| Mon 3 Aug 2009, 8:00 | | AEA - African Eagle Resources plc - Positive bottle roll leach test results |
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AEA
AEA
AEA - African Eagle Resources plc - Positive bottle roll leach test results
From African Eagle`s Zanzui Nickel Project, Tanzania
African Eagle Resources plc
(Incorporated in England and Wales, registered number 3912362)
AIM share code: AFE AIM ISIN: GB0003394813
JSE share code: AEA JSE ISIN: GB0003394813
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 Dutwa
African Eagle Resources plc has received the final report on acid leach tests
on drill samples from its Zanzui nickel laterite project in Tanzania. The
tests were carried out by Mintek in South Africa.
The leach test results show promising nickel extractions, averaging 71% on a
solid basis, with low sulphuric acid consumption of just 185 kilograms per
tonne on average.
These results are comparable to the data from the Company`s Dutwa laterite
deposit, where a favourable scoping study was recently announced by the
Company.
African Eagle`s Managing Director Mark Parker comments:
"Whilst Dutwa remains our primary focus and the Company`s efforts will be
directed towards completing the feasibility study now commenced there, the
Zanzui results are very favourable.
"Geological mapping, together with the results of the limited drilling to
date, suggest that whilst the nickel grades at Zanzui appear to be marginally
lower than at Dutwa the geographical extent of the Zanzui complex is much
greater and so potentially this significant laterite is even larger than
Dutwa.
The deposit`s similarities to Dutwa show that we may have identified a whole
province of easily leachable nickel laterites in northern Tanzania. This
augurs well for the long term sustainability of African Eagle`s nickel
activities in this promising region."
Adopting standard "bottle roll" testwork procedures, Mintek researchers found
that nickel extractions from Zanzui drill cuttings varied between 55% and 87%,
as shown in the table below, calculated from 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 Averag
e
Ni head 1.29 0.79 0.80 1.16 0.99 1.11 1.42 1.01
grade %
Co head 0.07 0.07 0.06 0.12 0.08 0.05 <0.05 0.07
grade %
Acid kg/t 250 170 180 200 200 140 160 180 185
Ni 87% 60% 55% 74% 69% 76% 76% 67% 71%
extraction
Co 33% 23% 36% 21% 27% 52% 75% 39% 38%
extraction
Technical terms
A glossary of technical terms used by African Eagle in this announcement and
other published material may be found at www.africaneagle.co.uk/african-eagle-
projects-glossary.html
For further information:
Mark Parker
Managing Director
African Eagle
+44 20 7248 6059
+44 77 5640 6899
Nicola Marrin
Seymour Pierce Limited,
London
Nominated Adviser
+ 44 20 7107 8000
Charmane Russell
Russell & Associates,
Johannesburg
+ 27 11 8803924
+27 82 8928052
Ed Portman / Gareth
Tredway
Conduit PR, London
+44 20 7429 6607
+44 (0) 7733 363 501
About Zanzui
The Zanzui Complex, located approximately 70km south of African Eagle`s Dutwa
nickel laterite deposit and 110km east of Mwanza, is a strongly layered
circular ultramafic intrusion covering an area of approximately 140kmSquared.
It was first investigated in the 1980s by the United Nations Development
Programme, which reported high geochemical nickel anomalies and up to 1.24g/t
palladium in diamond drill core samples. Pan concentrates with up to 8.3g/t
gold were recorded from the Ndudumo River on the southern margin of the
complex and there are reports of platinum nuggets panned from streams around
the complex.
African Eagle conducted geochemical surveys which also returned anomalous
values for nickel and cobalt as well as platinum and gold. Ground and airborne
magnetometer surveys completed by African Eagle over the area clearly show the
layering of the complex.
African Eagle completed a 30 hole reverse circulation scout drilling programme
for 1940m during the latter part of 2008 to investigate the potential for
nickel laterite. The drill results showed that parts of the Complex have a
nickel-enriched laterite blanket with grades and thicknesses similar to those
announced by the Company from its Dutwa project. Intercepts included 42m at
1.05% nickel, 33m at 0.91% nickel, 24m at 1.02% nickel and 18m at 1.34%
nickel. Zanzui is potentially another significant laterite deposit.
To determine the suitability of the Zanzui laterite for heap/tank leaching,
bottle roll acid leach tests were performed by Mintek Laboratories in South
Africa on eight samples of drill cuttings. Around 8-10kg of material from
each hole was dried, blended and composited, with representative 0.5kg sub-
samples of each taken for the leach tests. Each sample was placed in a glass
bottle with two litres of dilute sulphuric acid and agitated continuously by
rolling on rotating rollers. Leaching was complete after approximately 30
days. Nickel extractions varied between 55% and 87%, and cobalt extractions
ranged from 21% to 75%, calculated from the head and residue assays. Acid
consumption ranged from 140 to 250 kilograms per tonne, with an average of
190, even less than for the Dutwa laterite samples.
About African Eagle
African Eagle is a diversified mineral exploration and development company
operating in eastern and central Africa. The Company`s principal advanced
project is the Dutwa nickel laterite discovery in Tanzania, where the Company
announced results of a positive scoping study in July 2009, which indicated
that Dutwa, if it were in production today, would be profitable. African
Eagle is also a partner in the Mkushi Copper Mines project in Zambia, for
which a draft Feasibility Study was completed in Q4 2008.
African Eagle has also defined a gold resource estimated at half a million
ounces at the Miyabi gold project in Tanzania, and is evaluating a second
promising nickel laterite deposit which it recently discovered in Tanzania.
The Company holds a well-balanced portfolio 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`s projects, are
all countries which have highly prospective geology, relatively low above-
ground risks and track records of successful major investments in the metals
and minerals industries.
African Eagle specialises in project generation and exploration. To take its
discoveries into production, it seeks to sign up industry partners with
records of successful mine development. These joint ventures and, in time, the
revenue from advanced projects, will finance future exploration and new
discoveries.
03 August 2009
Sponsor
Nedbank Capital
Date: 03/08/2009 08:00:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.
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