2.68% Cobalt over a drilled width of 32.88m (true width 30.00m). This intersection runs from 157.00m to 189.88m and has established that oxide mineralisation on this fragment can be confirmed to a vertical depth of 140m.
Assay results from the drilling on the SE Anticline Fragment have been received and are very encouraging, particularly in respect of cobalt values, with the best intersection grading at 1.47% Cobalt over a drilled width of 28.86m (true width 25.00m).
The Kalukundi Project is located in the Katanga Province in the SE of the DRC and is approximately 60km to the east of the main mining centre of Kolwezi. The project area is only 4km to the north of the main Kolwezi - Likasi road and to the railway line which runs parallel to the road.
The previously disclosed ore resources and reserves defined for the Kalukundi Project are derived from the evaluation of four fragments of mineralization; Principal, Anticline, Kii and Kalukundi, within the Kalukundi Concession (please refer to the Kalukundi Technical report ("Technical Report") dated June 2006 which is available on Sedar under Africo's issuer profile at www.sedar.com). In addition, new mineral potential has been outlined by drilling of the SE Anticline and Kesho Fragments (Please see also the results of the previous drilling programme described in Africo's press release dated February 7, 2008 dealing with the Kesho and other Fragments).
Principal Fragment
The Principal Fragment is well exposed at surface. It is also well mineralised with some of the better cobalt values among the fragments explored on the Kalukundi property to date.
Detailed exploration drilling of the Principal Fragment was carried out in 2005 and all of the drilling data down to a vertical depth of 100m was incorporated into the May 2006 Feasibility Study on the project. The ore resource evaluation identified certain areas near surface, but especially in depth, where additional infill drilling could add significantly to improving the measured and indicated category of the ore resources of this Fragment. Ore resources for the Principal Fragment evaluated in 2006 are summarised as follows:
Measured and indicated 4,237,644MT @ 2.40% Cu and 0.84% Co
resources to 200m depth
Inferred resources down 5,481,688MT @ 2.99% Cu and 0.74% Co
to 200m depth
As this is one of the largest fragments, these resources comprise a fairly
high proportion of the total resources currently estimated to a depth of 200m,
making up 36% of the total. In addition it has been possible to estimate
inferred resources to a greater depth due to continuity established by deeper
drilling carried out by Gecamines previously. These have been assessed as
follows:
Inferred resources below 8,660,883MT @ 2.72% Cu and 0.63% Co.
200m depth -
Ore reserves for the Principal Fragment defined in the Technical study
(revised) as at July 2008 - 2,600,000MT @ 2.23% Cu and 1.01% Co.
Copper and, to a lesser degree, some cobalt mineralisation has been identified in the hangingwall formations, namely the CMN dolomites and the SDS shales overlying the main mineralised zone on the Principal Fragment (Ref Fig 3). This mineralisation was not included in the resource evaluation, as no continuity to the mineralised zones can be confirmed with sufficient confidence. However, much of this mineralisation would be mined when the stripping is undertaken to access the main mineralised zone in depth.
Since late 2008 to date, 6 core boreholes were drilled on the central and western part of the Principal Fragment. Boreholes K106, K107 and K109 intersected the complete Mines Series package confirming in depth continuity of the mineralisation down below 100m to a maximum vertical depth of 140m. Boreholes K104B, K105 and K108 intersected faults which cut off the deeper extension of the mineralisation hence defining the depth limits of the mineralisation locally in the NW extent of the Fragment.
As anticipated, intersections of the hangingwall mineralisation were encountered. This can be seen in Fig 3 and listed in table 1 below. Some of these intersections are significant and of particular importance is the occurrence of mineralisation immediately above the main mineralised zone within the SDS shales in boreholes K106, K107, K108 and K109, which confirms a degree of continuity.
In addition to the core drilling, a single percussion borehole, KALKP07 was drilled on the far SE extent of the Principal Fragment. This confirmed continuity of the fragment over a further 50m of strike. Only the lower main zone is mineralised, but with values of 4.58% Cu and 1.90% Co over a drilled width of 15m, while here the mineralisation extends into the footwall RAT Lilas unit.
The recent drilling programme has been highly successful in identifying very significant concentrations of copper and cobalt mineralisation within the central part of the Principal Fragment. It is anticipated that this data has the potential to add to the measured and indicated resources of the fragment in depth below the 100m vertical depth. The results also provide encouragement to undertake additional infill drilling in the future to establish the extent and the continuity of the mineralisation discovered to date, both in the main mineralised zone and in the hangingwall.
SE Anticline Fragment
The SE Anticline Fragment is not clearly exposed and in places is covered by soil to depths of between 3m to 7m. Surface exploration in the form of deep pits was successful in locating buried Mines Series rocks and samples from a number of these exposures returned anomalous cobalt values ranging between 0.53% to 4.84% Co in the SDB, RSC, RSF and D Strat (Mines Series) units. This data also correlated with a percussion hole drilled on the eastern extent of the Fragment which intersected cobalt mineralisation under the CMN cover rocks. An intersection of 34m was found to grade 0.10% Cu and 1.00% Co. This provided encouragement to undertake a programme of wide spaced drilling to assess the mineral potential of the Fragment. Accordingly six core boreholes (724m) and one RC hole (141m) were drilled at approximately 200m spacing.
