Technical Report, February 2009
African Consolidated Resources Plc ('ACR' or the 'Company')
Technical Report, February 2009
African Consolidated Resources Plc is pleased to announce the
publication of a detailed technical report in respect of the
Company's gold, nickel and platinum assets in addition to newly
acquired phosphate project. This report details significant
exploration results from the 2008-2009 field program. The full
report, including maps and technical diagrams, is available to
download from the Company's website: www.acrplc.com .
This report has been prepared by Mike Kellow BSc, a member of the
Australian Institute of Geologists and Technical Director of ACR. Mr
Kellow meets the definition of a "qualified person" as defined in the
AIM Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies.
HIGHLIGHTS
Gold exploration in the Gadzema Belt, a few km south of the Giant
Mine, has discovered broad, near-surface gold mineralisation hosted
by stockworks within a felsic volcanic intrusive rock at the Blue
Rock prospect. This style of mineralisation has received little
previous exploration. As previously announced, the best results from
26 RC drill holes include;
BRRC17; 22m @ 6.5 g/t from 36m (including 15m @ 9g/t)
BRRC11; 24m @ 2.7 g/t from 4m
BRRC02; 40m @ 1.2 g/t from 30m (including 15m @ 1.8g/t)
The mineralisation has been RC drill tested over 600m of strike and
is open in all directions.
Economic Pit modelling of the Giant Gold Mine indicates that a
conceptual pit at current gold prices (>$900/Oz) will extend below
the current drilling depth of between 100-150m. A deeper drilling
campaign is recommended to add further Resources at depth and to
close off broad gold intercepts hosted by a quartz diorite intrusion
to the south. ACR is currently modelling a consolidated gold
operation to encompass gold resources in the Midlands district at
Gadzema (Giant and Blue Rock), and at Pickstone-Peerless, 30 km to
the south.
Recent announcements by the Zimbabwean government regarding the
liberalisation of the gold sales process and foreign exchange
controls are positive news for the gold industry.
A high detail aeromagnetic and radiometric survey over the
Perseverance nickel project has greatly assisted mapping and
interpretation of the host ultramafic body, over nearly 30km of
strike. Thrust repetitions of the host stratigraphy have been
interpreted beneath younger basalt cover, adding more than 10km
strike of additional target horizon. Five exploratory RC drill holes
over two TEM conductor targets intersected weak sulphide (pyrite)
mineralisation but no significant Ni sulphides.
Regional Diamond Exploration has defined 3 areas containing
probe-proven kimberlite indicator minerals interpreted as being
sourced from the diamond stability field. Ongoing detailed sampling
is currently in progress to discover the parent kimberlites. These
targets have been generated from a large historical database that ACR
acquired in July 2008. Several other database anomalies also
containing G10 garnets and kimberlitic spinels await exploration this
year.
Recognising the current and looming worldwide demand for phosphate
fertilisers, ACR has acquired tenure covering apatite-bearing
portions of the Chisanya carbonatite. Previous work has outlined a
substantial resource of rock phosphate (apatite) on one of the four
intrusives that make up this complex. ACR is consolidating claims and
will be evaluating the entire complex to determine the Phosphate,
Rare Earth and Niobium resources.
GOLD EXPLORATION
During the second half of 2008 and early 2009, ACR focused its gold
exploration activities on its near-mine gold projects in Zimbabwe's
Midlands district (see Figure 1 in the version of this announcement
available on the Company's website), at the Gadzema gold project.
Gadzema contains both the historical Giant gold mine, and the new
Blue Rock gold discovery.
ACR Previous Work
Most of the Gadzema project area has been covered with geochemical
sampling. A total of 1,342 soil samples have been collected and six
Au anomalies had been identified along strike and parallel to the
known deposits and small scale workings.
Aeromagnetic interpretation confirms the strong relationship between
gold mineralisation, banded iron-formations, quartz veins and the
structural framework of the belt. The surveys also highlight the
extent of mineralized felsic intrusives hosting the Blue Rock
discovery.
A total of 1,527m of RAB and 17,688m of RC has been drilled in 508
RAB and 40 RC holes respectively.
