What to know about Mount Burgess’ (ASX: MTB) plan for Nxuu polymetallic deposit

Highlights

• MTB is committed to developing the Kihabe and Nxuu zinc/lead/silver/germanium/gallium/vanadium deposits in Botswana.
• To date, 70 holes have been drilled at the Nxuu deposit.
• Estimated mineral resource of Nxuu deposit is 6 million tonnes.
• The company plans to undertake HQ diamond core drilling to enable quotation of an Indicated/Measured Resource Estimate.

Mount Burgess Mining NL (ASX: MTB) is an ASX-listed company which is currently focused on developing the Kihabe and Nxuu deposits in Botswana.

The company is committed to developing Nxuu before Kihabe, even though it is smaller than the latter in terms of estimated mineral resources, because it offers a low cost, lower risk and shallow basin-shaped basin. There are other factors such as the average depth of Kalahari sand cover that aided the company’s decision. 

Overview of Nxuu deposit

To date, 70 holes have been drilled at the Nxuu deposit, and the average depth to base of mineralisation included in the existing mineral resource estimate (MRE) is 48.3m. The mineralisation occurs within an oxidised/weathered quartz wacke, amenable to processing to generate metals on site.

Data source: Company Update

Recently, 40 holes were assayed for gallium and germanium and 43 holes were assayed for vanadium. 40 drill holes contained 1,198.5m of mineralised drill core lengths to base of mineralisation (BM). The combined or individual mineralised intersections within 1,198.5m comprises-

Data source: Company Update

Germanium and gallium are modern metals with significant demand and require access to imported supply. These metals are listed by the United States Geological Survey as critical minerals.

Test work required for recovery of metals on site

By employing solvent extraction and electro winning, 93% zinc can be recovered from the oxide mineral smithsonite.

By gravity separation, Pb can be recovered as a concentrate, followed by flotation of oxide mineral cerussite.

Gravity separation, followed by subjecting the tail to flotation, applying hydroximate acid for recovery, from the oxide mineral Descloizite can assist in recovering 85% V₂O₅.

To maximise Ag recoveries from oxide deposits, international Ag operations have created processing circuits within concentrators.

Currently, to ascertain appropriate processing routes for Ga/Ge recovery from high percent oxide mica concentrates, metallurgical test work is underway.

Plans for Nxuu deposit

To enable quotation of measured and indicated resource estimate, further 2,600m of HQ diamond core drilling is necessary, says MTB. Afterward, a preliminary feasibility study can be undertaken, followed by a definitive feasibility study.

To initiate drilling, the company awaits approval from the Department of Environmental Affairs in Botswana.

MTB shares traded at AU$0.003 on 27 November 2023.