TIDMAFP
RNS Number : 9418O
African Pioneer PLC
06 February 2023
06 February 2023
African Pioneer Plc
("African Pioneer" or "the Company")
Central Africa Copperbelt - Update on Shallow and DRC-style
copper occurrences
African Pioneer plc ("APP" or the "Company") is pleased to
report on results from shallow drilling at several targets, as well
as two potentially significant copper intercepts from deeper
drilling on a conceptual target undertaken by First Quantum
Minerals Limited ("First Quantum"), operating in northwest Zambia
under an Option Agreement with APP's 80% owned subsidiary African
Pioneer Zambia Ltd.
Highlights
-- The fourth quarter 2022 report from joint venture partner
First Quantum confirms encouraging copper oxide intercepts at three
shallow drill targets and potentially significant copper
mineralisation in two holes on a separate licence being explored
for geological settings similar to the giant Kamoa-Kakula deposits
in the DRC.
-- Preliminary analytical results for shallow air-core drilling
completed in the previous quarter over soil geochemical targets on
licence 27770-HQ-LEL recorded several copper mineralised intervals
hosted in black shales on the Turaco and Eagle targets - final
assay results are awaited.
-- Two deep drillholes were completed 5km apart at the Ikatu
target on licence 27767-HQ-LEL to test if the geologic setting is
analogous to the 'Western Foreland' domain in the nearby DRC, host
to Ivanhoe Mines Limited's Kamoa-Kakula mines, projected to be one
of the highest grade major copper mines in the world. The target
Diamictite unit was encountered in both holes, with visible copper
mineralisation being identified at different stratigraphic levels
in each hole:
o Hole IKDD001A intersected chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite
copper mineralisation about 180m below the Diamictite unit over
2.9m from 430.9m depth
o Hole IKDD002 encountered a 2m zone of strong alteration and irregular disseminated chalcocite mineralisation at the base of the target Diamictite unit at about 600m depth
-- First Quantum considers it is a positive sign to see copper mineralisation at the same Grand Conglomerat/Diamicrite stratigraphic level as at Kamoa-Kakula in DRC.
-- Future work planned by First Quantum includes additional AMT
geophysical survey lines in 27767-HQ-LEL, further diamond drilling
at the Ikatu target, follow up diamond drilling at the Turaco and
Eagle targets and aircore drilling of additional targets in 27770-
and 27771-HQ-LEL.
Colin Bird, Executive Chairman, commented: " The latest
quarterly report from First Quantum continues to provide
encouragement. Two key targets have been identified - near surface
oxide mineralisation of potentially considerable extent, together
with mineralisation similar to that found at Ivanhoe's high grade
Kamoa mine across the border in DRC, which represents a new
discovery for the APP licence block. The 'Western Foreland' domain
is a significant high grade copper target for several groups
exploring in the region.
We are very pleased at how First Quantum is progressing work on
the APP licence block - as always, a high level of knowledge and
thought is being applied to the exploration programme."
Work Completed
Air-Core Drilling Analytical Results
pXRF analytical results have now been received for sample pulps
from the 2022 air-core shallow drilling programme at Turaco and
Eagle targets in 27770-HQ-LEL. Selected intervals of interest are
shown in Table 1 below. At Turaco, best results were from the north
of the target where drillhole TUAC012 intersected several
significant copper intercepts within a silicified and talc-altered
black shale, including an oxide mineralised zone with 8m @ 1.19% Cu
from 5m depth. Elsewhere at Turaco, another drillhole intersected
1m @ 1.14% Cu within a thin black shale unit.
At Eagle target, the best intercept was in drillhole EAAC005
which intersected 29m @ 0.33% Cu, including 7m @ 0.61% Cu within a
strongly chlorite-clay altered rock.
Table 1 - Selected pXRF* Analytical Intervals From
Aircore Drilling Programme
Target Hole No. Depth Depth Interval Cu%
From (m) to (m) (m)
----------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
Turaco TUAC012 5 20 15 0.80
----------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
incl. 5 13 8 1.19
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
30 36 6 0.34
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
44 57 13 0.73
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
61 75 14 0.57
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
TUAC017 66 67 1 1.14
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
Eagle EAAC005 37 66 29 0.33
----------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
incl. 46 53 7 0.61
--------------------- ----------- -------- --------- -----
It is planned to send samples from TUAC012 for a 4-acid ICP
analysis with ALS Global laboratories in Johannesburg to check for
cobalt and other metal contents not possible to analyse with
pXRF.
Drillholes adjacent to TUAC012, interpreted to be within the
footwall of the mineralisation in TUAC012, exhibit strong magnesian
hydrothermal alteration within shales, breccias and diamictite.
