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Summary
- MRG Metals is exploring for economic deposits of heavy mineral sands (HMS) in the southern part of Mozambique and is currently focussed on the developing 13 high priority targets across the Corridor Central and Corridor South HMS portfolio.
- Mozambique continues to operate in a COVID-19 Pandemic restricted environment, and MRG Metals has been able to maintain in-country operations and will continue to do so safely until instructed otherwise.
- The Company plans to proceed with its multi-pronged strategy and continue drilling at newer targets while progressing deposit evaluation at its first target, Koko Massava.
- Recently, it announced the commencement of field preparation for an upcoming aircore drilling campaign at Corridor South Project, demonstrating higher grade mineralogy and high grades at the surface.
“This is a very exciting time for MRG Metals as we continue in our mulit-faceted exploration program across our Corridor Central and Corridor South HMS portfolio in Mozambique”, says MRG Metals Chairman Mr Andrew Van Der Zwan.
MRG Metals Limited (ASX:MRQ) is a technically driven and cost effective exploration company that believes that key elements for success are mineralogy, grade and tonnage. The Company’s current strategy involves seeking even higher unit value heavy mineral sand (HMS) deposits across its 100%-owned Corridor Project Portfolio, whilst concurrently progressing the evaluation of its first target, Koko Massava where a JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate has already been defined.
MRG Metals is now moving its attention to other 12 high priority targets across the portfolio where it sees huge potential as there are multiple ways to identify resources to proceed to development and production.
On 17 August 2020, the Company advised that it has begun field preparation for an upcoming aircore drilling campaign at the Corridor South Project. Arrangements remain in place with the drilling contractor to begin drilling when field preparation is complete, adhering to the mitigation of COVID-19 risks.
Kalkine image (Source: MRG Metals Report, 17 Aug 2020)
GOOD READ: Impressive! MRG Metals’ Poiombo Delivers Best Overall Aircore Drill Hole Results
Nhacutse: Maiden Aircore Drill Plan
- Maiden aircore drill program currently anticipated to start in late August 2020.
- The excellent THM grades support Aircore program over the central section of Nhacutse, where the mineralized footprint of auger holes with >5% THM currently covers ~ 2.5km x 1.5km.
- Recent mineral assemblage data has indicated high valuable heavy mineral (VHM) components in the east of Nhacutse- encouraging further follow-up with aircore drilling in these areas.
Priority 1 Area
Currently, an initial 14 aircore holes are planned over the target area and will begin in the Priority 1 area of known high grade VHM (hole 19CSHA067, mineral assemblage sample CSNH03), with drilling then progressing in terms of priority. Reconnaissance aircore holes in the Priority 1 area is expected to explore the potential for high grade mineralisation in an area with known associated high VHM assemblage (68.29% ilmenite+leucoxene, 2.17% rutile, 2.91% zircon).
Besides, deeper drilling to 30 metres may provide samples for determination of VHM assemblage patterns with depth. Aircore holes will also be placed along strike at 1km intervals to the east in order to explore the distribution of the VHM assemblage and THM grades at depth. The Company is likely to understand the high VHM mineral assemblage in the eastern sector of Nhacutse and test it via an associated Qemscan mineralogy program too.
The Company further opines that at eastern sector of Nhacutse, there could have initially been high energy beach HMS deposition from the Limpopo valley source, followed later by a second aeolian (wind) winnowing of the original HMS, reconcentrating the HMS with much less magnetite in the eastern sector.
Priority 2 Area
The Nhacutse central zone, is the Priority 2 area, where a large, >5% THM footprint has been defined from auger drilling. A total of 5 aircore drill holes will be distributed across this Priority 2 area.
Drilling to 30 metres has been designed to explore the depth that high THM grade can extend from the surface, plus the surface extent of the high grade zone. Mineral assemblage results from this area indicate >40% ilmenite+leucoxene and 1.44% zircon.
Priority 3 & 4 Areas
These are basically designed to follow-up and test the depth extent of high grade THM identified by auger drilling, as well as provide samples for assessment of mineral assemblage distribution at depth.
Priority 5 Area
This is designed to explore the potential for high grade HMS mineralisation at depth over the broader Nhacutse radiometric target and further test for increasing VHM in the east.
Poiombo: Follow-up Aircore Drill Plan
- Initial aircore program in March 2020 identified strandline style HMS mineralisation in several holes, including 36m @ 7.09% THM in hole 20CSAC355.
- Follow-up aircore drill program comprising 13 holes has been planned.
At Poiombo, MRG Metals has defined three areas of priority for drilling-
Priority 1 & 2 Areas
These comprise 11 aircore holes, planned to test extension of the very high grade strandline mineralisation to the west and continuity of the same strandline mineralisation along strike to the east, subparallel with the magnetic anomalism. However, drilling seems to be limited by the proximity of the Limpopo River Valley, in the west.
Priority 3 Area
This comprises 2 scout holes designed to explore for high grade HMS mineralisation at depth below auger drill holes which returned high THM grades. Good mineral assemblage results were recently received from the area, with an ilmenite+leucoxene component in the range 42.85–46.50%. The Company regards this to be an important driver for the aircore drilling in the area.
Samples from deeper aircore holes to 30 metres may be used for testing the quality and variability of the VHM assemblage at depth.
Bungane: Reconnaissance Aircore Drill Plan
At the Bungane target, auger hole 20CSHA312 returned an average grade of 7.82% THM over 12m from surface. The Company plans to conduct reconnaissance aircore drilling to further delve into the target.
MUST READ: MRG Metals’ Encouraging Lab Results For Nhacutse & Bungane, Stock Riding High
Way Forward
The aircore drilling is soon to commence at Nhacutse, Poiombo and Bungane HMS targets, immediately on completion of field preparation and rig returning to site (~ 3 weeks). The Company plans to continue undertaking focused Qemscan mineral assemblage analysis to support auger and aircore drilling programs going forward. As Chairman Mr Zwan indicated, MRG Metals has plans to proceed with its multi-pronged strategy, continue drilling at newer targets while it progresses with deposit evaluation at Koko Massava.
MRQ was trading at $ 0.007, mid-day on 18 August 2020.
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