Mount Burgess Mining (ASX: MTB) Dec quarter sets the stage for proposed diamond drilling at Nxuu

Highlights

• Mount Burgess progressed towards finalising all regulatory requirements as per the DEA suggestions for diamond core drilling at the Nxuu Deposit.
• The proposed drilling campaign would enable the company to proceed with a pre-feasibility study.
• Metallurgical test work is underway to determine the extent of gallium and germanium recovery on site.
• In December quarter, initial gravity and leaching test work was programmed and started in mid-January 2024.

Mount Burgess Mining NL (ASX: MTB) is an ASX-listed company focused on developing its Kihabe and Nxuu polymetallic project in Botswana. The Kihabe – Nxuu Zn/Pb/Cu/Ag/V₂O₅/Ga/Ge project is located on the border with Namibia and covers an area of 1,000 sq km.

MTB intends to develop the estimated 6 million tonne Nxuu Mineral Resource first over the estimated 21 million tonne Kihabe Mineral Resource because the former offers a low cost, low risk, shallow basin shaped deposit, with a depth of 62 metres (maximum).

The company has released its quarterly report for the period ended 31 December 2023. During this quarter, the company focused on meeting regulatory requirements suggested by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the HQ diamond core drilling program on the Nxuu Deposit Indicated/Inferred Resource.

After finalising the drilling program, MTB intends to generate 2012 JORC Code compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Nxuu Deposit. Following the revised MRE, the company would progress towards a pre-feasibility study and then a definitive feasibility study.

Regulatory requirements to advance exploration drilling at Nxuu

A project brief was submitted to the DEA in May 2023, highlighting an exploration drilling plan for Nxuu Deposit. The DEA suggested that the proposed program needed an undertaking of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), submitted by an independent Environmental Consultant.

In August 2023, the company appointed an independent Environmental Consultant.

A draft EIA scoping report was submitted in September 2023, and the company was informed in December 2023 about the acceptance of report by the DEA.

In October 2023, the DEA notified MTB that it would like to conduct a site visit to the project area.  

Site inspection took place in December 2023 by a DEA staff member, post which the company was informed about the requirement for a detailed EIA.

The requirement for a detailed EIA resulted from a recent amendment in the environmental regulations. The updated regulations stipulate that any exploration undertaken on tribal or state land for heavy metals needs to submit a detailed EIA.

Kihabe-Nxuu deposit of MTB lies in tribal land and the company has submitted a detailed EIA and is now awaiting approval.

Metallurgical test work for gallium and germanium recovery from onsite

During the quarter, the company submitted samples to laboratories for metallurgical test work to determine the extent of recovery of gallium and germanium on site.

The samples are ready to undergo mineralogical test work to ascertain the host minerals for germanium and gallium, post which metallurgical test work would commence.

MTB shares last traded at AU$0.003 apiece on 31 January 2024.