Copper explorer renews EPLs

Australian listed minerals exploration company, Namibia Copper NL on behalf of Gazania Investments 32 and Masterton, has applied for the renewal of two base metal Exclusive Prospecting licences, EPLs 3238 and 3905. Speaking to Enviro Dynamics, the consulting firm tasked to prepare the Environmental Clearance Application, the planned exploration activities for the EPLs are subject to an Environmental Clearance Application as required by the Environmental Management Act.

“The application will be in accordance with the EMA and currently affected parties are being invited to participate in this process,” announced Enviro Dynamics. “Following last year’s announcement in November by Namibian Copper NL on its completion of its drilling programme at its Ongombo copper-silver project in central Namibia, the drilling programme that occurred comprised 23 effective drill holes for 2426 metres of reverse circulation percussion drilling (pre-collars) and 776 metres of diamond drill core to test near-surface mineralisation in the Central Shoot of the Ongombo deposit.” According to their announcement last year, samples are currently being collected from the drill cores and will be submitted for assay soon. The Central Shoot mineral resource has been identified as a potential near-surface mining development opportunity.
“This latest drilling programme has successfully confirmed the continuity of the mineralised zone and the visually estimated intersection widths and grades are comparable to historical drilling intersections. Furthermore, the drilling has successfully increased the down-plunge extent of mineralisation in the Central Shoot by 400 metres. The resource is still limited only by the current drilling. An updated resource estimate, incorporating the new drilling intersections will be calculated when assay results are available. This resource estimate will be utilised to support ongoing feasibility studies for mining development,” they added. The Ongombo Project, Namibia Copper NL’s principle project in Namibia is the 80% owned EPL 3238. The Ongombo project covers an area of 14,524 ha and is located approximately 45 km northeast of Windhoek and 20 km from the Otjihase underground copper mine currently operated by Weatherly International plc. EPL 3238 was originally granted to Starlight Resources who entered into an agreement with Avanti Resources. Nambia Copper NL formed a joint venture with Starlight and Avanti to create the Gazania Investments Thirty Two joint venture.
The Gazania joint venture was approved by the Ministry of Mines.
The Ongombo deposit comprises JORC compliant measured and indicated resources of 6.7Mt @ 1.5% Cu, 8g/t Ag and 0.3g/t Au (at a 0.6% Cu cut-off grade); and an Inferred resource of 3.8Mt @ 1.7% Cu, 9g/t Ag and 0.3g/t Au (refer to NCO ASX announcement dated 8 October 2012).