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ASX ANNOUNCEMENT & MEDIA RELEASE
17 March 2011
EXTENSIVE MINERALISATION INTERSECTED AT KASKARA
KASKARA DRILLING INTERCEPTS EXTENSIVE MINERALISATION
Significant copper-lead-zinc-vanadium mineralisation was intercepted by diamond drilling during Sabre's pilot programme at Kaskara, in the middle of the Otavi Mountainland of northern Namibia.
The copper, lead and zinc mineralisation is largely in the form of vanadates rather than sulphides and is ubiquitously associated with iron oxides (hematite) at Kaskara. Even outside of the well-mineralised zones, hematite dustings on features like joint surfaces are associated with highly anomalous copper, lead and zinc values.
Drilling has intercepted several very thick mineralised iron oxide zones, but the soft and friable nature of the material has resulted in many of the samples being washed away by the drilling process and not recovered. Of the recovered samples, several intercepts have been confirmed:
KKDD029*, 21.9m @ 0.45% Cu, 5.79% Pb, 1.81% Zn, and 1.41% V, from 54.0m
KKDD026*, 6.0m @ 0.21% Cu, 2.70% Pb, 1.34% Zn, and 0.50% V, from 34.9m
KKDD025, 2.7m @ 0.69% Cu, 10.45% Pb, 3.40% Zn, and 2.41% V, from 0m
KKDD025, 1.0m @ 0.35% Cu, 3.11% Pb, 0.80% Zn, and 0.73% V, from 24m
KKDD024, 2.0m @ 0.11% Cu, 1.30% Pb, 0.96% Zn, and 0.29% V, from 22m
KKDD021, 4.0m @ 0.12%Cu, 1.05% Pb, 0.39% Zn, and 0.24% V, from 22m
There are large sections where no sample was obtained and the above intercepts represent only those portions of those sections where sample was able to be recovered. In particular, the intercepts recorded in KKDD029 and KKDD026 represent portions of material recovered from broad zones of extreme core loss. These zones of core loss, which could not be recovered for technical reasons, are being considered as likely mineralised zones.
* Intervals uncertain due to poor core recovery, requires confirmatory drilling.
Figure 1 - Cross sections of mineralisation at Kaskara, and the associated zones of extreme core loss. Pink areas are zones of extreme core loss (very little drill core recovery) which most likely are host to Cu-Pb-Zn-V mineralisation. Yellow zones represent assayed mineralisation from recovered drill core Red zones are outcropping and intercepted mineralised gossans. Red lines on core represent core recovery of less than 50% (core recovery of less than 80% is generally considered very low).
Zones of extreme core loss: mineralised zones
Several zones of extreme core loss are coincident with abundant hematite. Recovery of a few hematitic core fragments in these zones has shown, through assay and handheld analysis, that they host hematitic copper-lead-zinc mineralisation. The major zones of core loss include:
KKDD021
3.0m @ 17.7% core recovery (from 0m); and 53.1m @ 25.0% core recovery (from 47.0m to EOH).
KKDD023
12.0m @ 45.7% core recovery (from 80.0m); and 51.0m @ 42.7% core recovery (from 107.0m).
KKDD024
45.0m @ 34.9% core recovery (from 40.7m).
KKDD026
3.7m @ 16.3% core recovery (from 5.4m); and 9.0m @ 37.8% core recovery (from 14.0m); and 9.4m @ 24.5% core recovery (from 31.6m to EOH).
KKDD027
16.0m @ 41.0% core recovery (from 18.0m).
KKDD029
48.8m @ 15.5% core recovery (from 1.0m); and 34.6m @ 13.3% core recovery (from 55.8m).
It is important to note that core recoveries should be 100% (i.e. 1m drilled equals 1m of core recovered). Recoveries below 80% are unusual. A 15% core recovery (e.g. KKDD0029) means that 85% of the material has not been recovered. It is clear that unusual material has been intercepted in these zones.
Core loss at Kaskara ”” technical information
The gossans are silicified at surface only, becoming quite soft and friable (loose) at depth. Drilling has largely not recovered this material ”” it has instead been washed away by the drilling process. The driller recorded the common occurrence of "red water" coinciding only with extreme core loss, indicating physical breakdown of hematitic material which is commonly host to mineralisation.
In addition to the results recorded above, other recovered fragments of the loose hematitic material record significant copper, lead, zinc, and vanadium content when analysed using a handheld spectrometer. Combined, these factors suggest that at least some of these broad intervals of core loss correspond to mineralised intercepts that have not been recovered.
Triple tube drill rods, which protect soft or friable material during drilling with a separate inner metal sleeve, have arrived on site to test some of these thicker zones. Some of the new holes will be drilled adjacent to those holes with extreme core loss.
Relationship of oxide zones to sulphides
The soft, oxidised, hematitic mineralised zones are considered to be in contact with sulphide mineralisation at depth, and have formed as a result of very deep weathering of the rocks in the vicinity of this mineralisation. There is clearly a genetic relationship between the oxide material and sulphide mineralisation which has been documented at other deposits in the region, including Tsumeb and Berg Aukas.
Upcoming drilling will continue to follow these irregular zones to depth in order to track our way to the sulphide mineralisation below.
UPCOMING WORK AT KASKARA
With the forthcoming easing of the wet season rains, Sabre will begin clearing access on the hill at Kaskara. A series of tracks and drill pads will be constructed to enable access to areas that were not accessible in the recent pilot programme.
The upcoming drill programme will comprise deep pattern drilling, using a combination of RC and triple tube diamond drilling. Around 30 holes are planned. This programme will drill deep beneath the outcropping gossans to intercept sulphide mineralisation at depth.
