PREMIER African Minerals yesterday said high grades of tungsten and new mineralisation have been uncovered at its RHA project in Kamativi, raising hopes of an economic boom in Matabeleland North province.
The firm updated on the recently completed drill programme at the site and provided assays from six holes.
Chief executive George Roach said: “The RHA deposit continues to impress not only in the continuity of the Lode 2A mineralisation but now also in impressive new discoveries.
“Despite this, the company is focused on tabulation of all remaining results and the updating of the resource model as a priority.”
Additional drilling at Lode 2A was recommended by the PEA and all holes hit additional mineralisation in the hanging wall and two encountered it in the foot wall.
The best results so far are 359kg per tonne in DDO9 and 159kg per tonne in DD11.
Premier is the operator of RHA and holds a 49% stake.
The London AIM market listed natural resources company revealed the discovery of two “well mineralised” tungsten veins in February last year, and last September said it planned to start low-cost mining activities at the site in late 2014.
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Tungsten, also known as wolfram, is a metal with a wide range of uses in the production of wear-resistant materials used by the metalworking, mining, and construction industries.
Premier carried out a Preliminary Economic Assessment and a Concept Mining Study whose results highlighted the economic viability of a low-capex 192 000 tonnes per annum tungsten-bearing ore operation over a six-year life span.
Further optimisation work undertaken by independent mining consultants Royal Haskoning DHV extended the lifespan of the proposed open pit mine by a further 16 months.
The company aims to commence open pit production development in late 2014, with underground mining development to start shortly thereafter. —Proactive Investors UK/The Source
