VMS Style Mineralisation Intersected, Oman

RNS Number : 0524M

Savannah Resources PLC

05 May 2015

 

Savannah Resources Plc / Index: AIM / Epic: SAV / Sector: Mining

5 May 2015

Savannah Resources Plc

VMS Style Mineralisation Intersected in Diamond Drilling Programme, Oman

Savannah Resources plc (AIM: SAV) ('Savannah' or the 'Company') announces drill results from its Block 4 and 5 copper projects in the prospective Semail Ophiolite belt in Oman, which intersected volcanogenic massive sulphide ('VMS') style mineralisation.  To view the press release with the illustrative maps and diagrams please use the following link:

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0524M_-2015-5-1.pdf

HIGHLIGHTS:

·      A five hole (778.60m) diamond drill programme to test a series of high calibre ground Electromagnetic (EM) anomalies completed at the Sarami West (Block 5) and Ghayth (Block 4) prospects

·      Drilling at the Block 4  Ghayth prospect confirmed the presence of VMS mineralisation intersecting both massive and disseminated copper sulphides with best results including:

1.15m at 3.6% copper from 35.5m in 15B4DD001

·      These results build upon historical results which include:

o  15.27m at 6.2% copper from 47.8m in G31-2 (true width approximately 5m)

o  4.29m at 7.2% copper from 37.53m in G31-6

·      Further drilling planned at Ghayth to define full extent of mineralisation and potential resource

·      Drilling at the Sarami West anomaly on Block 5 failed to locate the targeted EM anomalies, but intersected a strong alteration system similar to those seen around the margins of VMS deposits

·      Planning for a downhole EM survey, which will confirm and provide an accurate location of the original EM anomalies, is now underway to optimise targeting of further drilling

·      Exploration work continues to assess the promising, near surface gold potential of Block 4

Savannah's CEO, David Archer said, "We are pleased to confirm VMS mineralisation at Ghayth (Block 4), which continues to provide strong indications that an economic copper deposit could be present.  Whilst we have not yet intersected copper mineralisation at Sarami West, the results clearly highlight that we are hunting in the right area as we are seeing strong evidence of an alteration system that could host VMS mineralisation. It is common in base metal exploration for a downhole EM survey to be required after the initial drilling to provide a more accurate location of the EM anomaly and we look forward to commencing this, with planning currently underway in order to maximise future targeting. 

"Importantly, Blocks 4 and 5 remain well-endowed to provide additions to our copper resource inventory of 1.694Mt at 2.2% copper. We are targeting the most prolific copper production region of Oman and are confident that we will build a mineral resource inventory that will support a copper mine development."

Ghayth Prospect Drilling Block 4

An EM conductor at the Ghayth prospect in Block 4 was selected for drill testing, with one hole (15B4DD001) drilled to a depth of 83.05m to test the conductor (Figure 1-2, Table 1-2). The hole intersected a sequence of altered basalt and a zone of fine grained massive sulphide mineralisation was encountered from 35.5-36.8m interbedded with cherty sediment to form a bedded texture. Assaying of selected mineralised sections of the Ghayth core produced some encouraging results including:

·     1.15m at 3.6% copper from 35.5m in 15B4DD001

Further work is now required including compiling all the historical data to put these results into context and further exploration activities will be conducted.

Figure 1. Ghayth Drill Hole Location Plan and Local Geology (Please view the associated PDF)

Data Set	Hole ID	Hole Type	Max Depth	NAT Grid ID	NAT East	NAT North	NAT RL	Prospect
Block 4	15B4DD01	DD	83.05	WGS84_40N	442950.32	2690711.51	229.03	Gayth

Table 1. Summary of Ghayth Drill Hole Location

Figure 2. Ghayth Drill Cross Section showing massive sulphide intersection (Please view the associated PDF)

	Hole ID	Prospect	Northing	Easting	Azimuth (Deg)	Dip (Deg)	EOH (m)	From (m)	Down hole interval (m)	Grade Cu%	Grade g/t Au	Grade g/t Ag
Savannah holes	15B4DD001	Ghayth	2690712	442950	0	-90	83.05	35.65	1.15	3.6	0.4	11.7
	includes							36.50	0.30	8.8	0.8	33.0
Historical holes	G31-2	Ghayth	2690704	442905	85	-45	109.0	47.80	15.27*	6.2
	G31-6	Ghayth	2690710	442947	0		83.0	37.53	4.29	7.2
	G31-6	Ghayth						57.15	0.30	4.2
	G31-8	Ghayth	2690703	442968	0		63.0	14.62	1.53	1.6
	G31-13	Ghayth	2690671	442954	0		60.0	48.31	1.07	4.9
	*True width approximately

Table 2. Summary of Ghayth significant intercepts

Sarami Prospect Drilling (Block 5)