See Figure 2 in the version of this announcement available on the
Company's website for a map shown the locations of ACR's exploration
programmes on the Gadzema Belt.
Giant Mine
Hellman and Schofield geological consultants of Perth, Western
Australia were contracted to model the economics of various pit
scenarios at the Giant mine at differing gold prices.
Block modeling indicates that a conceptual pit at current gold prices
(~$900/Oz) will extend well below the current depth of drilling which
varies from 100-150m. This adds confidence that further drilling into
the old mine at depth will add economic resources (see Figure 3 in
the version of this announcement available on the Company's website)
Diamond drilling is required to test these pit dimensions at depth.
The Southern depth extensions within a quartz diorite intrusive could
add thick mining widths at 2-3 g/t.
Approximately 500m of diamond drilling is required to penetrate
harder portions of the diorite. An additional 3500m of diamond and RC
drilling is required to extend the orebody to 200m depth.
Blue Rock Prospect
As previously announced, a total of 2,838m of RAB drilling, followed
by 2,348m of RC drilling has been drilled at the Blue Rock gold
prospect (see Figure 4 in the version of this announcement available
on the Company's website). RC samples have been collected at 1m
intervals and assayed by Fire Assay at Antech Laboratories, Zimbabwe.
The mineralisation dips steeply east, and extends to surface on some
sections. Mineralisation appears to be structurally controlled within
N-S quartz filled shear zones. (see Figure 5 in the version of this
announcement available on the Company's website).
Gold mineralisation occurs in quartz veined felsic intrusives as well
as in the enveloping talc-chlorite schist (see Figure 6 in the
version of this announcement available on the Company's website).
An aeromagnetic and radiometric survey was flown over Blue Rock at
30m terrain height and 50m line spacing. The results are being used
for detailed mapping and structural interpretations.
Approximately 3,000m of RC drilling to 150m depth (20-30 holes) is
required to infill previous drilling and confirm the mineralized
horizon at depth over a strike length of 600m.
A further 3,000m of RAB drilling is in progress to test the extension
of the shallow mineralisation along strike to the south.
Detailed mapping of the project is in progress.
One Step Gold Project
The project lies approximately 70km south-west of the Pickstone
Peerless project and covers a surface area of 1,420 ha (see Figure 6
in the version of this announcement available on the Company's
website). The One Step and Challenge mines within ACR tenements,
together with the Battlefield Group to the East, occur along the
intersection of two major prospective deformation zones; the Munyati
and Lily Shears. They are north along strike from Globe and Phoenix
gold mine (3,965,792 oz Au @ 27.6g/t), which is the second largest
historical gold producer in Zimbabwe.
To date, ACR work has comprised geological surface mapping, the
review and assessment of historical drilling data beneath old pits
over >600m strike, and recent RAB drilling.
Rio Tinto in the 1980's reported a diamond drill Intercept of 24m @
2.6g/t under a pit within ACR tenements.
RAB drilling totaling 2178m in 160 holes was completed in February
2009. Results are being interpreted to define alteration and gold
mineralisation trends for future RC drilling.
Detailed mapping of the project area is being undertaken and will
assist in defining future drilling targets.
BASE METALS PROJECTS
Perseverance Project (Nickel)
ACR holds almost 30km of strike length of the ultramafic unit hosting
the historical Perseverance nickel mine, approx 120km southwest of
Harare. The Perseverance mine contained both disseminated and
massive-sulphide orebodies, producing 4,000t of Ni metal averaging 1%
nickel and 0.4% copper, with palladium also reported in concentrates.
Over 5,300 MMI soil samples have been collected, covering 20km of
strike at 200mx25m spacing.
Preliminary regional mapping several km north and south of the old
mine has discovered several Nickel-copper gossans which returned XRF
results using a Niton analyser in the 0.5% to 1.5% nickel range, and
0.2 to 1% Cu.
Based on ACR's work to date, 6 nickel-copper-cobalt anomalies have
been identified south of the Perseverance mine (see Figure 7 in the
version of this announcement available on the Company's website).
