NEW DISCOVERY OF HIGH-GRADE COPPER AT ONGAVA
Sabre Resources Ltd (”žSabre‟) is pleased to announce the discovery of a line of high-grade copper, lead and zinc outcrops at the Kaskara prospect, within the Ongava Poly-Metallic Project, Namibia.
KEY POINTS
High-grade, poly-metallic gossan* discovered along more than 400 m of strike at the Kaskara prospect.
First-pass XRF spot analyses record:
► Copper (Cu) values up to 23.5%.
► Lead (Pb) in excess of 35.0%.
► Zinc (Zn) values up to 34.4%.
► Germanium (Ge) to over 7,000 ppm (0.7%).
► Gallium (Ga) to over 9,000 ppm (0.9%).
Geological setting and metal association is similar to the world-class Tsumeb copper deposit (40 km north).
Exploration is at a preliminary stage.
1 RESULTS OF FIELD SAMPLING
Exceptional high-grade results from the initial phase of fieldwork at the Kaskara prospect within the Ongava Poly-Metallic Project show very high copper, lead, and zinc values in outcrop. Gallium and germanium values are also high. Kaskara was formerly known as Harasib Claims and Harasib III. It is located 16 km southwest of Sabre‟s Border zinc-lead deposit and 2.6 km north of the Driehoek zinc-lead deposit.
The company has identified three distinct zones of mineralisation at surface, over a total strike length of over 400 m. Each mineralised zone is comprised of extensive gossan (Figure 1) with secondary copper, lead and zinc minerals. First-pass spot analyses, using a Niton XLt592 portable XRF (x-ray fluorescence) analyser on gossanous rock chip samples collected from the 3 zones” , yield the following results:
In summary, gossan at Kaskara shows:
Copper (Cu) values up to 23.5%.
Lead (Pb) in excess of 35.0%.
Zinc (Zn) values up to 34.4%.
Germanium (Ge) to over 7,000 ppm (0.7%).
Gallium (Ga) to over 9,000 ppm (0.9%).
Calibration of the XRF with certified high-grade standards (see Appendix for Analytical Method) means that these values provide a realistic first-pass estimate contained within the poly-metallic gossan at Kaskara. Sabre is confident in the veracity of these results (see Appendix) and will not require laboratory analyses of these samples. It is to be expected that future bulk sampling of the gossan will yield results lower than the highest values obtained by this first-pass spot sampling.
2 KASKARA PROSPECT
The Kaskara prospect is within of Sabre‟s Ongava Project (Figure 2) in the Otavi Mountain Land of northern Namibia.
2.1 History
The Kaskara area hosts a number of mine workings on the farm “Harasib Block 648”. It is reported in the Minerals of Namibia Handbook as a series of lead-zinc-vanadium prospects that were worked during the 1940s. No known record of metal production exists. Inspection of the site shows extensive underground mine workings on multiple levels, with several adits and at least 4 shafts and 3 headframes. No evidence of modern exploration could be found in the archives of the Geological Survey of Namibia, nor was evidence of any modern work detected on the ground.
2.2 Surface mineralisation
The gossans are hosted within a broad south dipping alteration zone located within the Elandshoek Formation. Three main gossan occurrences (Zones 1 to 3, Figure 3) are exposed. Most of the copper, lead, and zinc is located within secondary vanadium-rich minerals (vanadates), mainly vanadinite, mottramite, and descloizite (Figure 4). Minor secondary carbonates such as malachite are also present (Figure 4).
It should be noted that investigation of the strike extent of the mineralised horizon is at a preliminary stage and that work is currently underway to determine the true extents of mineralisation along strike (Figure 3).
3 SUCCESSFUL TARGETING METHOD
Consultant Douglas Haynes of Douglas Haynes Discovery Ltd, who was instrumental in the discovery of the giant Olympic Dam deposit at Roxby Downs in South Australia, was contracted to assess the exploration potential of the Ongava Project. Based on numerous geological criteria, he identified the Kaskara / Lucas Post area as having a strong potential for extensive copper mineralisation. The company‟s discovery of copper-rich gossans at Kaskara is confirmation of Mr Haynes’ hypothesis.
4 TSUMEB-STYLE MINERALISATION
Of importance at Kaskara is the high concentration of gallium and germanium in the samples. Arsenic and vanadium values are also high. This metal association is a very similar signature to that of the world-class Tsumeb deposit 40 km to the north. Tsumeb was operational from 1907 to 1993. The total production at Tsumeb was around: 24.8 Mt @ 5.50% Cu, 11.82% Pb, 4.19% Zn, and 171.3g/t Ag (to 1991 – Source: Geological Survey of Namibia). Additionally, a germanium-enriched concentrate was produced from 1954 to 1963, assaying 0.2% to 0.5% Ge. Sabre will focus on a Tsumeb-style model for mineralisation at Kaskara. Early indications are that Kaskara is indeed analogous to the Tsumeb mine.
5 ONGOING WORK
The company is presently detailing the geology of the mineralised horizon and investigating the areas between and along strike from the defined gossan zones. Sampling of regularly-spaced profiles across the three zones will be undertaken shortly. Sabre will update shareholders with further news from the Kaskara prospect as it comes to hand.
6 TRADING HALT
Following the release of this announcement, the company is to remain in a trading halt pending the release of a second announcement regarding a capital raising.
Yours faithfully, Norman Grafton Company Secretary
Sabre Resources Ltd