Two priority EM conductors defined from the MLEM survey were selected for drill testing at the Sarami West prospect. Three diamond cored drill holes were completed targeting the stronger conductor and a further drill hole was completed targeting the second conductor. The drilling programme was stopped following completion of four holes as the drilling failed to intersect the EM conductors. Due to the drilling at Sarami West not intersecting the targeted EM anomalies, the original 10 hole programme detailed in the RNS on 2 February 2015 was cut short to conduct further geophysical test work to better locate the EM anomalies at depth

The holes 15B5DD001 (170m), 15B5DD002 (184.9m) and 15B5DD004 (177.1m) all intersected similar lithology, including moderate amount of epidote-chlorite-pyrite in altered basalt (Figure 3-4, Table 1). The types of alteration intersected in the drilling are typical of the alteration around the margins of VMS deposits. Given the encouraging alteration and the fact that the EM target was not intersected a downhole EM survey is now required to provide an accurate location to the EM conductor before further drilling. Several short intervals of the pyrite mineralisation were assayed but no significant assay results we returned.

Drillhole 15B5DD003 (163.55m) which was drilled targeting the eastern EM anomaly which intersected a zone of altered basalt between 14.5m to 51.4m with moderate to intense pyrite disseminations associated with minor epidote alteration. No obvious source for the EM anomaly was identified in the drilling and further analysis of the target is required. 

Figure 3. Sarami West Drill Hole Location Plan showing EM plates which were tested via drilling (Please view the associated PDF)

Data Set	Hole ID	Hole Type	Max Depth	NAT Grid ID	NAT East	NAT North	NAT RL	Prospect
Block 5	15B5DD01	DD	170	WGS84_40N	479193.4327	2647428.295	221.529022	Sarami West
Block 5	15B5DD02	DD	184.9	WGS84_40N	479249.9	2647483.5	228.3	Sarami West
Block 5	15B5DD03	DD	163.55	WGS84_40N	479594.6647	2647494.48	232.22	Sarami West
Block 5	15B5DD04	DD	177.1	WGS84_40N	479255.9	2647450.2	226	Sarami West

Table 3. Summary of Sarami West Drill Hole Locations

Figure 4. Sarami West Drill section showing large zones of brecciation and alteration (Please view the associated PDF)

Competent Person

The information in this document that relates to exploration results is based upon information compiled by Mr Dale Ferguson, Technical Director of Savannah Resources Limited. Mr Ferguson is a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the December 2012 edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code). Mr Ferguson consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based upon the information in the form and context in which it appears.

**ENDS**

For further information please visit www.savannahresources.com or contact:

David Archer	Savannah Resources plc	Tel: [phone]
Samantha Harrison (Nominated Adviser) Charlie Cryer (Corporate Broker)	RFC Ambrian Limited	Tel: [phone]
Felicity Winkles/ Charlotte Heap	St Brides Partners Ltd	Tel: [phone]

Notes

Savannah Resources Plc (AIM: SAV) is a growth oriented, multi-commodity, exploration and development company.

It has an 80% shareholding in Matilda Minerals Limitada which operates the Jangamo exploration project. On 31 December 2014 Savannah announced maiden, 65Mt Inferred Mineral Resource @4.2% total heavy minerals ("THM") at a 2.5% cut-off grade for Jangamo The project is located in a world class mineral sands province in Mozambique which borders Rio Tinto's Mutamba deposit, one of two major deposits Rio Tinto has defined in Mozambique, which collectively have an exploration target of 7-12Bn tonnes at 3-4.5% THM (published in 2008).

Savannah has interests in three copper blocks in the highly prospective Semail Ophiolite Belt in Oman.   The projects, which have an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource of 1.7Mt @ 2.2% copper and high grade intercepts of up to 56.35m at 6.21% Cu, provide Savannah with an excellent opportunity to potentially evolve into a mid-tier copper producer in a relatively short time frame. Together with its Omani partners, Savannah aims to outline further mineral resources to provide the critical mass for a central operating plant to develop the deposits.

APPENDIX 1 - JORC 2012 Table 1

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections.)