During the second half of 2008, ACR conducted an aeromagnetic survey
over the entire project area (see Figure 10 in the version of this
announcement available on the Company's website). The survey revealed
highly detailed signatures which correlate very well with previously
identified geochem anomalies and gossan occurrences and suggest a
continuous extension of the mineralised ultramafic horizon over 28km
of strike as well as a probable repetition of the Perseverance mine
mineralised sequence to the East through folding or thrusting (see
Figure 8 in the version of this announcement available on the
Company's website).
Geological consultant Martin Prendergast was contracted to map the
southern part of the belt (see Figure 8). The results together with
ACR's in-house mapping, confirm the occurrence of the ultramafic
formations in the southern portion of the belt.
Two of the five SIROTEM conductor targets identified to date have
been drill tested with relatively shallow RC holes, to search for Ni
sulphide mineralisation and to determine local geology.
5 RC holes were drilled to test conductors P1 and P2.
Weakly developed pyritic sulphides were intercepted in all holes
(Table below). However, no nickel sulphides were intercepted.
A second phase more detailed EM survey will be carried out over the
conductors to more accurately locate them in three dimensions prior
to any further drilling.
Hole ID Depth From Depth To Lithology Mineralisation
(m) (m)
46 m - Fine grained
disseminated
PSRC001 128 174 SER sulphides
PSRC002 0 1 SER
3m - Minor
disseminated pyrite,
PSRC002 92 95 SER fine grained
PSRC002 95 97 SER
1m - Minor coarse
PSRC002 97 98 SER pyrite grains
PSRC002 98 110 SER
10m - Disseminated
fine grained
PSRC002 110 120 SER sulphides
PSRC003 0 78 SER
96m - Minor fine
grained disseminated
PSRC003 78 174 SER sulphides py
PSRC004 0 23 BAS
7m - Disseminated
PSRC004 23 30 BAS pyrite
PSRC004 30 41 BAS
60m - Very sparse
disseminated
PSRC004 41 101 BAS sulphides
3m - Fracture zone
PSRC004 101 104 BAS with oxide coating
PSRC004 104 125 BAS
22m - Disseminated
PSRC004 125 147 BAS pyrite
PSRC004 147 154 BAS
20m - Pale green with
minor disseminated
PSRC004 154 174 BAS pyrite
PSRC005 0 19 BAS
66m - Sparsely
PSRC005 19 85 BAS disseminated pyrite
PSRC005 85 114 BAS
SER=Serpentinite BAS=Basalt Py=pyrite
Proposed Work
* Final interpretation of the new aeromagnetic data.
* Soil geochemistry to complete coverage of the Southern end of the
ultramafic complex.
* Ongoing detailed mapping to complement the geochemical survey.
* Detailed in-fill ground EM survey using 400m loops with in-loop
receivers to firm up first pass conductor targets and to search for
conductors beneath several nickel copper gossans along strike from
the old mine.
Horseshoe Nickel Project
The Horseshoe project covers 14 sq km of saprolitic Ni laterite
developed on serpentinites of the Great Dyke in the Horseshoe
district which is located 150km NNW of Harare.
Preliminary metallurgical trials indicate good recoveries (>90%),
short residence times (<40 days), and low acid consumption. Local
deposits of pyrite may provide cheap acid for the leach.
The project within current claim boundaries has the potential to host
approximately 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes of Ni metal at grades of
about 1%.
Further pitting or drilling is required to investigate grades and
thickness and full-scale column leach tests are required to further
determine extractive metallurgy.
Exploration work to date includes:
* 527 Niton XRF rock chip samples at 200m x 25m spacing in the SW of
the claim area (av grade 0.82% Ni)
* 281 bedrock samples from old chromite exploration trenches in the
SW of the claim area (av 0.89% Ni)
* 907 Niton XRF -1mm fraction reconnaissance surface soil samples in
the south west of the area at high density (20m x 2m; average grade
1.03% Ni)
* 11pits on 1000m x 1000m spacing dug for metallurgical and grade
studies to ~2m depth, average grade 0.90% (fig 11).
* Initial bottle roll leach tests at Peacocke and Simpson
metallurgical laboratory, Harare (average head grade 0.88% Ni with no
beneficiation).
