Sun, 24 Sep 2006 23:00:00 PDT
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 09/24/2006 -- African Copper Plc (
- Final results have been received for delineation drilling at the Dukwe deposit in Botswana. Significant intersections of copper have been returned from all mineralization styles.
- Oxide and Supergene mineralization drill results include:
-- 11.19% copper over 6.30 metres;
-- 8.85% copper over 4.58 metres;
-- 5.06% copper over 5.43 metres;
-- 4.93% copper over 8.16 metres;
-- 4.41% copper over 9.37 metres;
-- 3.68% copper over 23.74 metres.
Oxide and Supergene intersections have been reported previously (see press release dated 21 September 2006) in comparison with historic drill results. The intersections reported in this press release use criteria that are consistent with previous press releases for the Dukwe deposit rather than intersections used solely for comparison to historic data. The intersections reported here will therefore differ from those reported on 21 September 2006.
- Sulphide mineralization drill results include:
-- 2.49% copper over 36.38 metres;
-- 4.18% copper over 12.80 metres;
-- 1.55% copper over 18.97 metres.
- With these final results, RSG Global Pty Ltd ("RSG") is currently completing a block model for resource estimation. Results are expected to be released in early October.
- Caracle Creek International Consulting ("CCIC") is completing a parallel resource estimate with results also expected to be released in early October.
African Copper Plc ("African Copper" or the "Company") announces the final results from its 38,000 metre drill program at the Dukwe deposit in northeastern Botswana (see Tables 1 and 2). The Dukwe deposit is planned to be exploited by mining the near-surface sections of the deposit over the first four years. The underlying sulphide mineralization has been the subject of a 38,000 metre delineation drill programme that was completed in late July 2006.
The 14 month diamond drill programme was supervised exclusively by RSG, an independent consultant to the Company.
Previous resource estimates at Dukwe used 235 drill holes (28,079 metres) although only 86 (10,484 metres) of these holes were diamond drilled with recovered core. Taking into account the recently completed drill programme, the combined database for Dukwe now contains over 320 drill holes reflecting over 65,000 metres of drilling. The results of the recently completed programme are sufficiently encouraging that the Board of Directors has approved the commencement of construction of a 3,000 tonne per day concentrator at the Dukwe site (see press release dated 18 September 2006).
The historic database for Dukwe has been verified and accepted by RSG. The above-mentioned combined database for Dukwe is being utilized in a comprehensive resource estimate for the entire Dukwe resource to a depth of 550 metres below surface. The results of this study should be available in early October.
The coarse-grained semi-massive to disseminated nature of the sulphide mineralization at Dukwe has the potential to lead to estimation errors. For this reason, the Company has commissioned CCIC to run a parallel resource estimate utilizing the same database. The use of two globally recognized independent consultants should allow the Company to finalize the resource base that is available to support an extended mine life at Dukwe.
The current drill results from the oxide portions of the deposit are sufficiently encouraging that the Company is re-examining previous open-pit designs to check the economics of extracting this material from surface. Preliminary oxide flotation testwork is also encouraging and the Company expects to be able to report on oxide floatation optimization studies shortly.
Additional information with respect to the Dukwe Project is contained in a technical report prepared by A.C.A Howe International Limited dated March 30, 2006 and entitled "Technical Report on the Dukwe Copper Project and Matsitama Prospecting Licences, Botswana, Africa". This technical report can be reviewed via the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. Cross sections of the drill holes referred to in Tables 1 and 2 below and other drillholes are available on the Company's website at www.africancopper.com.
African Copper is a tri-listed (AIM, TSX, Botswana Stock Exchange) international exploration and development company. The Company is planning to develop its first copper mine at the Dukwe Project and commence production in 2008. The Company's other interests are the 4,000 sq km Matsitama exploration concession adjacent to Dukwe, which contains two known copper deposits and numerous base metal exploration targets. African Copper has approximately 128 million shares outstanding.
Mr. Joseph Hamilton, P.Geo., and Chief Operating Officer of African Copper, is a "qualified person" as defined in Canada by National Instrument 43-101. This press release has been prepared under Mr. Hamilton's supervision. Mr. Hamilton has verified the data disclosed in this press release including the sampling, analytical and test data underlying the information.
