Zanzui Nickel Project Update
(Thomson Reuters ONE) - POSITIVE BOTTLE ROLL LEACH TEST RESULTS FROM AFRICAN EAGLE'S ZANZUI NICKEL PROJECT, TANZANIA Second promising nickel project in Tanzania * Nickel extractions average 71% * Lower acid consumption than Dutwa, averaging 185 kg/tonne * Mineralisation appears similar to that at DutwaAfrican Eagle Resources plc has received the final report on acidleach tests on drill samples from its Zanzui nickel laterite projectin Tanzania. The tests were carried out by Mintek in South Africa.The leach test results show promising nickel extractions, averaging71% on a solid basis, with low sulphuric acid consumption of just 185kilograms per tonne on average.These results are comparable to the data from the Company's Dutwalaterite deposit, where a favourable scoping study was recentlyannounced by the Company.African Eagle's Managing Director Mark Parker comments:"Whilst Dutwa remains our primary focus and the Company's effortswill be directed towards completing the feasibility study nowcommenced there, the Zanzui results are very favourable."Geological mapping, together with the results of the limiteddrilling to date, suggest that whilst the nickel grades at Zanzuiappear to be marginally lower than at Dutwa the geographical extentof the Zanzui complex is much greater and so potentially thissignificant laterite is even larger than Dutwa.The deposit's similarities to Dutwa show that we may have identifieda whole province of easily leachable nickel laterites in northernTanzania. This augurs well for the long term sustainability ofAfrican Eagle's nickel activities in this promising region."Adopting standard "bottle roll" testwork procedures, Mintekresearchers found that nickel extractions from Zanzui drill cuttingsvaried between 55% and 87%, as shown in the table below, calculatedfrom the head and residue assays. Cobalt extractions ranged from 21%to 75%.Acid consumption was even less than for the Dutwa laterite samples,ranging from 140 to 250 kilograms per tonne, with an average of 190.Sample RC09 RC13 RC15 RC20 RC21 RC22 RC23 RC25 AverageNi head grade % 1.29 0.79 0.80 1.16 0.99 1.11 1.42 1.01Co head grade % 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.12 0.08 0.05 <0.05 0.07Acid kg/t 250 170 180 200 200 140 160 180 185Ni extraction 87% 60% 55% 74% 69% 76% 76% 67% 71%Co extraction 33% 23% 36% 21% 27% 52% 75% 39% 38%Technical termsA glossary of technical terms used by African Eagle in thisannouncement and other published material may be found atwww.africaneagle.co.uk/african-eagle-projects-glossary.htmlFor further information:Mark ParkerManaging DirectorAfrican Eagle+44 20 7248 6059+44 77 5640 6899Nicola MarrinSeymour Pierce Limited, LondonNominated Adviser+ 44 20 7107 8000Charmane RussellRussell & Associates, Johannesburg+ 27 11 8803924+27 82 8928052Ed Portman / Gareth TredwayConduit PR, London+44 20 7429 6607+44 (0) 7733 363 501About ZanzuiThe Zanzui Complex, located approximately 70km south of AfricanEagle's Dutwa nickel laterite deposit and 110km east of Mwanza, is astrongly layered circular ultramafic intrusion covering an area ofapproximately 140km². It was first investigated in the 1980s by theUnited Nations Development Programme, which reported high geochemicalnickel anomalies and up to 1.24g/t palladium in diamond drill coresamples. Pan concentrates with up to 8.3g/t gold were recorded fromthe Ndudumo River on the southern margin of the complex and there arereports of platinum nuggets panned from streams around the complex.African Eagle conducted geochemical surveys which also returnedanomalous values for nickel and cobalt as well as platinum and gold.Ground and airborne magnetometer surveys completed by African Eagleover the area clearly show the layering of the complex.African Eagle completed a 30 hole reverse circulation scout drillingprogramme for 1940m during the latter part of 2008 to investigate thepotential for nickel laterite. The drill results showed that parts ofthe Complex have a nickel-enriched laterite blanket with grades andthicknesses similar to those announced by the Company from its Dutwaproject. Intercepts included 42m at 1.05% nickel, 33m at 0.91%nickel, 24m at 1.02% nickel and 18m at 1.34% nickel. Zanzui ispotentially another significant laterite deposit.To determine the suitability of the Zanzui laterite for heap/tankleaching, bottle roll acid leach tests were performed by MintekLaboratories in South Africa on eight samples of drill cuttings.Around 8-10kg of material from each hole was dried, blended andcomposited, with representative 0.5kg sub-samples of each taken forthe leach tests. Each sample was placed in a glass bottle with twolitres of dilute sulphuric acid and agitated continuously by rollingon rotating rollers. Leaching was complete after approximately 30days. Nickel extractions varied between 55% and 87%, and cobaltextractions ranged from 21% to 75%, calculated from the head andresidue assays. Acid consumption ranged from 140 to 250 kilograms pertonne, with an average of 190, even less than for the Dutwa lateritesamples.About African EagleAfrican Eagle is a diversified mineral exploration and developmentcompany operating in eastern and central Africa. The Company'sprincipal advanced project is the Dutwa nickel laterite discovery inTanzania, where the Company announced results of a positive scopingstudy in July 2009, which indicated that Dutwa, if it were inproduction today, would be profitable. African Eagle is also apartner in the Mkushi Copper Mines project in Zambia, for which adraft Feasibility Study was completed in Q4 2008.African Eagle has also defined a gold resource estimated at half amillion ounces at the Miyabi gold project in Tanzania, and isevaluating a second promising nickel laterite deposit which itrecently discovered in Tanzania. The Company holds a well-balancedportfolio of promising earlier stage gold and base metal projects,including the Ndola and Mokambo projects in the Zambian Copperbelt.Zambia, Tanzania and Mozambique, the sites of African Eagle'sprojects, are all countries which have highly prospective geology,relatively low above-ground risks and track records of successfulmajor investments in the metals and minerals industries.African Eagle specialises in project generation and exploration. Totake its discoveries into production, it seeks to sign up industrypartners with records of successful mine development. These jointventures and, in time, the revenue from advanced projects, willfinance future exploration and new discoveries.---END OF MESSAGE---This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Datum: 03.08.2009 - 08:01 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 4244
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