Pits were sampled by collecting vertical channel samples on all four
sides of the pit, and composited to form a bulk sample of
approximately 50Kg. Niton XRF samples were taken at 20cm intervals
down hole to guide sampling. Pits were stopped where Ni grades
dropped below 0.5%. The samples were submitted to Peacocke and
Simpson laboratories for initial bottle-roll acid leach tests.
Initial bottle roll acid leach metallurgical testing with Peacocke
and Simpson consultants is encouraging; average sample head grades
(with no selective sampling) were 0.88%Ni, 0.044%Co and 16.74%Fe.
Acid leaching was conducted using 100g/l concentrated sulphuric acid
in tap water at 2/1 starting liquid/solid ratio. Leaching was
continued for 43 days until the nickel dissolution rate fell to a
negligible level. Nickel extraction of >90% was achieved, in
conjunction with cobalt and iron extractions of >70%. Acid
consumption was 2.01 Kg/tonne of ore.
Nickel Recovery Data (Peacocke and Simpsion) is as follows:
+-----------------------------------------+
| Average assayed head value (%Ni) | 0.88 |
|----------------------------------+------|
| Solution extraction (%Ni) | 0.76 |
|----------------------------------+------|
| Residual value (%Ni) | 0.08 |
|----------------------------------+------|
| Built-up head value (%Ni) | 0.84 |
|----------------------------------+------|
| Extraction (solid basis) (%)1 | 90.9 |
|----------------------------------+------|
| Extraction (solution basis) (%)2 | 90.5 |
+-----------------------------------------+
Notes:
1 - Calculated as (assayed head - residue)/ (assayed head)
2 - Calculated as (solution extraction)/ (built-up head)
Ferrochromium Nickel Alloy
In 1972, the Zimbabwean Institute of Mining Research (IMR)
successfully smelted 25% ferronickel from serpentinite containing 1%
Ni, from just south of the Horseshoe project. The IMR later
established the technical feasibility of smelting this serpentinite,
together with a chromite concentrate from the overlying soils, in an
arc furnace to produce various grades of ferrochromium nickel alloy
and stainless steel "pig". The serpentinite feedstock contained in
the IMR's testwork contained 2.02% Ni.
ACR intends to further investigate the possibility of producing
ferrochromium-nickel alloys from the laterite, which creates a cash
flow from the iron content as well as the nickel and chromium.
Snakes Head PGE Project
The Snakes Head project encompasses the Musengezi Chamber at the
northern end of Zimbabwe's Great Dyke which hosts the world-class
Ngezi, Mimosa and Unki PGE projects. The Musengezi platinum chamber
at the Snakes Head project is less developed than the other three PGE
deposits, due to its rugged terrain and relatively remote location.
ACR mineral claims cover the full extent of the chamber of
approximately 26,000 ha.
Work by previous explorers includes 14 diamond drill holes which have
confirmed the presence of the Main and Lower Sulphide Zones, which
host PGE mineralisation elsewhere in the dyke.
The potential PGE resource in this chamber is estimated at
approximately 50Moz.
Bulk samples are required to test the Main Sulphide Zone (MSZ) for
flotation characteristics and other metallurgical factors. For this
purpose an exploration adit was planned to drive into the MSZ in the
western end of the chamber.
Planning of the adit is complete, environmental approvals have been
obtained for the work, however commissioning of the adit has been
deferred due to the current depressed platinum prices.
DIAMOND EXPLORATION
The continuing assessment of ACR's southern Zimbabwean kimberlite
pipes and dykes returned very positive nickel thermometry results
indicating good potential diamond preservation within the three
kimberlites tested. Pitting has exposed further extensions to these
kimberlites.
In July 2008 ACR purchased a database covering 10 years of Zimbabwean
diamond exploration that included 55,000 sample results covering some
33% of the country together with base and precious metal results.
ACR has also commissioned two Dense Media Separation (DMS) plants in
Bulawayo to improve sample concentration and throughput.