Sampling techniques	·    Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. ·    Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representivity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. ·    Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. ·    In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information.	·    Diamond Drilling ·    All data at the Sarami Prospect has been gathered from diamond core. HQ and NQ core sizes have been used.  Holes have been angles to the west to optimally intersect lithology structures. ·    Core is geologically logged and subsequently halved for sampling using a diamond blade saw with the left hand side of the core removed for analysis.  Samples are then dispatched to Bureau Veritas in Turkey for analysis using the following process route. ·      Dry at 85°C Crush to 70% -10 mesh (2mm), 100% pulverize to 85%passing -200 mesh (75 μm). ·      Au: 30gr Fire Assay / lead collection fusion / AAS finish / 5ppb - 10ppm ·      Au>10ppm (& Ag if also over-limit): 30gr / fire assay fusion / GRAVIMETRIC finish ·      24 Element (Mo, Cu, Zn, Ag, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, As, Sr, Cd, Sb, Bi, Ca,P, Cr, Mg, Al, Na K, W, Hg, S) Aqua Regia Digest ICP-OES finish.
Drilling techniques	·    Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc).	·    Diamond drilling used HQ2 or NQ2 sized equipment.  Diamond core was not orientated.
Drill sample recovery	·    Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. ·    Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. ·    Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material.	·    Diamond core recoveries were recorded in the drill logs.  It is unknown if a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade.
Logging	·    Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. ·    Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. ·    The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged.	·    All diamond drill holes were logged for recovery, RQD, geology and structure. ·    Logging of diamond core recorded lithology, mineralogy, mineralisation, weathering, colour and other features of the samples. Diamond core was photographed wet. ·    All drill holes were logged in full.
Sub-sampling techniques and sample preparation	·    If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. ·    If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. ·    For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. ·    Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. ·    Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. ·    Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled.	·    HQ and NQ core was cut in half using a core saw.  Certified reference standards, blanks and duplicates are routinely inserted in the sample sequence to assess the quality of sampling and analysis. ·    Sample sizes are considered appropriate for the style of mineralization expected.
Quality of assay data and laboratory tests	·    The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. ·    For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. ·    Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision have been established.	·    The analytical techniques used
Verification of sampling and assaying	·    The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. ·    The use of twinned holes. ·    Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. ·    Discuss any adjustment to assay data.	·    No independent or alternative verification of the assays has been made ·    No twin holes have been drilled ·    No adjustments have been made to the assay data
Location of data points	·    Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. ·    Specification of the grid system used. ·    Quality and adequacy of topographic control.	·    Holes have been located using a handheld GPS unit using WGS84 Zone 40N co-ordinates. ·    Holes have been downhole surveyed using a Tropaji single shot device ·    No topographic data is available
Data spacing and distribution	·    Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. ·    Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. ·    Whether sample compositing has been applied.	·    Hole spacing is approximately 40m by 40m ·    Data is not sufficient to establish geological and grade continuity needed for Mineral Resource estimation
Orientation of data in relation to geological structure	·    Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. ·    If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material.	·    Drill holes are angled grid west which is approximately perpendicular to the orientation of the lithological trends ·    Orientation of the holes does not bias sampling data.
Sample security	·    The measures taken to ensure sample security.	·    Chain of custody is managed by Savannah. Samples are stored on site in a locked yard.  Samples are then transported to Turkey by airfreight.  Savannah personnel have no contact with the samples once they have been dispatched
Audits or reviews	·    The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data.	·    No audits or reviews of the sampling techniques or data have been completed.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Mineral tenement and land tenure status	·    Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. ·    The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a license to operate in the area.	·    The Sarami Prospect is located with the exploration permit referred to as Block 5.  Savannah has a 65% interest in the Block with the remainder being held by a local JV partner. ·    The tenement is in good standing with no known impediment to renewal.
Exploration done by other parties	·    Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties.	·    Previous exploration has been completed around Sarami in the late 1990's by JICA and by Gentor in 2010-12.  No previous exploration has been completed at the Sarami West Prospect.
Geology	·    Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation.	·    The deposit type being tested is the Cyprus type VMS model.  VMS mineralization is interpreted to have formed on a mid ocean ridge and then emplaced as an ophiolite on the Arabian Craton.  Several examples of this model exist in the region.
Drill hole Information	·    A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: o easting and northing of the drill hole collar o elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar o dip and azimuth of the hole o down hole length and interception depth o hole length. ·    If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case.	·    The location of the drilling at Sarami West are summarised in Table 1 in the body of this release. ·    No drilling information has been excluded.
Data aggregation methods	·    In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. ·    Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high grade results and longer lengths of low grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. ·    The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated.	·    No drill results have been reported with this announcement
Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths	·    These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. ·    If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. ·    If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known').	·    Exploration results are reported as length weighted averages. ·    No high grade cuts have been applied to the reporting of the exploration results. ·    No metal equivalent values have been used. ·    Down hole intervals have been reported.  True widths are not known.
Diagrams	·    Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported These should include, but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views.	·    Relevant diagrams and maps have been included in the main body of the release.
Balanced reporting	·    Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results.	·    All results have been reported.
Other substantive exploration data	·    Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances.	·    The interpretation of the results at Sarami West are consistent with the observations and information obtained from field mapping and geophysical surveys completed in the area.
Further work	·    The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). ·    Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive.	·    Holes have been cased for possible Downhole EM survey to identify possible off hole conductors.

 

 

END

 

 

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