High Quality Assemblage Confirmed at Madimba HMS Project
Perth, Mar 10, 2015 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Strandline Resources Limited (
ASX:STA) is pleased to report that it has received 13 mineral assemblage and characterisation test results from 4 holes completed at the Madimba and Madimba East prospects in southern Tanzania (Figure 1A in link below).
The results confirm the presence of high grade zircon and a high portion of Valuable Heavy Mineral (VHM) logged from the initial drill program. VHM refers to the valuable component of the Total Heavy Mineral (THM) and is important in understanding the potential unit value of the mineral assemblage and chemistry. The drill program has identified extensive zones of mineralisation starting from surface, with several holes ending in the highest Total Heavy Mineral (THM) grades encountered.
Significantly, the surface footprints of the Madimba and Madimba East anomalies show size potential for higher grade zones within bulk tonnage mineralisation.
Whilst it is early days for the Madimba discovery, the results to date are very positive with the identification of some key parameters common to existing mineral sand operations including shallow high grade zones with high VHM contents, low trash and low slimes. In addition, the prospects are located less than 20km from well-developed port facilities at Mtwara (Figures 1B & C in link below) that has capacity to export containerised high unit value concentrates or sufficient acreage to set up conveyors or other methods of bulk handling concentrate. Mtwara is currently the site of significant construction and infrastructure expansion related to the discovery and development of onshore and offshore gas.
Results
The mineral assemblage results were gathered from 13 samples taken from 2 holes at Madimba and 2 holes at Madimba East (refer to Figures 2 and 3 in link below). The two holes at Madimba East were separated by 2000m whilst at Madimba, the holes were located 750m apart. The aim of the testwork was to understand the mineral assemblage and characterise the chemistry and grainsize range for the valuable mineral species.
The results show a high percentage of the THM comprises VHM. At Madimba East, the THM% from the tested samples averages 3.54% and its VHM averages 87.9%. For Madimba, the THM% from the tested samples average 2.47% and its VHM% averages 72.1%. Ilmenite TiO2 contents average 55.3% for the 13 samples comprising ilmenite and the higher Ticontent altered ilmenite species. Across the Madimba prospects, the average ilmenite and altered ilmenite grainsize for the +45µm fraction is 103µm.
Significantly, the combined rutile and zircon grades average 10.85% and 13.08% R+Z for Madimba and Madimba East respectively, with 73% comprising Zircon. Zircon has a ZrO2+HfO2 range 62.26% to 64.03%, with an average of 63.24% across the two prospects. In addition, the zircon has low aluminium, titanium, and iron oxide levels, as well as low ThO2 (average 0.19%), which makes it likely to produce a saleable product. The average grainsize of the zircon in the +45µm fraction across both prospects is 96 µm.
Further details are presented in Tables 1 and 2 in link below.
Future Programs of Work
The next step for the Company is to undertake work programs to ascertain the size potential, assemblage and grade distribution of these prospects. The Company believes it has strong indications of at least two significant zones of mineral sand mineralisation and is considering a combination of the following techniques to rapidly improve its understanding of the resource potential at Madimba.
1. Quantify a JORC compliant Exploration Target to provide a range of potential tonnes and grades using the Auger drilling results completed to date;
2. Undertake a ground magnetic survey to assist in determining the orientation of the mineralisation, particularly at Madimba East;
3. Complete some close spaced auger drilling to compliment the geophysical survey and increase the confidence in geological modelling; and
4. Undertake an Aircore program to assist in defining the depth and surface extent of the mineralisation potentially leading to an Inferred Resource.
Exploration results and analysis completed to date have provided the Company with confidence that even at this early stage in the exploration process, the Madimba Prospects show considerable merit. The Company has strong indications for the potential for moderate to high grade mineralisation, low to moderate slimes, excellent VHM content, acceptable grainsizes with good TiO2 content with low contaminants.
To view figures and tables, please visit:
http://media.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/ASX-STA-712347.pdf
About Strandline Resources Limited
Strandline Resources is an Australian Stock Exchange listed company (ASX:STA) (OTCMKTS:STQNF) is a Tanzanian-focused mineral sands developer positioned within the world’s major zircon and titanium producing corridor in South East Africa. Strandline has a dominant mineral sands position with a series of 100% owned projects spread along 350km of the Tanzanian coastline.
Strandline’s strategy is to develop and operate quality, low cost, expandable mining assets with market differentiation. Leveraging off the exploration success of 2016, the Company’s focus is to continue its aggressive exploration and development strategy to progress economically attractive projects based on high unit value titanium and zircon products.
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