Drilling confirms high-grade fluorite plus REO discovery at Mount Muambe
- Numerous very high-grade, near surface fluorite drill intersections reported from 14-hole RC program including:
MURC001 15m @ 43.6% fluorite (from surface)
Inc. 10m @ 52.9% fluorite (from 4m)
MURC011 8m @ 47.6% fluorite (from surface)
Inc. 4m @ 62.2% fluorite (from 3m)
& 15m @ 41.1% fluorite (from 18m)
Inc. 10m @ 54.8% fluorite (from 22m)
- Fluorite mineralisation is interpreted to occur in multiple, sub-horizontal, stacked zones (e.g. hole MURC011)
- Numerous associated zones of REO mineralisation in the three holes analysed with significant dysprosium and locally high HREO ratios with results including:
MURC001 8m @ 1.23% TREO, 10.9% HREO/TREO ratio with 102ppm Dy2O3 (from 74m)
MURC011 11m @ 0.39% TREO, 38.4% HREO/TREO ratio with 104ppm Dy2O3 (from 22m)
- Recently completed ground radiometric survey reveals numerous significant REO targets
- Substantial 2011 REO and fluorite exploration program already underway at Mount Muambe
Globe Metals & Mining (“Globe” or “the Company”; ASX: GBE) is pleased to announce analytical results for its maiden drilling program targeting fluorite mineralisation, also with REO, at the Mount Muambe Project in Mozambique. This program of 1,118m in 14 holes was targeted specifically at the known fluorite mineralisation present in surface trenches and outcrop. No holes on the pure REO targets identified by the Company (ASX Announcement 12th January 2011) were drilled because these require more surface definition by mapping and sampling before drilling.
The results from the completed drilling show multiple zones of high grade fluorite mineralisation at Mount Muambe. Significant grades of REO, with many zones having high HREO/TREO ratios, have also been intersected in the drilling.
For the purposes of general comparison, the Okoruso fluorite mine in Namibia has an average grade of 35%, and the Vergenoeg fluorite mine in South Africa has an average grade of 40%. The Witkop fluorite mine in South Africa, currently on care and maintenance, has an average fluorite grade of 15%.
Geology and Mineralisation
Initial observations show that on a broad scale fluorite-REO mineralisation is associated with a northstriking carbonatite/fenite contact. The majority of fluorite mineralisation appears to occur mainly in sub-horizontal screens of fenite surrounded by sill-like carbonatite sheets. Multiple zones of subhorizontal fluorite-REO mineralisation occur and range from a few metres up to about twenty metres thick.
Only three holes were selected for REO analyses (because the drilling was targeting fluorite) in order to understand REO distribution. Both LREO and HREO-enriched zones were encountered in the analysed drill holes, with LREO occurring in carbonatite and HREO zones being associated with fenite-hosted fluorite. Consistent enrichment of dysprosium and other HREOs is a feature of the mineralisation. The remaining eleven holes will now be analysed for REOs given the very encouraging results received from these three selected holes.
Concluding Comments
- The drilling has intersected significant widths of very high grade fluorite mineralisation
- Fluorite mineralisation with associated HREO is interpreted to occur in multiple, stacked, subhorizontal zones, although more drilling is required to confirm this model
- Zones of both LREO and HREO enriched mineralisation occur around the main fluorite prospect
- Much of the REO mineralisation in the carbonatite complex at Mount Muambe appears to be unusually enriched in heavy rare earths (HREO)
- The Company has now demonstrated Mount Muambe to be highly prospective for both high-grade fluorite mineralisation and REOs
2011 Exploration Program
The Company has begun its 2011 exploration program early and is focussing on delineating the numerous REO and fluorite targets discovered by earlier mapping and rock-chip sampling. An initial rock-chip sampling program is already underway. This is to be followed by a substantial drilling program of at least 8,000m, targeting both fluorite and REO.
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