This document contains or refers to forward-looking information, including statements regarding the estimation of mineral resources, exploration results and mine development plans, the timing of commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions, and is based on current expectations that involve a number of business risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement include, but are not limited to, failure to establish estimated mineral resources and reserves, the grade and recovery of ore which is mined varying from estimates, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks arising from operating in Africa, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects and other factors. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expected results. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update them or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances other than as
Table 1: Twin Hole drilling program in Oxide and Supergene Horizons,
Dukwe deposit, Botswana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
OXIDE and SUPERGENE Twin Hole Programme
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hole Broad Breccia Package Included Intersections
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. From To Cu% Length From To Cu% Length
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T7MC37 157.60 163.10 0.02 5.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T7MC37 241.43 284.70 1.32 43.27 243.95 249.38 5.06 5.43
------------------------------------------------------------------------
254.12 261.30 3.84 7.18
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T8MR3 55.34 79.20 0.09 23.86
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T9MR4 40.10 55.46 2.71 15.36 44.75 52.91 4.93 8.16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T11BH10 50.32 67.20 4.29 16.88 58.70 65.00 11.19 6.30
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T12BH9.6 67.63 87.60 2.35 19.97 67.63 77.00 4.41 9.37
------------------------------------------------------------------------
81.75 83.00 3.10 1.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T12BH9.6 87.60 93.10 7.40 5.50 87.60 92.18 8.85 4.58
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T13B12 98.10 104.50 0.25 6.40
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T13B12 121.37 143.00 0.33 21.63
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T14BH7.6 20.94 54.79 1.70 33.85 23.00 46.87 2.17 23.87
------------------------------------------------------------------------
49.60 54.79 1.01 5.19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T15BH7.2 41.30 101.75 1.02 60.45 41.30 46.98 4.25 5.68
------------------------------------------------------------------------
55.07 70.32 1.48 15.25
------------------------------------------------------------------------
89.00 94.90 1.07 5.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T15BH7.2 102.85 114.70 0.36 11.85 106.00 108.00 1.23 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T16BH6.8 53.29 84.77 2.80 31.48 54.32 78.06 3.68 23.74
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T16BH6.8 94.90 101.50 2.91 6.60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: All intersections shown above are from diamond drill core. The intersections shown in the table above are not true widths since holes are drilled to the west-northwest or to the east-southeast with collar inclinations of -50 degrees to -70 degrees into the mineralized zone that dips to the east-southeast at -80 degrees to -90 degrees. Samples of half core (0.5m to 1.5m intervals) for the drill holes were cut and placed into sealed bags on the Dukwe site under the direct supervision of RSG Pty Ltd ("RSG"). These were transported weekly by commercial carrier to Johannesburg. All sample preparation and analyses were completed at ALS Chemex laboratories in Johannesburg (ISO 17025 accredited and independent of African Copper and RSG). Copper assays are completed using standard preparation of crushing to 70% less than 2 mm followed by splitting and pulverizing to 85% less than 75 micron. Analyses are generally completed utilizing 27 element four-acid ICP-AES in addition to a four-acid ore-grade element digestion followed by ICP-AES. Any overlimit analyses are reanalyzed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA or ICP-AES finish. QA/QC procedures included the submission by RSG of systematic duplicates, blanks and both low-grade and high-grade standard samples within the sample batches submitted to ALS Chemex. Control samples comprise 20% of all samples submitted. Referee analysis for the entire Dukwe dataset has been supervised by RSG and completed at Genalysis Laboratories in Perth, Australia. The results of the RSG QA/QC programme for copper analyses have been reviewed by RSG and by Joseph Hamilton, P.Geo and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Table 2: Sulphide drilling program, Dukwe deposit, Botswana
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hole Broad Breccia Package Included Intersections
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. From To Cu% Length From To Cu% Length
(m) (m) (m) (m) (m) (m)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW001 147.20 174.50 0.88 27.30 151.20 155.91 0.96 4.71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
165.90 174.50 1.97 8.60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW001 177.16 214.10 0.24 36.94 178.09 181.38 2.36 3.29
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW001 316.50 327.00 0.21 10.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW002 280.32 353.60 0.28 73.28 328.50 332.25 1.31 3.75
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW003C 418.44 457.90 0.77 39.46 418.44 443.58 1.19 25.14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW003C 466.85 493.30 0.09 26.45
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW003C 657.07 693.35 0.31 36.28
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW004B 220.28 224.20 0.03 3.92
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW004B 237.80 275.13 1.28 37.33 237.80 241.17 3.33 3.37