The drilling confirmed the presence of very encouraging cobalt values, but also significant copper concentrations. Generally the cobalt values are higher in the central and southern portions of the Fragment, whereas copper values are higher in the northern portion of the Fragment (Ref table 2 & Fig 4).
Generally, at Kalukundi, cobalt values are highest in the SDB and in the RSF and D Strat units and the better copper concentrations are to be found in the lower D Strat and RAT Grise units. On the SE Anticline Fragment this is also the case, but where the cobalt values are elevated in the thicker RSC unit, then the overall value of the intersection is considerably enhanced. This is the case in BH SEA3B where the RSC grades 2.74% over 9.40m in the RSC. This contributes to an overall cobalt grade of 1.47% Co over the intersection drilled width of 28.86m. In the northern part of the fragment, copper is enhanced in the SDB unit in BH W15 where it grades 6.39% Cu over 10.00m. Above this unit, the SDS shale is mineralised and grades 1.11% Cu over a drilled width of 60m. A fault at surface some 100m to the NW of BH W15 is also mineralised with copper. This, together with the results returned to date provides impetus to expand the exploration drilling programme.
The drilling programme has been successful in identifying significant concentrations of copper and cobalt mineralisation within the extensive SE Anticline Fragment. This provides further impetus to undertake infill drilling in the future to establish the extent and the continuity of the mineralisation discovered to date.
Africo Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral company engaged in developing, acquiring and exploring for base metal and gold assets in Africa. The company's main project is Kalukundi, a development stage copper-cobalt deposit located in the Katangan Copperbelt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in which Africo has a 75% interest. The development team has an operational base in the DRC, with the company corporate offices located in Vancouver, Canada.
This news release has been prepared under the supervision of Michael J. Evans, Africo's Consulting Geologist, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). Assays were performed by Genalysis Laboratory Services Pty Ltd (Australia) and ALS Chemex South Africa (Pty) Ltd.
Forward-looking statements:
This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Africo expects to occur, are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Africo believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration success, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Africo's management on the date the statements are made. Other than as required by law, Africo undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Table 1: Table of Borehole results from the Principal Fragment
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BH No. Inclina- from to Drilled Tcu % Tco % Mineralised
nation width zone
(degrees)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K104B -45 95.0 102.5 7.5 0.40 1.03 RAT Lilas footwall
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K015 -45 60.7 67.9 7.2 2.10 0.25 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
104.0 106.7 2.7 0.98 0.30 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
111.7 120.8 9.1 1.51 0.23 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
130.2 142.5 12.3 1.77 0.72 Main zone/fault
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K106 -45 77.1 94.6 17.5 0.80 0.15 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
94.6 139.8 45.2 2.70 1.31 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K107 -45 49.6 56.6 7.0 1.10 0.03 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
73.7 83.8 10.2 4.60 0.22 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
83.8 107.7 23.9 1.34 0.09 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
148.0 157.0 9.0 1.19 0.27 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
157.0 189.9 32.9 7.75 2.68 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K108 -45 76.6 86.6 10.0 8.08 0.62 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
124.0 153.0 29.0 0.94 0.11 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
153.0 162.7 9.7 2.06 0.51 Main zone/fault
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
K109 -45 71.0 77.3 6.3 5.88 0.13 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
135.1 144.7 9.6 1.33 0.20 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
144.6 180.0 35.4 2.96 0.97 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BH
KALKP07 Vertical 69.0 84.0 15.0 4.58 1.90 Lower main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
84.0 106.0 22.0 1.24 0.47 RAT Lilas f/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 2: Table of Borehole results from the SE Anticline Fragment
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------
BH No. Inclina- from to Drilled Tcu % Tco % Mineralised
nation width zone
(degrees)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
KALKP
BH13 Vertical 50.0 84.0 34.0 0.10 1.00 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA1 Vertical 85.1 127.5 42.4 1.33 0.39 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
147.0 155.5 8.5 1.08 0.17 RAT Lilas - f/w
zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA2 Vertical 58.1 60.0 1.9 0.11 0.87 CMN - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA3B Vertical 29.5 58.4 28.9 0.14 1.47 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA4B -60 62.7 97.2 34.5 0.07 0.38 Main zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA5 Vertical 24.9 32.7 7.8 0.09 0.83 Lower zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEA6 -45 81.2 98.0 16.9 4.00 0.55 Lower zone/faulted
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
W15 Vertical 69.0 129.0 60.0 1.11 0.05 SDS - h/w zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
129.0 141.0 12.0 5.61 0.03 Upper Main Zone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Figure 1. Kalukundi concession locality plan showing the location of
geological fragments. Please click here to view:
http://files.newswire.ca/678/Africore_Figure_1.doc
Figure 2. Plan map of Principal Zone. Please click here to view:
http://files.newswire.ca/678/AfricoFig2.doc
Figure 3. Assay results for Principle Fragment. Please click here to
view:
http://files.newswire.ca/678/AfricoFig3.doc
Figure 4. Plan map of SE Anticline Fragment. Please click here to view:
http://files.newswire.ca/678/AfricoFig4.doc
Figure 5. Assay results for SE Anticline Fragment. Please click here to
view:
http://files.newswire.ca/678/AfricoFig5.doc
%SEDAR: 00024685E For further information: Chris Theodoropoulos, Chairman, on Tel: (604) 646-3225; Michael O'Brien, Chief Financial Officer, on Tel: (604) 646-3225
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