This use of this database helped locate an open-ended kimberlite
target of undetermined size (see Figure12 in the version of this
announcement available on the Company's website). The chrome spinel
and garnet geochemistry (see Figure 13 in the version of this
announcement available on the Company's website) indicate that this
body has tapped the diamond stability field.
Ongoing detailed sampling is currently being undertaken to discover
the sources of the 40km long Central Grid kimberlite indicator train
(fig.14) which returned very positive diamond indicator minerals.
INDUSTRIAL MINERALS
Chisanya Carbonatite
ACR has acquired tenure covering some of the apatite-bearing portions
of the Chisanya carbonatite in the southeast of the country. The
Chisanya complex consists of four separate carbonatite intrusives;
only the northernmost has been explored for rock phosphate.
Reconnaissance rock samples from the untested intrusives within ACR
tenements have returned up to 20% P2O5.
Work undertaken between 1956 and 1974 by various companies on the
complex has outlined approximately 20Mt of rock phosphate at between
8 and 12% P2O5. The apatite ore can be upgraded to a 33% Rock
Phosphate concentrate via crushing and floatation. This concentrate
is the primary feedstock for the production of phosphoric acid and
superphosphate and ammonium phosphate fertilizers. Rock Phosphate is
currently selling on world markets for $300-400/tonne.
ACR will be evaluating its tenements to determine the Phosphate, Rare
Earth and Niobium resources.
Enquiries:
African Consolidated
Resources plc
Andrew Cranswick +44 7920 ancranswick@acrplc.com
Roy Tucker 189010 royctucker@nettlesteadplace.co.uk
+44 1622
816918 /
+44 7920
189012
Ambrian Partners Limited
Richard Brown +44 20 richard.brown@ambrian.com
Richard Greenfield 7634 4700 richard.greenfield@ambrian.com
Martin Prendergast BSc, MSc, DPhil, FGS has consented to the
inclusion of his name in this announcement in the form and context in
which it appears.
GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Term | Explanation | Acronym |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| adit | mining term describing a | |
| | horizontal underground | |
| | excavation (tunnel) to access | |
| | a mining target | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| aeromagnetics | Magnetic survey carried out | aeromags |
| | with a sensor in an aircraft | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| archaean | rocks greater than 2,600 Ma | |
| | in age | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| As | chemical symbol for arsenic | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Au | chemical symbol for gold | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| banded | chemical sedimentary rock | BIF |
| iron-formation | consisting of iron and quartz | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| base metal | Nickel, copper, lead, zinc | BM |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| capex | "capital expenditure"; cash | |
| | amount required for | |
| | non-operating costs such as | |
| | plant construction and | |
| | equipment | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| chromite | A chromium-rich mineral of | |
| | the spinel group, abundant in | |
| | kimberlite pipes | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| claims | areas allocated by the | |
| | government of Zimbabwe for | |
| | the purposes of exploration | |
| | and exploitation of minerals, | |
| | may be either for gold, | |
| | diamonds or base minerals. | |
| | Synonymous with leases, | |
| | tenements. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| concentrate | normally of metallic minerals | |
| | such as pyrite and | |
| | arsenopyrite after removal of | |
| | gangue | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Conductor | See electromagnetic survey | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| core | Cylindrical sample of rock as | |
| | cut by a diamond drill | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Co | Chemical symbol for cobalt | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Cu | chemical symbol for copper | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| diamond drilling | Drilling method using a | |
| | diamond-impregnated cutting | |
| | bit to obtain a core sample | |
| | of rock | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| dip | the orientation of a planar | |
| | geological feature relative | |
| | to horizontal | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| disseminated | Accumulations of sulphide | |
| sulphide | minerals where the grains are | |
| | not separated by other | |
| | minerals and are not in | |
| | physical contact with each | |
| | other. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| electromagnetic | Geophysical technique using | EM, TEM, |
| survey | electrical currents to detect | SIROTEM |
| | conductive bodies below | |
| | surface. Conductive bodies | |
| | include massive-sulphides | |
| | that may contain base metals | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| EM survey | See electromagnetic survey | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| environmental | assessment of impacts to the | EIA |
| impact assessment | environment likely to be | |
| | caused by any activity | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| environmental | legislation encompassing and | EMA |
| management act | replacing all previous | |
| | environmental legislation | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| environmental | report detailing mitigation | EMP |
| management plan | or avoidance of environmental | |
| | impacts associated with any | |
| | activity; for mining activity | |
| | usually incorporates a mine | |
| | closure plan | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| fault | a fracture or break within a | |
| | body of rock across which | |