These drillholes also contain abundant pyrite mineralisation as
well as minor chalcopyrite.
'Framework' Diamond Drilling - Ikatu Target
Two diamond drillholes were successfully completed at the Ikatu
target about 5km apart within the Western Foreland domain in
licence 27767-HQ-LEL. Both holes encountered copper mineralisation
at two different stratigraphic positions.
The first drillhole (IKDD001A, 603.0 m), intercepted a
diamictite unit from 229m to 252m, but with no visible copper
mineralisation. The diamictite has an oxidised sandstone matrix as
opposed to the reduced diamictite which hosts copper mineralisation
at Kamoa-Kakula in DRC. However, at greater depth in IKDD001A, a
2.9m intersect of copper mineralisation (chalcocite, bornite and
chalcopyrite) was encountered from 430.9m to 433.8m at the top of a
sequence of reduced rhythmites (sandstone-siltstone and shale
interbeds).
The second drillhole (IKDD002, 650.3m) also intersected the
diamictite unit from 593.3m to 602.3m. For the most part, the
diamictite unit is hematitic and oxidized, as in IKDD001A, but at
the base of the unit there is a 2m interval with strong chlorite
alteration and disseminated chalcocite mineralisation selectively
targeting certain clasts. First Quantum considers it is a positive
sign to see copper mineralisation at the same part of the
stratigraphy as at Kamoa-Kakula in DRC.
No analytical information is available as yet for the
mineralisation encountered in these holes. First Quantum plans to
send half core samples to the ALS Global laboratory in Johannesburg
for 4-acid ICP analysis.
Planned Work
Further planned work includes:
3/4 Additional AMT survey lines in 27767-HQ-LEL
3/4 Further diamond drilling at Ikatu target in 27767-HQ-LEL
3/4 AC drilling of additional targets in 27770- and 27771-HQ-LEL
3/4 Sampling of remaining soils in 27771-HQ-LEL (Chibwika East)
3/4 Mapping and soil sampling in 27767- and 27768-HQ-LEL
3/4 Follow up diamond drilling at Turaco and Eagle targets
*Air Core sampling / pXRF analysis methodology
Each one metre interval Air Core sample is riffle split before
being despatched to Intertek prep lab in Kitwe, Zambia. Samples are
dried at 1050degC for 8 hours, pulverised and sieved to 180 micron
(SP13 method). The prepared samples were then transported to an
in-house lab at Kansanshi, where the powdered pulps are analysed by
a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) instrument, analysing for 28
elements. The pXRF analysis includes the use of regular standards
and blanks for calibration however some variation to wet assay
laboratory techniques can be expected and results are therefore
considered indicative only.
Background Information
The APP licence package covers part of the north-western
extension of the Zambian Copperbelt. The properties are located
within 80-100km of First Quantum Minerals Sentinel copper mine, one
of the largest copper mines in Africa, with current Measured and
Indicated Resources 867.1Mt @ 0.44% Cu. It also lies close to the
Enterprise nickel deposit (37.7Mt @ 1.03% Ni), also owned by First
Quantum Minerals, which is under development.
The projects lie on the Lufilian Fold Belt in the Domes region
of the Central African Copperbelt, straddling the western boundary
of the Kabompo Dome, underlain principally by rocks of the Lower
and Upper Roan, as well as the stratigraphically higher Kundelungu
and Nguba Groups. This geological package is similar in age and
rock type to that hosting the major copper deposits of the
Copperbelt, including Sentinel. Therefore, the licence areas are
considered to be strongly prospective for Copperbelt-type
copper/cobalt and/or nickel deposits. They are historically
underexplored, representing the westerly extension of the
Copperbelt which has not been investigated in detail, as previous
work focussed primarily on the central part of the zone.
On the Luamata South licence (27771-HQ-LEL), African Pioneer
acquired a valuable exploration package arising from recent work by
MMG Zambia Ltd ('MMG') which highlighted strong soil/airborne
magnetic targets that were not drill tested, as MMG pulled out of
Zambia. The Kasongo licence (27770-HQ-LEL) was recently held by
Anglo American which also carried out airborne magnetic surveying
and reconnaissance soil sampling before exiting the Copperbelt. The
soil data highlighted several copper anomalies of considerable
interest.
African Pioneer Plc
Colin Bird
Executive Chairman +44 (0)20 7581 4477
Beaumont Cornish (Financial Adviser)
Roland Cornish +44 (0) 020 7628 3396
Novum Securities Limited (Broker)
Jon Belliss +44 (0) 20 7399 9400
or visit https://africanpioneerplc.com/
The information contained within this announcement is deemed by
the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of
UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018 ("UK MAR").
