Progress update at the Namib Lead and Zinc mine (3537B)
April 16 2012 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMNRRP
RNS Number : 3537B
North River Resources Plc
16 April 2012
North River Resources plc / Ticker: NRRP / Index: AIM / Sector:
Mining
16 April 2012
North River Resources plc ('North River' or 'the Company')
Progress update at the Namib Lead and Zinc mine
North River Resources plc, the AIM listed multi-commodity
resource company focused on Southern Africa, is pleased to announce
an update on progress at the Namib Lead Zinc Mine ('NLZM') in
Namibia.
Overview:
-- Dewatering completed with a total of 14.3 million litres being pumped from the mine
-- Grab samples collected for preliminary metallurgical test
work assaying 5% lead ('Pb'), 10% zinc ('Zn') and 119g/t silver
('Ag')
-- First flotation testing on grab sample material yielding
recoveries of over 96% Pb, over 94% Zn and over 80% Ag
-- Lead flotation concentrate grades were over 50% Pb
-- Zinc flotation concentrate grades were over 56% Zn
-- Silver recoveries were approximately 80%
-- Surveying of the dewatered areas about to commence
-- Conceptual engineering study is ongoing
North River Managing Director David Steinepreis said,
"Completing the dewatering is an important step forward at the
Namib Lead-Zinc Mine. We now have access to the lower levels of the
mine and will be able to start engineering design work as soon as
the survey is completed.
"The results from preliminary flotation tests on grab samples
from the dewatered areas have been quite outstanding both in terms
of the high recoveries and also the high grade zinc concentrate
that was produced, achieving a 50% Zn grade was important and
getting to 56% on the first test was a great result. These test
results give us confidence that marketability studies on the
potential concentrate product will be positive."
Further Information
The mine is now largely free of water with only small pockets
remaining and no detectable recharge. The lower levels have been
thoroughly investigated and found to be in generally good
condition. There is a significant clean-up programme required to
remove mud and services however this is underway and progress is
steady.
The surveying of the dewatered regions has commenced as has a
geological mapping and sampling programme.
As the water receded a number of samples were retrieved from
newly exposed mining areas. These samples were selected at random
and were submitted for analysis and flotation testing. The total
sample was small and may not be reflective of the eventual run of
mine ore however the results from this indicative testing have been
outstanding with high recoveries, fast float times and achieving a
56% zinc concentrate. Only two tests were run due to the small
sample size and so there is considerable scope to improve both
recoveries and concentrate grades.
The testing was completed at Kupfermelt Metal Processing in
South Africa and consisted of milling the ore to a P80 of 75
microns, assays of a head sample and two flotation tests to recover
Pb, Zn and Ag. The tests were completed with typical Pb-Zn
differential flotation reagents and concentrations.
A noteworthy observation made during the tests was that over 95%
of the Pb floated in the first 5 minutes implying that only a short
residence time will be required for the lead circuit.
The flotation results will likely be improved by a combination
of optimising the grind size, regrinding between the lead and zinc
circuits, cleaning the rougher lead concentrate and experimenting
with reagents and concentrations.
Engineering study work is continuing and the delivery of final
survey data from the de-watered areas will allow the underground
design work to be completed and development costs to be assessed.
At this stage the company is contemplating starting underground
exploration development in order to develop drill positions to
allow the bringing of known ore into resource and reserve and to
explore extensions to the ore shoots at depth.
**ENDS**
For further information please visit www.northriverresources.com
or contact:
David Steinepreis North River Resources Tel: +44 (0) 79 1340
Plc 2727
Luke Bryan North River Resources Tel: +44 (0) 20 7930
Plc 6966
Stuart Faulkner Strand Hanson Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409
3494
Angela Peace Strand Hanson Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409
3494
David Altberg Strand Hanson Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7409
3494
Guy Wilkes Ocean Equities Limited Tel: +44 (0) 20 7784
4370
Ewan Leggat Fairfax I.S. PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7460
4389
Katy Birkin Fairfax I.S. PLC Tel: +44 (0) 20 7598
4073
Susie Geliher St Brides Media & Finance Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236
Ltd 1177
Hugo de Salis St Brides Media & Finance Tel: +44 (0) 20 7236
Ltd 1177
Notes:
North River Resources plc is an AIM listed resource exploration
and development company. Its current portfolio includes gold, base
metal and uranium assets in Namibia; uranium, and base and precious
metal interests in Mozambique. North River's strategy is to
identify, acquire and develop a portfolio of resource opportunities
in sub-Saharan Africa at various stages of development in order to
create value for its shareholders. The Company has a highly
experienced board and management of industry and corporate
professionals, led by David Steinepreis and Luke Bryan.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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