Positive Drill Results at Ngualla Rare Earth Project
WEST PERTH, AUSTRALIA -- (Marketwire) -- 11/09/12 -- Peak Resources Limited ("Peak" or "the Company") (ASX: PEK) (OTCQX: PKRLY), the developer of a potentially low cost, long term rare earth project in Tanzania, today announced additional new drill results from its 100%-owned Ngualla Rare Earth Project in Tanzania.
The results extend the current resource model a further 200m and in-fill drilling has further confirmed the continuity of high grade rare earth mineralization in the resource. The Scoping Study, which will include a preliminary economic assessment of the project is on track for completion before the end of December 2012 and a revised Mineral Resource estimate is scheduled for completion by end of the first quarter 2013 to support the project feasibility studies due to commence early in 2013.
Figure 2: Plan of new rare earth intersection highlights (new results hole numbers labelled) and drilling completed to date coloured by maximum down hole REO%, holes drilled and awaiting results and Ngualla Mineral Resource block model (+3% REO).
Drill results highlights:
New assay results from recent drilling of the southern extension to the Southern Rare Earth Zone (SREZ) identify additional near surface mineralisation. New intersections from this area include:
NRC227: 28m at 2.57% REO* from surface
NRC228: 46m at 2.29% REO from 50m
NRC234: 41m at 2.96% REO from surface
NRC237: 31m at 2.66% REO from surface to end of hole
These near surface mineralized intersections will extend the current resource model a further 200m to the south.
Additional infill drilling continues to confirm the continuity of high grade rare earth mineralisation extending from surface to depths of over 100m vertical. New intersections include:
NRC240: 24m at 5.64% REO from surface
NRC242: 121m at 4.86% REO from surface to end of hole
NRC245: 112m at 5.16% REO from surface to end of hole
NRC248: 36m at 5.28% REO from surface
NRC250: 112m at 4.67% REO from surface
NDD011: 153.04m at 4.14% REO from surface
The current field program is nearing completion with just 8 holes remaining to complete the planned drilling.
*REO = Total Rare Earth Oxide. See Table 3 for drill intersection details and Table 2 for individual rare earth distribution.
Background:
The Ngualla Rare Earth Project is a recent discovery. The maiden Mineral Resource of 170 million tonnes at 2.24% REO* announced on 29th February 2012 ranks as the fifth largest rare earth deposit in the world outside of China.
The total resource includes a higher grade, near surface zone of:
40 million tonnes at 4.07% REO for 1.6million tonnes of contained REO.
(*REO = total rare earth oxides including yttrium. See Table 1 for Mineral Resource classification details)
Ngualla has several fundamental geological aspects that offer distinct advantages for development over other rare earth projects. These include the large size of the deposit, the outcropping, high grade mineralisation amenable to open cut mining with low strip ratios, favourable mineralogy for processing and the lowest uranium and thorium levels of any major rare earth deposit in the world.
Peak has identified and proved a simple sulphuric acid leach processing route to produce a high grade, high purity rare earth concentrate and continues to make rapid progress towards developing Ngualla into a low cost producer.
The scoping study, which will include a preliminary economic assessment of the project, is on track for completion by end December 2012.
Drilling Program
Drilling is continuing on site to infill the area of the SREZ targeted for first production. The program is providing the detailed data and samples required to support the metallurgical test work in progress and feasibility studies due to commence in 2013.
New assay results have been received from an additional 26 drill holes completed in the southern part of the Southern Rare Earth Zone (Figure 2).
Infill holes continue to return high grade intersections from surface within weathered carbonatite with a best intersection of:
NRC245: 112m at 5.16% REO from surface to end of hole
See Table 3 for this and other new drill intersection details and Figure 2 for location map of new results
The new results continue to confirm the robust nature and continuity of this enriched, near surface weathered mineralisation in the heart of the bastnaesite zone targeted for first production.
Drill holes completed to the south of the current Mineral Resource model have intersected rare earth mineralisation from surface (Figure 2). The best new intersection in this area was:
NRC234: 41m at 2.96% REO from surface
Although slightly lower grade, these near surface mineralised intersections within weathered carbonatite extend the SREZ a further 200m to the south.
Assay results for a further 36 completed drill holes are waited and, at 5th November 2012, just 8 holes remain to complete the current drilling program.
An updated Mineral Resource estimate will be completed according to the JORC Code and Guidelines by the end of the first quarter 2013. This new resource model will provide the detailed geological, geochemical and metallurgical information required to feed into project feasibility studies scheduled to commence in early 2013 after completion of the current Scoping Study in December 2012.
The Company will continue to provide regular updates regarding the progress of the SREZ drilling and assay results as they are received.
