AMN - SOUTH AFRICA: Promising results from Blesberg

Australian Vanadium has received promising tantalum, lithium and beryllium results from drilling at Blesberg project in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Pegmatite intersections from 38 holes contains average of greater than 50% feldspar and the drilling has confirmed the extension of pegmatite beyond the historical mine.

Australian Vanadium has identified an opportunity for niche, high-value feldspar product with accessory mineral credits.

The company’s objective was to assess the value of the lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) pegmatites at Blesberg, including the volume of ceramic grade feldspar, spodumene, beryl and tantalite.

The ASX-listed company completed 41 holes for 3128 metres) of reverse circulation (RC) drilling.

The best tantalum results include 8 metres at 1532 ppm tantalum, including 1 metre at 8190 ppm; 5 metres at 414 ppm, including 1 metre at 1535 ppm; and 7 metres at 349 ppm, including 1 metres at 2080 ppm.

Best lithium and beryllium results include 2 metres at 10,505 ppm lithium including 1 metre at 20,100 ppm; 2 metres at 1000 ppm beryllium, including 1 metre at 1160 ppm; and 2 metres at 913 ppm beryllium, including 1 metre at 1490 ppm.

The company is now aiming to proceed to calculate and report a resource estimate.

The main products produced from historical mining at Blesberg were feldspar, beryl, bismuth, tantalite, columbite, spodumene and mica. Historical feldspar production was reported to be of very high quality, with the feldspar being pure white and unstained by iron oxide.

Its coarse grain size and low iron content are an attractive feed for glass making and other ceramic uses.

One of feldspar’s key new uses is in the production of solar glass used in solar cells.

The extension of the Blesberg pegmatite under shallow cover is considered significant, making it potentially amenable to low cost open-cut mining which will be further evaluated by the company.

Australian Vanadium is focusing on the opportunity presented by the high quality feldspar mineralisation including the by-product extraction of lithium, beryllium and tantalum minerals.

Samples from the drilling and existing excavation are being collected to complete first-pass, low-cost metallurgical recovery tests.

Confirming the recovery of a significant portion of the high quality feldspar is central to the future of the project.

www.australianvanadium.com.au