------------------------------------------------------------------------
244.94 248.02 1.13 3.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------
249.77 261.43 2.44 11.66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW004B 304.37 347.02 0.50 42.65 337.90 346.26 1.56 8.36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW004B 428.96 452.66 0.42 23.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW006 260.20 285.59 0.22 25.39
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW006 309.91 331.25 0.04 21.34
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW006 354.65 422.28 0.66 67.63 356.04 358.60 1.86 2.56
------------------------------------------------------------------------
361.60 365.60 1.09 4.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
406.60 410.60 1.31 4.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
413.60 422.28 2.58 8.68
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW007 395.26 399.08 0.12 3.82
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW007 409.89 417.94 3.11 8.05 411.12 416.00 5.03 4.88
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW007 499.69 511.00 0.04 11.31
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW007 511.00 616.61 0.30 105.61 569.19 576.55 2.42 7.36
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW009 472.09 520.72 0.25 48.63 489.10 491.30 0.69 2.20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
506.10 512.55 1.06 6.45
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW009 572.43 603.86 0.20 31.43 582.30 586.13 1.05 3.83
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW009 603.86 694.10 0.48 90.24 666.87 668.92 1.96 2.05
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW009 673.30 676.80 5.45 3.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
687.73 691.37 3.12 3.64
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW063 520.74 547.64 0.17 26.90
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW064 395.50 420.23 0.12 24.73
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW064 420.23 450.35 0.32 30.12
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW065 381.95 392.71 0.53 10.76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW065 400.06 431.67 0.42 31.61 405.81 408.00 4.52 2.19
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW065 439.75 444.95 0.91 5.20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW065 503.60 553.10 0.07 49.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW066 34.50 69.20 1.15 34.70 34.50 44.00 1.45 9.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50.07 69.20 1.30 19.13
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW066 69.20 85.30 0.36 16.10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW067 61.75 64.10 0.01 2.35
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW067 79.66 129.10 1.94 49.44 81.75 86.45 0.81 4.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
92.72 129.10 2.49 36.38
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW067 133.75 169.00 0.44 35.25 157.78 163.42 1.49 5.64
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW069 131.79 157.20 2.27 25.41 131.79 134.55 0.71 2.76
------------------------------------------------------------------------
138.45 151.25 4.18 12.80
------------------------------------------------------------------------
155.00 157.20 0.65 2.20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DW069 195.63 214.60 1.55 18.97 195.63 198.30 3.62 2.67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
201.93 204.30 3.95 2.37
------------------------------------------------------------------------
208.00 212.70 1.83 4.70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T3FB36D1 209.00 255.00 0.59 46.00 209.00 213.27 1.47 4.27
------------------------------------------------------------------------
240.03 243.60 2.64 3.57
------------------------------------------------------------------------
251.60 253.60 1.16 2.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: All intersections shown above are from diamond drill core. The intersections shown are not true widths since holes are drilled to the west-northwest or to the east-southeast with collar inclinations of -50 degrees to -70 degrees into the mineralized zone that dips to the east-southeast at -80 degrees to -90 degrees. Samples of half core (0.5m to 1.5m intervals) for the drill holes were cut and placed into sealed bags on the Dukwe site under the direct supervision of RSG Global Pty Ltd ("RSG"). These were transported weekly by commercial carrier to Johannesburg. All sample preparation and analyses were completed at ALS Chemex laboratories in Johannesburg (ISO 17025 accredited and independent of African Copper and RSG). Copper assays are completed using standard preparation of crushing to 70% less than 2 mm followed by splitting and pulverizing to 85% less than 75 micron. Analyses are generally completed utilizing 27 element four-acid ICP-AES in addition to a four-acid ore-grade element digestion followed by ICP-AES. Any overlimit analyses are reanalyzed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA or ICP-AES finish. QA/QC procedures included the submission by RSG of systematic duplicates, blanks and both low-grade and high-grade standard samples within the sample batches submitted to ALS Chemex. Control samples comprise 20% of all samples submitted. Referee analysis for the entire Dukwe dataset has been supervised by RSG and completed at Genalysis Laboratories in Perth, Australia. The results of the RSG QA/QC programme for copper analyses have been reviewed by RSG and by Joseph Hamilton, P.Geo. and Chief Operating Officer of the Company.
Further information about our properties, to download a copy of our Annual Report or any technical report or to access our Press Release Archive please visit www.sedar.com or our website at www.africancopper.com.
Contacts: African Copper Plc David Jones / Joseph Hamilton +44 (0)20 7321 3721 www.africancopper.com Numis Securities Limited (NOMAD) John Harrison / James Black +44 (0)20 7776 1590 Parkgreen Communications Justine Howarth / Ana Ribeiro +44 (0)20 7493 3713
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