Appendix:
Table 1: Classification of Mineral Resources for the Ngualla Rare Earth Project, 1.0% and 3.0% REO cut-off grades (February 2012).
JORC Resource Contained REO
Lower cut-off grade Category Tonnage (Mt) REO (%)* tonnes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.0% REO Measured 29 2.61 750,000
Indicated 69 2.43 1,700,000
Inferred 72 1.92 1,400,000
Total 170 2.24 3,800,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.0% REO Measured 11 3.99 430,000
Indicated 21 4.09 850,000
Inferred 8.7 4.11 360,000
Total 40 4.07 1,600,000
*REO (%) includes all the lanthanide elements plus yttrium oxides. Figures above may not sum precisely due to rounding. The number of significant figures does not imply an added level of precision.
Table 2: Relative components of individual REO's (including yttrium) as a percentage of total REO at the Ngualla Southern Rare Earth Zone ( > 1% REO) compared to other large rare earth deposits.
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Ngualla Nolans Mountain Baiyunebo Mt Weld CLD
Bore Pass
% % % % %
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Light Rare
Earths Lanthanum 27.1 19.1 33.2 27.1 23.9
---------------------------------------------------------------
Cerium 48.3 48.7 49.1 49.9 47.6
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Praseodymium 4.74 5.93 4.34 5.15 5.16
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Neodymium 16.3 20.5 12.0 15.4 18.1
---------------------------------------------------------------
Samarium 1.65 2.30 0.80 1.15 2.44
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Heavy Rare
Earths Europium 0.35 0.39 0.12 0.19 0.53
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Gadolinium 0.78 0.99 0.17 0.40 1.09
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Terbium 0.07 0.08 - - 0.09
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Dysprosium 0.17 0.32 - 0.30 0.25
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Other 0.10 0.21 0.16 0.03 0.12
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Other Yttrium 0.52 1.35 0.10 0.20 0.76
---------------------------------------------------------------
100 100 100 100 100
---------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Arafura Website and *= Ngualla Mineral Resource >1% REO.
The bold typed rare earths denote the five "critical rare earths", which are predicted to be in undersupply in the years ahead and predicted to command significantly higher value than other rare earths. (US DoE, 'Critical Materials Strategy' report, December 2011).
The critical rare earths contribute the majority of the value from Ngualla at 56% of the in ground value. Of these, neodymium is the main single rare earth value driver, contributing 34%, (relative rare earth oxide prices: Metal Pages, 11th September 2012).
Table 3: Southern Rare Earth Zone - rare earth RC and diamond drill intersections, +1 % REO
Selected intersections + 2% REO in italics and minimum 4m intersection width.
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Hole
Hole ID East North Depth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) REO %
(m)
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NRC226 482,239 9,147,704 96 0 4 4 2.51
8 40 32 2.16
52 64 12 3.09
72 96 24* 2.75
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC227 482,001 9,147,603 120 0 28 28 2.57
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC228 482,080 9,147,602 120 0 4 4 1.40
10 26 16 2.60
50 96 46 2.29
100 104 4 2.00
108 114 6 2.38
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC229 482,158 9,147,600 55 2 6 4 1.52
14 26 12 1.10
34 38 4 2.39
44 48 4 1.29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC231 482,315 9,147,599 120 0 8 8 1.20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC232 482,076 9,147,500 120 0 20 20 1.88
26 50 24 2.43
58 68 10 1.01
72 80 8 1.23
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC233 482,158 9,147,499 25 0 4 4 1.64
8 25 17* 1.74
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC234 482,153 9,147,498 46 0 41 41 2.96
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC235 482,155 9,147,499 29 0 29 29* 2.16
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NRC237 482,080 9,147,505 31 0 31 31* 2.66
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC239 482,547 9,147,712 82 6 10 4 2.22
54 58 4 1.95
72 78 6 2.21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC240 482,116 9,148,099 49 0 45 45 3.59
(incl. 0 24 24 5.64)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC241 482,113 9,148,100 120 0 92 92 2.89
96 106 10 1.82
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC242 482,360 9,148,096 121 0 121 121* 4.86
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NRC243 482,434 9,148,098 120 0 33 33 1.77
46 120 74* 1.59
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NRC244 482,441 9,14,8147 120 0 120 120* 3.15
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC245 482,400 9,148,147 112 0 112 112* 5.16
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NRC246 482,356 9,148,151 11 0 6 6 3.77
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NRC247 482,360 9,148,146 120 0 11 11 4.76
15 120 105 3.07
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC248 482,322 9,148,150 79 0 75 75 3.93
(incl. 0 36 36 5.28)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC249 482,276 9,148,153 120 0 120 120* 3.92
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NRC250 482,179 9,148,239 115 0 112 112 4.67
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDD010 482,439 9,148,277 115 0 77.8 77.8 4.53
80.8 88.5 7.7 1.48
90.55 92.6 2.05 1.56
96.1 102 5.9 1.32
112.1 115 2.9* 2.34
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDD011 482,160 9,148,105 180 0 153.04 153.04 4.14
175.41 180 4.59* 1.58
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: REO = total rare earth oxides including yttrium. See Table 2 for relative distribution of individual rare earth oxides. Samples are 2m composites from angled -60 degrees west RC drilling except for NDD** holes which are PQ diamond from surface and RC holes NRC237 and NRC250 which are drilled at 090 degrees azimuth (north). Intersections calculated using 1% REO lower cut and a maximum of 2m internal dilution. Analysis by SGS laboratory, Perth, by 4 acid digest and ICP or XRF. Co-ordinate system is Arc 1960 UTM zone 36S. * = hole ended in mineralisation.
