Rum Jungle Resources Limited (ASX:RUM) Exploration Update At Barrow Creek 1 Phosphate Discovery
Sydney, Mar 4, 2011 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Rum Jungle Resources Limited (
ASX:RUM) today updates on the exploration at Barrow Creek 1 Phosphate Discovery.
A comprehensive exploration program is now underway with a fully self sufficient camp established on site with 16 field personnel operating from the camp. Personnel include 3 geologists, 3 field assistants, a bulldozer operator for line clearing, an excavator operator and full drilling crew from Underdale Drilling, who commenced resource drilling on 3rd March, 2011.
Bullion Drilling will commence widespread exploration drilling along a 25 km cleared base line on Wednesday 9 March, 2011.
Resource Drilling Progress
At the time of writing five holes had been completed on a 200 meter spacing (RC333 to RC337) on the southern most line of the cleared resource grid, which is 600 meters south of the nearest previously drilled high grade intercept (Site of RC 290).
Two of these holes (RC335 and RC336), situated 200 meters apart, intersected 25% plus phosphate at depths of 15 meters and 21 meters respectively (XRF Field assays). The significance of this result is that the resource being drilled will extend beyond the existing grid in some places. A total 337 holes are planned to be drilled on the grid. These new intercepts are over three kilometers south of the trench currently being excavated for metallurgical bulk samples. It is hoped to establish a proven JORC compliant indicated resource in the north of the grid where hole spacing is 100 meters apart over the shallowest part of the prospect and an inferred resource over the remainder.
Metallurgical Samples
A 12.5 tonne excavator has dug a six meter deep trench into high grade (30%) phosphate occurring four meters below the sand surface. Half tonne bulk samples have been taken from the excavation and will be trucked to the AMDEL metallurgical testing laboratory in Adelaide. This sample will be used for testing to see how the material might be mechanically beneficiated by removing or screening some components. The trench was excavated at the site of previously reported air core drill hole 068.
Characteristics of the phosphate horizon demonstrate a soft material easily dug by a small excavator. There is also a distinct band of chert nodules near the top of the ore layer.
Beneficiation tests will be carried out on how best to remove these and possibly upgrade the phosphate content of the end product.
A second trench will be dug into a layer of medium grade (20%) phosphate to test how this may also be beneficiated.
EXPLORATION DRILLING
Geophysical modelling of magnetic data suggests that the depositional shelf ideal for phosphate development extends at least 24 kilometers west of the current drilling. It also appears to be situated on the north edge of a deeper basin which may have been ideal for producing phosphate.
The current exploration line being cleared by bulldozer will allow access to this shelf area.
Commencement of drilling to test this model will be next week.
New Staff Appointment
Dr John Dunster will commence duties as Chief Geologist for the company on 14th March, 2011.
Dr Dunster is a Darwin resident and has spent the past 11 years as a Senior Project Evaluation Geologist with the NT Geological Survey, prior to which he had extensive experience with Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) (NYSE:RIO) throughout Australia.
For the complete Rum Jungle announcement including figures, please view the following link:
http://www.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/351380.pdf
About Verdant Minerals Ltd
Verdant Minerals Ltd's (ASX:VRM) strategic intent is to create shareholder value through the discovery, development and operation of fertiliser and industrial mineral projects, located in close proximity to existing transport infrastructure, with a primary focus on the Northern Territory of Australia.
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