Sable Mining Africa Regulatory News (SBLM)

Sable Mining Africa Ltd/ Index: AIM / Epic: SBLM / Sector: Natural Resources

6 June 2011

Sable Mining Africa Limited ('Sable Mining' or 'the Company')

Acquires Interest in 1 billion tonne potential Lubimbi Coal Project in Zimbabwe

Sable Mining Africa Limited, the AIM listed resource company, is pleased to announce the acquisition, through its wholly controlled subsidiary Somedon Investments (Pvt) Ltd, of a 49% interest in Liberation Mining (Pvt) Ltd ('Liberation'), holder of the 16,545 hectares Special Grant 4977 which covers the Lubimbi Coal Project ('the Project'), in the Gwaai area of the Kariba Coal Basin in Zimbabwe. Historical work has indicated an in-situ coal tonnage in excess of 1 billion tonnes, which the Company aims to prove-up with the immediate implementation of an exploration and development programme.

The Project, which is 35km from the Dete railway siding, is technically supported by two phases of drilling ('the historical data') carried out in the 1980s by the Industrial Development Corporation, and then a recent drilling campaign by Liberation Mining. In the recent drilling programme, 45 holes totalling 4,500m were drilled in the north eastern corner of the Project area. This has highlighted a typical Main Seam sequence as expected in this part of the Kariba Coal Basin. This coal zone is approximately between 20m and 45m in thickness, it outcrops on the north western border of the Project and dips gently to the east at about 2 degrees. These results indicate the viability of tonnage in excess of 1 billion tonnes of in-situ coal, and the analytical work done suggests that a high grade thermal coal and a soft or blend coking coal fraction could be produced.

Sable Mining is commencing a 10,000m Phase 1 drilling programme designed to confirm these tonnages and simultaneously to investigate the potential mix of coking, metallurgical and thermal coal products. This will cover the area at an initial drill spacing of 1km, following which this grid will be closed down to 500m in the areas where the best results are obtained. Two core rigs will be employed with the programme estimated to take 10-12 months to complete. A base camp is being established on site to house the exploration geologists and contain the logistical support for the programme including fuel storage, core storage and communications links. 

Sable Mining CEO Andrew Groves said, "This is a highly prospective concession in a recognised coal district. Results already suggest a tonnage of in excess of 1 billion tonnes of in-situ coal, and that a high grade thermal coal and a soft or blend coking coal could be produced. The seam thickness, continuity and depth all underpin the upside potential of the Project, and we aim to verify these parameters through the aggressive drilling campaign which is due to commence immediately."

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