The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled and/or reviewed by Dave Hammond who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Dave Hammond is the Technical Director of the Company. He has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Dave Hammond consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
The information in this report that relates to Mineral Resources is based on information compiled by Rob Spiers, who is a member of The Australasian Institute of Geoscientists. Rob Spiers is an employee of geological consultants H&S Consulting Pty Ltd. Rob Spiers has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2004 Edition of the 'Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves'. Rob Spiers consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.
Safe Harbor Statement
The information in this document has been prepared as of October 15, 2012. Certain statements contained in this document constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward looking information under the provisions of Canadian provincial securities laws. When used in this document, the words "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "will," "planned," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements or information.
Such statements include without limitation: statements regarding timing and amounts of capital expenditures and other assumptions; estimates of future reserves, resources, mineral production, optimization efforts and sales; estimates of mine life; estimates of future internal rates of return, mining costs, cash costs, minesite costs and other expenses; estimates of future capital expenditures and other cash needs, and expectations as to the funding thereof; statements and information as to the projected development of certain ore deposits, including estimates of exploration, development and production and other capital costs, and estimates of the timing of such exploration, development and production or decisions with respect to such exploration, development and production; estimates of reserves and resources, and statements and information regarding anticipated future exploration; the anticipated timing of events with respect to the Company's minesites and statements and information regarding the sufficiency of the Company's cash resources. Such statements and information reflect the Company's views as at the date of this document and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Many factors, known and unknown could cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements and information. Such risks include, but are not limited to: the volatility of prices of gold and other metals; uncertainty of mineral reserves, mineral resources, mineral grades and mineral recovery estimates; uncertainty of future production, capital expenditures, and other costs; currency fluctuations; financing of additional capital requirements; cost of exploration and development programs; mining risks; community protests; risks associated with foreign operations; governmental and environmental regulation; the volatility of the Company's stock price; and risks associated with the Company's by-product metal derivative strategies. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this document, see the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2011, as well as the Company's other filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements and information. Marc Legault, a Qualified Person and the Company's Vice-President, Project Development, reviewed the technical information disclosed herein. For a detailed breakdown of the Company's reserve and resource position see the July 18th, 2012 press release on the Company's website. That press release also lists the Qualified Persons for each project.
About Peak Resources
Peak is developing the Ngualla Project, a potentially low-cost, long term rare earth project located in south west Tanzania. Ngualla has been ranked as the fifth largest deposit in the world outside China, and the highest grade of the top seven.
Ngualla has a Mineral Resource of 170 million tonnes grading 2.24% of rare earth oxides (REO). Within the resource there is a highly weathered and near-surface zone estimated at 40 million tonnes at 4.07% REO, equivalent to 1.6 million tonnes of contained REO (see Table 1 below for resource classifications). Ngualla is also a bulk deposit which is largely outcropping. These attributes place the project among the world's most notable rare earth discoveries of recent years.
Ngualla is a potential low cost open pit mine due to its shallow outcropping high grade mineralisation. The initial sighter metallurgical test work to date has been completed using a sulphuric acid leach process route suggesting a relatively less complex, potentially cheaper capital outlay and shorter time to production.
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Contact:
Peak Resources Limited
Richard Beazley
Managing Director
Phone: +61-8-9200-5360
Email: richard@peakresources.com.au
MZ Group - North America
Derek Gradwell
SVP
Natural Resources
Phone: 949-259-4995
Email: dgradwell@mzgroup.us
Web: www.mzgroup.us
Figure 1: Maiden Mineral Resource block model coloured by REO % grade and drill holes (as at maiden Mineral Resource, 29th February 2012) on satellite image draped over topography, Ngualla Carbonatite.