| | some movement has occurred | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| felsite | silica rich igneous rock, aka | |
| | felsic volcanic | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| flotation | the process of concentrating | |
| | minerals from finely ground | |
| | slurry by the addition of | |
| | reagents and air | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| fold | geological term for a curve | |
| | or bend of planar surfaces in | |
| | rocks | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| foliation | geological term for planar | |
| | features within rocks | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| G10 garnet | A chemical classification of | |
| | garnets whereby the | |
| | calcium/chromium ratios in | |
| | the G10 field indicates the | |
| | garnets were likely to have | |
| | formed in diamondiferous | |
| | kimberlites. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Garnet | An aluminium-silicate mineral | |
| | common in igneous and | |
| | metamorphic rocks | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| geophysics | Mineral prospecting systems | |
| | designed to detect | |
| | mineralisation using the | |
| | physical properties of rocks. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| global positioning | Navigation and positioning | GPS |
| system | system allowing survey by | |
| | satellite | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| gossan | Oxidized sulphide minerals | |
| | which form distinctive | |
| | iron-rich outcrops with | |
| | sponge-like weathering | |
| | textures; gossans often | |
| | overlie sulphide-rich | |
| | deposits of base metals and | |
| | gold. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| greenstone belt | belts of metamorphosed | |
| | sedimentary and igneous rocks | |
| | of Archaean age | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| hydrothermal | hot, water-rich fluid which | |
| | dissolves and transports | |
| | metals and deposits these in | |
| | suitable geological traps | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| igneous rock | originally molten can be | |
| | volcanic or intrusive | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| IP survey | "Induced Potential" - a | |
| | geophysical technique to | |
| | detect disseminated sulphide | |
| | mineralisation | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| JORC | Joint Ore Reserves Committee | |
| | of the Australasian Institute | |
| | of Mining and Metallurgy | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| kimberlite | igneous rock of ultramafic | |
| | composition forming | |
| | volcanic-pipe structures | |
| | which can host diamonds | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| komatiite | volcanic rock with low silica | |
| | and high magnesium and iron | |
| | contents, common host to | |
| | nickel deposits | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| laterite | highly weathered rock, | |
| | usually conforms to a | |
| | consistent weathering pattern | |
| | from surface and often | |
| | redistributes gold, nickel or | |
| | aluminium to ore grade | |
| | concentrations above the | |
| | primary source at depth. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| lodes | Higher grade portion of | |
| | mineralised zones, usually | |
| | with specific orientation | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| lower sulphide zone | tabular, layered mineralised | LSZ |
| | portion of the Great Dyke, | |
| | generally of lower PGE grade | |
| | than the MSZ | |
| | | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| magnetic survey | measurements of the | |
| | perturbation in the earth's | |
| | magnetic field caused by | |
| | magnetic minerals in rocks | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| main sulphide zone | tabular, layered mineralised | MSZ |
| | portion of the Great Dyke | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| massive sulphide | Bodies of sulphide minerals | |
| | where the grains are in | |
| | physical contact; these | |
| | bodies can become electrical | |
| | conductors (see EM surveys) | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| metamorphism | changes in the mineral | |
| | compositions of rocks due to | |
| | increased temperature and/or | |
| | pressure normally during | |
| | burial | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| mineralisation | metallic minerals such as | |
| | gold, base metals, pyrite and | |
| | arsenopyrite incorporated in | |
| | rocks | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| mineralised zones | hydrothermally altered | |
| | structural features | |
| | containing potentially | |
| | valuable minerals | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Mobile metal ion | assay technique using a | MMI |
| analysis | proprietary chemical leach to | |
| | obtain a broad range of | |
| | elements from soil samples | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Ni | chemical symbol for nickel | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| orebody | economically viable portion | |
| | of a mineralised zone | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Pd | Chemical symbol for palladium | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| platinum group | platinum, palladium, rhodium | PGE |
| elements | (ruthenium and iridium) | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| Pt | Chemical symbol for platinum | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| pyrite | iron sulphide mineral often | |
| | associated with gold | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| pyrrhotite | iron sulphide mineral | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| quality control | procedures to ensure the | QC |
| | accuracy of all results | |
| | obtained from any activity, | |
| | particularly sampling and | |
