Chris Heminway, Exec-Chair at Time To ACT, explains why now is the right time for the Group to IPO. Watch the video here.

Less Ads, More Data, More Tools Register for FREE

Pin to quick picksKavango Resources Regulatory News (KAV)

Ben Turney, CEO, Kavango Resources will be presenting and taking live Q&A at focusIR Investor Webinar on 14th May. Please register here.

Share Price Information for Kavango Resources (KAV)

London Stock Exchange
Share Price is delayed by 15 minutes
Get Live Data
Share Price: 1.225
Bid: 1.15
Ask: 1.30
Change: 0.00 (0.00%)
Spread: 0.15 (13.043%)
Open: 1.225
High: 1.225
Low: 1.225
Prev. Close: 1.225
KAV Live PriceLast checked at -

Watchlists are a member only feature

Login to your account

Alerts are a premium feature

Login to your account

Carbonatite orientation programme at Ditau

16 Sep 2019 07:00

RNS Number : 3620M
Kavango Resources PLC
16 September 2019
 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 16 September 2019

 

KAVANGO RESOURCES PLC

("Kavango" or "the Company")

 

Carbonatite orientation programme at Ditau

 

Kavango Resources plc (LSE: KAV), the exploration group listed on the Standard List segment of the main market of the London Stock Exchange and targeting the discovery of world-class mineral deposits in Botswana, is pleased to announce an update on the Company's Ditau Project.

 

Highlights

 

o Further analysis of assay and geochemical results from February's core drilling, suggests the presence of "fenitization", a type of alteration associated with carbonatites

o 10 magnetic "ring structures", which are prospective for carbonatites, have now been identified within the Ditau licences.

o Carbonatites often contain numerous economic minerals and are the primary source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs).

o Kavango recently learned of 3 carbonatites that were discovered in the 1970s by Falconbridge less than 25km from the Ditau drill sites.

o Kavango is initiating an orientation programme over the Falconbridge carbonatites (within the Company's existing budget).

o Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) have been signed with several major and mid-tier mining firms concerning a possible Ditau Joint Venture

 

Background

 

Ditau comprises two prospecting licences (PLs), which cover an area of 1,386km2. Kavango originally identified a magnetic anomaly at the first of these two licenses, which the directors believed presented an attractive exploration target.

 

In February 2019 the Company drilled two holes into the "original" Ditau magnetic anomaly (the "Ditau Camp Prospect"). Assay and whole rock geochemistry results from these two holes, released in early August, demonstrated the presence of an extensive zone of highly altered Karoo sediments sitting above a mafic intrusive body. The alteration extended to over 300m in depth in both holes, which were 1.8km apart.

 

The geochemistry obtained from the drill core suggested that the alteration was due to "fenitization", a type of extensive alteration associated with alkali magmatism and carbonatites. Carbonatites are the major global source of Rare Earth Elements (REEs).

 

The Ditau Targets

 

Analysis of existing airborne magnetic data identified 10 "ring structures" aligned along a SW-NE axis in the Ditau area. Ring structures are typical of alkali magmatism, which are often accompanied by the intrusion of carbonatite in the form of plugs or dykes.

 

Recognition of this hitherto unknown complex of alkali ring structures (including at least one possible kimberlite) prompted Kavango to apply for the second PL at Ditau, which was granted in June of this year.

 

Carbonatites are the principal primary source of REEs including the much sought after elements Neodymium (Nd) and Praseodymium (Pr), which are used in the manufacture of the new generation of electric vehicles (EVs), magnets and other high tech applications.

 

The board believes that Ditau's post-Karoo age is likely to be conformable with the Longonjo Nd/Pr carbonatite open pit deposit, being developed in Angola by Pensana Metals. The Company will seek to confirm this through further exploration.

 

The Falconbridge Carbonatites

 

Subsequent to the release of August's drill results from Ditau, Kavango learned that the Canadian miner Falconbridge drilled into 3 carbonatites in the early 1970s at a location less than 25km from Ditau and hosted by similar Karoo country rocks.

 

Falconbridge was looking for kimberlites in the area, which contains a cluster of over 20 kimberlites discovered at the same time. Kimberlites are the primary source of diamonds. Carbonatites have similar looking magnetic and gravity signatures.

 

The carbonatites that Falconbridge intersected were of post Karoo age and lie just below the Kalahari sand cover and would therefore have been amenable to open pit mining. Any carbonatites discovered at Ditau are likely to be of the same age and lie relatively close to surface.

 

The one carbonatite sampled by Falconbridge reported high grades of Niobium.

 

Next Steps

 

Kavango now plans to undertake an orientation exercise to assess the geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the Falconbridge carbonatites. This will assist in the exploration for and discovery of carbonatites within Kavango's licences.

 

Using funds already set aside for the further work on the Ditau licences, the Company will undertake surveys over some of all of the 10 ring structures to identify carbonatite targets. Targets can be tested by relatively shallow and cheap percussion drilling.

 

The objective is to demonstrate over the coming months the existence of carbonatite within Kavango's Ditau licences

 

Joint Venture Discussions

 

In order to offset the costs of a prolonged exploration programme, which may involve extensive resource drilling, Kavango has signed Non-Disclosure Agreements with several major and mid-tier companies concerning possible future joint ventures. The orientation programme (described above) is expected to support these discussions and the Company will provide further updates in due course.

 

 

Michael Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Kavango Resources, commented:

"There is mounting evidence that Ditau is at the centre of a previously unrecognised alkali magmatic complex. The current orientation exercise is designed to confirm the existence of carbonatite associated with the 10 ring structures identified to date. A number of mining companies have shown interest in this project and we look forward to working with an industry partner to realise fully its potential."

