Metals of Africa to start drilling for Broken Hill-style deposits at Rio Mazoe (2014-10-24) Metals of Africa (ASX:MTA) will next week begin the highly anticipated drilling program at its Rio Mazoe project in Mozambique targeting shallow Broken Hill-style lead-zinc-copper occurrences. The company is fresh from raising $5 million through a placement and rights issue last month. Two rigs will be used concurrently for the reverse circulation and diamond drilling program of up to 5,000 metres. The Cassidy Shea will be the first prospect to be drilled – targeting coincident surface mineralisation with induced polarisation geophysical anomalies. Rio Mazoe comprises eight exploration licences in the central province of Tete, Mozambique. It was first identified by BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) in 2001 following a $20 million helicopter stream sediment sampling program across 5 countries. “We are very excited to be embarking on this round of drilling,” executive director Cherie Leeden said. “The drill program has been designed to test the depth extent of a number of compelling Broken Hill Type zinc-copper-lead targets that have been identified as a result of the systematic surface advancement at our Rio Mozoe Project.” A detailed Rio Mazoe exploration update including a summary of recent ground geophysical results will be announced next week. Drilling Program Details The company has contracted Mitchell Drilling to carry out the drilling program, which will commence next week and run for about two months. While the actual number of holes and the total metres drilled in the program will depend on the geology intersected in each hole, it is anticipated that approximately 25 holes will be drilled for 3,000 metres of reverse circulation and 2,000 metres of diamond core. The Cassidy Shea, Rhodonite Hill and Downeaster targets are the highest ranked of the 39 prospects at Rio Mazoe. Already identified at Cassidy Shea are multiple zones of outcropping zinc and copper mineralisation, with analysis of rock chip samples returning up to 11.9% copper and 4.37% zinc. Rio Mazoe The Rio Mazoe Project is located in the central province of Tete, Mozambique, and was first identified by BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) in 2001 following a $20 million helicopter stream sediment sampling program across 5 countries. It comprises eight exploration licences that are considered highly prospective for zinc, lead and silver. Maiden drilling at Rio Mazoe completed in April 2013 had returned results including 1.75 metres at 0.43 grams per tonne silver, 0.43% copper, 1.55% lead and 5.21% zinc and 1 metre at 63.28g/t silver, 0.6% copper, 9.32% lead and 10.81% zinc. Analysis Drilling at Rio Mazoe will test the depth extent of Broken Hill Type zinc-copper-lead targets that have the potential for the discovery of a major deposit. This is notable given that work at Cassidy Shea has already identified multiple zones of outcropping zinc and copper mineralisation. Rock chip samples have returned up to 11.9% copper and 4.37% zinc.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 16:38:27 +0000
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