Modern Mining July 2019

MINING News

Maiden JORC resource estimate for Namibian tantalite mine

dilution of pure kimberlite and, as the min- ing operations go deeper, it is expected that the dilution will reduce further. A new opencast mining contractor, Teichmann Mining (South Africa), has been appointed and should be fully operational on site by the end of this month (July). BlueRock’s management is continuing to develop and refine its mining plan in order to optimise mining across the five known kimberlite pipes at Kareevlei in line with the company’s strategy to have a higher level of flexibility in the mining operation. The company is also consider- ing ways to increase monthly production to above the current target of 40 000 tonnes a month. “I am very pleased with the impact that our new CEO at Kareevlei and his team have made,” comments BlueRock’s Executive Chairman, Mike Houston.“Whilst the management team is conscious that there are a number of milestones to reach if we are to bring real value to our share- holders, the improved grade and price per carat achieved in H1-2019 is a strong indication of the potential of the Kareevlei resource. “The immediate impact of the new team gives us confidence in our ability to take production to the next level. Once we have achieved our key objective of oper- ating the company profitably, which we expect to happen in the second half of 2019, we will explore how to increase pro- duction volumes further to the optimum level which the resource can comfortably sustain. With all this in mind, we remain on track to meet our guidance targets for 2019 and 2020.”  facilities had to be managed on a bespoke basis, unlike traditional under- written syndications. Nedbank CIB navigated lenders through the regula- tory changes and riskmitigants inherent in the transaction, giving them time to familiarise themselves with the deal. The result was a first-of-its-kind syndicated Tanzanian shillings mining transaction, using a mechanism where acceding Tanzanian shillings lenders de-risked the existing US dollar lender. It reportedly provided certainty for GGML, while sounding out the market for credit appetite among local lenders to participate in local currency. 

Kazera Global, the AIM-quoted invest- ment company which, through its stake in African Tantalum (Pty) Limited (Aftan), has an interest in the Namibia Tantalite Investment Mine (NTI) in Namibia, has announced maiden JORC (2012)-compli- ant mineral resource estimates over the Homestead and Purple Haze deposits at the mine. The combined total indicated and inferred tantalite and lithium mineral resources at Homestead and Purple Haze are estimated at 324,6 kt, with further resource upside expected to be identified. Strong grades of tantalite occur across both deposits, with an average grade of 323 parts per million (ppm) Ta 2 O 5 including 911 ppm Ta 2 O 5 in the indicated tantalum mineral resource at Purple Haze. Both deposits have higher-than-anticipated grades of lithium, with an average grade of 4 410 ppm Li 2 O, including 10 800 ppm Li 2 O in a portion of the Homestead mineral resource. According to Kazera, the Homestead resources are in line with pre-drill esti- mates, showing both strong tantalite and lithium potential for economic production with total indicated and inferred resources of 199,1 kt and an average tantalite grade of 237 ppm Ta 2 O 5 and an average lithium grade of 3 875 ppm Li 2 O across the deposit.

The Purple Haze resources are above pre-drill estimates and also show strong tantalite and lithium potential for eco- nomic production, with total indicated and inferred resources of 125,5 kt and an average tantalite grade of 459 ppm Ta 2 O 5 and an average lithiumgrade of 5 259 ppm Li 2 O across the deposit. Kazera says that further tantalite and lithium resources are expected to be added to the JORC (2012)-compliant mineral resource estimate across Tantalite Valley, through exploration at the Homestead, Purple Haze, White City and Signaalberg deposits. “We are delighted by these initial results, particularly those at Purple Haze where there exists significant opportu- nity to deliver high quantities and grades of both tantalite and lithium,” comments Larry Johnson, CEO of Kazera. “The initial resource numbers at Purple Haze were ahead of what we initially expected and we look forward to additional resources there and at White City, Signaalberg and – through additional drilling – at Homestead. “With a water supply option, govern- ment certified, via the Orange River, and a maiden JORC-compliant mineral resource confirmed, NTI continues to show the capacity to become a long-term mine for stable production.” 

The Namibia Tantalite Investment Mine in southern Namibia (photo: Kazera).

July 2019  MODERN MINING  5