| | assays | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| quality assurance | process of recording all | QA, QA/QC |
| | quality control procedures | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| quartz | silicon oxide mineral very | |
| | common in hydrothermal | |
| | deposits | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| resource | mineral resource as defined | |
| | by the JORC Code 2004 | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| reverse circulation | rotary percussion drilling | RC |
| drilling | whereby the sample is | |
| | returned from the cutting | |
| | head inside the rod string to | |
| | surface thereby avoiding | |
| | contamination from the walls | |
| | of the hole | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| rotary air blast | Open-hole drilling whereby | RAB |
| drilling | drill cuttings are returned | |
| | to surface by compressed air | |
| | in an un-lined hole; | |
| | contamination is possible | |
| | from the walls of the hole. | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| saprolite | In-situ weathered rock | |
| | vertically located at the | |
| | bottom of the lateritic | |
| | weathering profile. Can be | |
| | host to nickel laterite ore | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| schist | metamorphic rock with well | |
| | developed foliation | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| serpentinite | magnesium iron silicate of | |
| | metamorphic origin | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| shale | clay-rich sedimentary rock, | Black shale |
| | when black or carbonaceous | |
| | normally contains carbon | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| shear zone | zone of multiple fractures or | |
| | discontinuities in rock, | |
| | either ductile or brittle | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| siltstone | fine grained usually quartz | |
| | rich sedimentary rock; where | |
| | calcareous contains calcium | |
| | or magnesium carbonate | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| SIROTEM | See electromagnetic survey | EM, TEM |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| siting of works | statutory submission required | |
| plan | ahead of any mining activity | |
| | | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| stockworks | zone of multiple quartz | |
| | filled fractures with | |
| | individual veins often of | |
| | random orientation | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| strike | the horizontal orientation of | |
| | a planar geological feature | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| sulphide | sulphur bearing metallic | |
| | mineral | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| synform | geological term for an upward | |
| | facing fold | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| talc | magnesium iron silicate mica | |
| | of metamorphic origin | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| tenement | an area encompassing a number | |
| | of blocks of claims | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| thrust | shallow dipping fault where | |
| | the upper body of rock | |
| | overrides the lower portion | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| ultramafic | dark silicate mineral or rock | |
| | with high magnesium and iron | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| variogram | mathematical representation | |
| | of spatial variability | |
| | between data | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| wireframe | computer generated volume | |
| | boundary, usually around | |
| | lithological or Resource | |
| | zones | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| XRF | X-Ray fluorescence; an assay | |
| | technique using x-rays to | |
| | measure element | |
| | concentrations in a sample | |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
| UNITS | | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| cm.g/t | centimetre grams per tonne - | |
| | metal content expressed as | |
| | grade times thickness | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| g | gramme | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| g/t | grammes per metric tonne - | |
| | metal concentration | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| ha | hectare | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| kg | kilogramme, a thousand | |
| | grammes | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| km | kilometre | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| koz | thousand ounces | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| kt | thousand metric tonnes | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| kv | thousand volt | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| kva | thousand volt amperes | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| m | metre | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| mm | millimetre | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| µm | micron, or millionth of a | |
| | metre | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| mt | million metric tonnes | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| moz | million ounces | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| oz | fine troy ounce equaling | |
| | 31.1048 grammes - normal unit | |
| | used in selling gold | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| ppb | parts per billion | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| ppm | parts per million, equivalent | |
| | to g/t | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| t | metric tonne | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| t/m3 | density measured as metric | |
| | tonnes per cubic metre | |
|---------------------+-------------------------------+-------------|
| ° | degrees | |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
---END OF MESSAGE---
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