17 March 2011
EXTENSIVE MINERALISATION INTERSECTED AT KASKARA
KASKARA DRILLING INTERCEPTS EXTENSIVE MINERALISATION
Significant copper-lead-zinc-vanadium mineralisation was intercepted by diamond drilling during Sabre's pilot programme at Kaskara, in the middle of the Otavi Mountainland of northern Namibia.
The copper, lead and zinc mineralisation is largely in the form of vanadates rather than sulphides and is ubiquitously associated with iron oxides (hematite) at Kaskara. Even outside of the well-mineralised zones, hematite dustings on features like joint surfaces are associated with highly anomalous copper, lead and zinc values.
Drilling has intercepted several very thick mineralised iron oxide zones, but the soft and friable nature of the material has resulted in many of the samples being washed away by the drilling process and not recovered. Of the recovered samples, several intercepts have been confirmed:
KKDD029*, 21.9m @ 0.45% Cu, 5.79% Pb, 1.81% Zn, and 1.41% V, from 54.0m
KKDD026*, 6.0m @ 0.21% Cu, 2.70% Pb, 1.34% Zn, and 0.50% V, from 34.9m
KKDD025, 2.7m @ 0.69% Cu, 10.45% Pb, 3.40% Zn, and 2.41% V, from 0m
KKDD025, 1.0m @ 0.35% Cu, 3.11% Pb, 0.80% Zn, and 0.73% V, from 24m
KKDD024, 2.0m @ 0.11% Cu, 1.30% Pb, 0.96% Zn, and 0.29% V, from 22m
KKDD021, 4.0m @ 0.12%Cu, 1.05% Pb, 0.39% Zn, and 0.24% V, from 22m
There are large sections where no sample was obtained and the above intercepts represent only those portions of those sections where sample was able to be recovered. In particular, the intercepts recorded in KKDD029 and KKDD026 represent portions of material recovered from broad zones of extreme core loss. These zones of core loss, which could not be recovered for technical reasons, are being considered as likely mineralised zones.
* Intervals uncertain due to poor core recovery, requires confirmatory drilling.
Figure 1 - Cross sections of mineralisation at Kaskara, and the associated zones of extreme core loss. Pink areas are zones of extreme core loss (very little drill core recovery) which most likely are host to Cu-Pb-Zn-V mineralisation. Yellow zones represent assayed mineralisation from recovered drill core Red zones are outcropping and intercepted mineralised gossans. Red lines on core represent core recovery of less than 50% (core recovery of less than 80% is generally considered very low).
Zones of extreme core loss: mineralised zones
Several zones of extreme core loss are coincident with abundant hematite. Recovery of a few hematitic core fragments in these zones has shown, through assay and handheld analysis, that they host hematitic copper-lead-zinc mineralisation. The major zones of core loss include:
KKDD021
3.0m @ 17.7% core recovery (from 0m); and 53.1m @ 25.0% core recovery (from 47.0m to EOH).
KKDD023
12.0m @ 45.7% core recovery (from 80.0m); and 51.0m @ 42.7% core recovery (from 107.0m).
KKDD024
45.0m @ 34.9% core recovery (from 40.7m).
KKDD026
3.7m @ 16.3% core recovery (from 5.4m); and 9.0m @ 37.8% core recovery (from 14.0m); and 9.4m @ 24.5% core recovery (from 31.6m to EOH).
KKDD027
16.0m @ 41.0% core recovery (from 18.0m).
KKDD029
48.8m @ 15.5% core recovery (from 1.0m); and 34.6m @ 13.3% core recovery (from 55.8m).
It is important to note that core recoveries should be 100% (i.e. 1m drilled equals 1m of core recovered). Recoveries below 80% are unusual. A 15% core recovery (e.g. KKDD0029) means that 85% of the material has not been recovered. It is clear that unusual material has been intercepted in these zones.
Core loss at Kaskara ”” technical information
The gossans are silicified at surface only, becoming quite soft and friable (loose) at depth. Drilling has largely not recovered this material ”” it has instead been washed away by the drilling process. The driller recorded the common occurrence of "red water" coinciding only with extreme core loss, indicating physical breakdown of hematitic material which is commonly host to mineralisation.
In addition to the results recorded above, other recovered fragments of the loose hematitic material record significant copper, lead, zinc, and vanadium content when analysed using a handheld spectrometer. Combined, these factors suggest that at least some of these broad intervals of core loss correspond to mineralised intercepts that have not been recovered.
Triple tube drill rods, which protect soft or friable material during drilling with a separate inner metal sleeve, have arrived on site to test some of these thicker zones. Some of the new holes will be drilled adjacent to those holes with extreme core loss.
Relationship of oxide zones to sulphides
The soft, oxidised, hematitic mineralised zones are considered to be in contact with sulphide mineralisation at depth, and have formed as a result of very deep weathering of the rocks in the vicinity of this mineralisation. There is clearly a genetic relationship between the oxide material and sulphide mineralisation which has been documented at other deposits in the region, including Tsumeb and Berg Aukas.
Upcoming drilling will continue to follow these irregular zones to depth in order to track our way to the sulphide mineralisation below.
UPCOMING WORK AT KASKARA
With the forthcoming easing of the wet season rains, Sabre will begin clearing access on the hill at Kaskara. A series of tracks and drill pads will be constructed to enable access to areas that were not accessible in the recent pilot programme.
The upcoming drill programme will comprise deep pattern drilling, using a combination of RC and triple tube diamond drilling. Around 30 holes are planned. This programme will drill deep beneath the outcropping gossans to intercept sulphide mineralisation at depth.
