North Australian Diamonds Limited (ASX:NAD) To Farm In Meteoric Resources Nl (ASX:MEI) Webb Tenements
Perth, June 1, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Meteoric Resources Nl (
ASX:MEI) has signed a Heads of Agreement with North Australian Diamonds Limited (ASX:NAD) for NAD to explore a 500sq km package of four Meteoric tenements in the West Arunta region of Western Australia for diamonds. Meteoric holds a 100% interest in three granted exploration licences with rights to acquire up to a 90% interest in exploration licence application E80/2506. These tenements are in addition to tenements where Meteoric is currently exploring for gold and copper in this previously unexplored region.
As recently announced (MEI ASX release 20 April 2011), Meteoric acquired the tenements over a cluster of more than 50 discrete, circular magnetic anomalies evident from regional aeromagnetic data in the Webb area. Meteoric's geophysical consultants advise that the magnetic character of these anomalies is consistent in shape, size and amplitude with those associated with some kimberlite and lamproite pipes in Archean cratons and Proterozoic mobile belts. The magnetic targets may represent a kimberlite or lamproite pipe field in an area of extensive windblown sand cover. There are no records of any previous diamond exploration having been carried out in this area and the targets are considered to be completely untested.
North Australian Diamonds (NAD) is Australia's most active diamond explorer and has a long term commitment to diamond exploration and development in Australia. NAD has extensive diamond holdings in northern Australia and has recently announced an upgraded resource at its Merlin project in the Northern Territory of 30 million tonnes containing a total of 7.2 million carats of diamonds (NAD March 2011 quarterly report).
NAD has completed pre-feasibility production trials at Merlin prior to commencing a feasibility study this year.
Under the terms of the agreement, and subject to completion of an exploration access agreement with the traditional owners, NAD may earn 70% of Meteoric's rights in the tenements by expenditure of A$2.5M within five years of signing an access agreement. A minimum programme of sampling and 1,000m of drilling is required during the first two years prior to NAD's right of withdrawal.
Meteoric is pleased to form a joint venture with an experienced and successful diamond explorer which will bring modern specialised diamond exploration techniques to bear on this totally unexplored region. Discussions with representatives of the traditional owners regarding access are in progress, with a view to commencing field work later in the year.
For the complete Meteoric Resources announcement including figures, please refer to the following link:
http://www.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/543856.pdf
About Meteoric Resources Nl
Meteoric Resources NL (ASX:MEI) is a Perth based rare earth company that is progressing its flagship Caldeira Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil and aims to become Brazil’s next rare earth producer. The Caldeira Project is a true Ionic adsorbed Clay (IAC) deposit with above industry TREO grades and excellent metallurgical recoveries using a standard Ammonium Sulphate (AMSUL) wash flowsheet. These grade and recovery characteristics allow a simple flowsheet to be developed to produce a Mixed Rare Earth Carbonate (MREC) with an anticipated low capital and operating costs. Meteoric aims to become a significant volume, low-cost producer and is committed to supporting and integrating into western supply chain opportunities.
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