Qualified Person:
Technical information in this announcement has been reviewed by
Edward (Ed) Slowey, BSc, P.Geo, a technical adviser to African
Pioneer Plc. Mr Slowey is a graduate geologist with more than 40
years' relevant experience in mineral exploration and mining, a
founder member of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland and is a
Qualified Person under the AIM rules. Mr Slowey has reviewed and
approved this announcement.
Glossary
"Air-core drilling" A rotary drilling technique employing an annular
drag bit in which cuttings and small core samples
are recovered through the drill rods by compressed
air
"audio-magneto A geophysical technique that measures variations
telluric (AMT)" in the Earth's natural electromagnetic fields
to detect electrical resistivity variations in
the subsurface
"bornite" A copper-iron sulphide mineral, Cu5FeS4, often
found in copper ores
"breccia" Rock fragmented into angular components
"calcite" Calcium carbonate, CaCO3
"carbonaceous" Descriptive of a sedimentary rock containing organic
material
"chalcocite" A copper sulphide mineral, Cu2S, found in zones
of secondary enrichment of copper ores
"chalcopyrite" A copper-iron sulphide mineral, CuFeS(2) , often
found in copper ores
"chlorite" Dark green, platy, hydrous silicate mineral of
iron, magnesium and aluminium related to mica
"diamictite" A lithified sedimentary rock that consists of
non-sorted to poorly sorted terrigenous sediment
containing particles that range in size from clay
to boulders, suspended in a matrix of mudstone
or sandstone
"diapir" The movement of salt from deeper strata up through
the overlying strata under lithostatic pressure
"dolerite" A dark coloured fine- to medium-grained mafic
intrusive rock composed of plagioclase feldspar
and pyroxene
"dolomite" Calcium-magnesium carbonate mineral, (CaMg)CO3,
or a rock composed largely of the mineral dolomite
"DRC" Democratic Republic of the Congo
"ferruginous" Containing the element iron
"hematite" A mineral composed of ferric iron oxide
"hydrothermal" Descriptive of hot magmatic emanations rich in
water
"ICP analysis" An analytical method that provides total elemental
analysis of materials in aqueous solution
"Indicated That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity,
Mineral Resource" grade (or quality), densities, shape and physical
characteristics are estimated with sufficient
confidence to allow the application of Modifying
Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning
and evaluation of the economic viability of the
deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately
detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and
testing gathered through appropriate techniques
from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes, and is sufficient to
assume geological and grade (or quality) continuity
between points of observation where data and samples
are gathered. (JORC 2012)
"intrusive" A body of igneous rock that invades older rocks
"laterite" A strongly leached iron and aluminium rich rock,
formed at the surface by weathering in tropical
conditions
"lithotectonic" Relating to structurally controlled features within
rock packages
"mafic" Containing or relating to a group of dark-coloured
minerals, composed chiefly of magnesium and iron,
that occur in igneous rocks
"magnesian" A type of rock alteration introducing the magnesium
carbonate mineral, MgCO3
"malachite" A green copper carbonate mineral (Cu(2) (OH)(2)
CO(3) ) which forms by alteration of copper sulphide
minerals
"Measured Mineral That part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity,
Resource" grade (or quality), densities, shape, and physical
characteristics are estimated with confidence
sufficient to allow the application of Modifying
Factors to support detailed mine planning and
final evaluation of the economic viability of
the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from
detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and
testing gathered through appropriate techniques
from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits,
workings and drill holes, and is sufficient to
confirm geological and grade (or quality) continuity
between points of observation where data and samples
are gathered (JORC 2012)
"metamorphosed" A rock that has been altered by physical and chemical
process involving heat, pressure and derived fluids
"micaceous" Consisting of, containing or pertaining to the
platy mineral mica
"mineralisation" The concentration of metals and their chemical
compounds within a body of rock
"ppm" Parts per million
"pXRF" Hand-held instrument to determine the chemistry
of a sample by measuring the fluorescent (or secondary)
X-ray emitted from a sample when it is excited
by a primary X-ray source
"pyrite" Iron sulphide mineral, FeS2
"quartzite" A silica rich metamorphic rock formed from sandstone
"salt diapir" The movement of salt from deeper strata up through
the overlying strata under lithostatic pressure
"sandstone" A sedimentary rock usually composed essentially
of sand-sized quartz grains
"shale" A fine-grained laminated sediment
"silicified" An altered rock whereby original rock minerals
are chemically replaced by various forms of silica
which generally harden the rock
"sill" A tabular sheet of intrusive rock which is parallel
to the planar structure in the surrounding rock
"stratigraphic" Pertaining to the inter-relationship of rocks
in a geometric, spatial or time sense
"talc" A soft platy mineral with the general formula
Mg(6) Si(8) O(20) (OH)(4)
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END
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