 

 

 

Further information in respect of the Company and its business interests is provided on the Company's website at www.kavangoresources.com and on Twitter at #KAV.

 

 

Note to Editors:

 

Economic Potential of Carbonatites

 

Until recently carbonatites were regarded as unusual and academically interesting geological bodies but significant interest was only generated once the demand for REEs was established (in the last few years). Hitherto many carbonatites were mined for their phosphate content (fertilizer), or for economic deposits of Niobium, Strontium, Uranium, Thorium, Magnetite, Barium and Vermiculite. One of the world's most productive carbonatites, Palabora, has been in production continuously since 1953 and is South Africa's principal source of copper. About one out of nine carbonatites world-wide have been mined commercially (Simandi & Paradis 2018).

Both the market and production of REE's is dominated by China who are also leading the research into the technological application of these metals. Western countries have recently become alarmed about the strategic advantage that China now exerts over REE technology such that new deposits of these elements are in high demand.

 

For further information please contact:

 

Kavango Resources plc +44 20 3651 5705

Michael Foster

mfoster@kavangoresources.com

 

SI Capital Limited (Joint Broker) +44 1483 413500

Nick Emerson

 

Turner Pope Investments (Joint Broker) +44 20 3657 0050

Andy Thacker

 

****************************ENDS**************************************

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
END
 
 
MSCEAXNSFEFNEFF
Date   Source Headline
8th Sep 20207:00 amRNS3D Model confirms KSZ Norilsk rock formations
6th Aug 20207:00 amRNSNew Petrology Report for KSZ, Botswana
24th Jul 20207:00 amRNSTR-1 Notification of holdings in the Company
23rd Jul 20201:46 pmRNSResult of Annual General Meeting
17th Jul 20207:00 amRNSConversion of Power Metals Convertible Loan Note
12th Jun 20207:00 amRNSKalahari Suture Zone Botswana, 3D modelling update
3rd Jun 20207:00 amRNSKalahari Copper Belt Prospecting Licences Granted
26th May 20207:00 amRNSResults for the year ended 31 December 2019
13th May 20207:00 amRNSExploration Plan - Kalahari Suture Zone, Botswana
1st May 20207:00 amRNSNew Corporate Presentation
29th Apr 20207:00 amRNSTR-1 Notification of holding in the Company
29th Apr 20207:00 amRNSMineral Systems Review of the KSZ, Botswana
23rd Apr 20207:00 amRNSOngoing project progress in Botswana, and Covid-19
15th Apr 20204:35 pmRNSIssue of loan notes to directors and managers
15th Apr 20207:00 amRNSFinancing and 51% sale of Ditau
17th Feb 20207:00 amRNSKalahari Copper Belt - Joint Venture signed
13th Feb 20207:00 amRNSResults of drilling undertaken on the KSZ Botswana
16th Dec 20197:00 amRNSPhase 1 drilling completed on the KSZ, SW Botswana
2nd Dec 20197:00 amRNSDrilling on KSZ identifies magma plumbing system
29th Nov 20197:00 amRNSSulphide mineralisation intersected on the KSZ
22nd Nov 20197:00 amRNSDrilling Progress on KSZ in SW Botswana
28th Oct 20197:00 amRNSUpdate on drilling - KSZ Project in SW Botswana
16th Oct 20194:15 pmRNSTR-1 Notification of holding in the Company
15th Oct 20197:00 amRNSDrilling started on the KSZ in SW Botswana
2nd Oct 20197:00 amRNSKSZ drilling programme to start early October
24th Sep 20197:00 amRNSKSZ conductors ready for drilling
16th Sep 20197:00 amRNSCarbonatite orientation programme at Ditau
2nd Sep 20197:00 amRNSKalahari Copper Belt - MOU signed
12th Aug 20197:00 amRNSDitau Q&A published on the Company's website
5th Aug 20197:00 amRNSInterim Results
2nd Aug 20197:00 amRNSDitau check assay results
18th Jul 20197:00 amRNSDitau assay results
15th Jul 20197:00 amRNSNew Licence acquired at Ditau, Botswana
1st Jul 20197:00 amRNSAppointment of Joint Corporate Broker
21st Jun 20197:00 amRNSResults of Annual General Meeting
5th Jun 20197:00 amRNSPhase 2 AEM survey: data processing results
16th May 20197:00 amRNSDrilling update at Ditau, KSZ Project, Botswana
15th May 20194:40 pmRNSSecond Price Monitoring Extn
15th May 20194:35 pmRNSPrice Monitoring Extension
30th Apr 20192:47 pmRNSResults for the year ended 31 December 2018
29th Mar 20194:00 pmRNSTR1 - Notification of major shareholdings
25th Mar 20197:00 amRNSDrilling update at Ditau, KSZ Project, Botswana
18th Mar 20197:00 amRNSPhase 2 Airborne Electromagnetic Survey completed
5th Mar 20197:00 amRNSAdditional Equity Placement
25th Feb 20197:00 amRNS£500,000 Equity Placement
28th Jan 20197:00 amRNSDrilling to commence in Botswana
21st Jan 20197:00 amRNSPhase 2 airborne EM survey mobilised in Botswana
10th Dec 20187:00 amRNSSignificant drill targets identified in Botswana
22nd Oct 20187:00 amRNSStrategic Licence acquisitions - Botswana
15th Oct 20187:00 amRNSBotswana electromagnetic survey Phase1 complete

Due to London Stock Exchange licensing terms, we stipulate that you must be a private investor. We apologise for the inconvenience.

To access our Live RNS you must confirm you are a private investor by using the button below.

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.

Quickpicks are a member only feature

Login to your account

Don't have an account? Click here to register.