Pensana Metals Ltd (ASX: PM8) has reported positive assay results from a further 41 drill holes of the 7,000 metre, infill and extension drilling programme at the Longonjo NdPr Project in Angola.
Executive Director and COO Dave Hammond said the drilling programme is being undertaken in support of the project’s Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS).
The new results include high grade shallow intersections from an area 600 metres west of the current Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) pit design.
Mr Hammond said the infill drilling demonstrates the continuity of this 400m long zone of weathered mineralisation, which remains open to the north.
He added that the company expects the infill drilling will allow this area of Inferred category mineralisation to be upgraded to the Indicated category of mineral resource, allowing its inclusion into the mine plan
Drilling also intersected continuous zones of fresh rock hosted mineralisation above 3% REO from surface.
Highlights included
- 14 metres at 85% REO including 1.07% NdPr from 4 metres;
- 36 metres at 74% REO including 1.10% NdPr from 16 metres;
- 10 metres at 65% REO including 0.95% NdPr from surface
- 13 metres at 36% REO including 0.93% NdPr from surface to end of hole
“These high-grade drill results are from well outside the limits of the current pit design and suggest the potential to extend the open pit and mine life at Longonjo,” Mr Hammond said.
“The drilling programme is now complete and we look forward to reporting results from a further 138 drill holes.
“Areas of deep weathering have been intersected in the north and south of the project that are also outside of the mine plan as defined by the PFS.
“Assay results are also awaited from infill drill holes in the main high grade weathered zone, as well as from the first systematic drill testing of a zone of fresh rock hosted mineralisation that has the potential to add a further dimension to the project.
“We expect to be able to upgrade significant amounts of currently Inferred Mineral Resource to the higher Indicated JORC category, thereby extending the current mine life at Longonjo after the completion of additional Definitive Feasibility Study work programmes.”
