![[Tanzania] Armadale Capital begins exploration at the Mahenge Liandu graphite project](armadale_graphite-project_tanzania.jpg)
[Tanzania] Armadale Capital begins exploration at the Mahenge Liandu graphite project
Armadale, the AIM quoted investment company focused on natural resource projects in Africa has announced that the exploration and development programme at the Mahenge Liandu Graphite Project in Tanzania is now well underway for 2018.
Nick Johansen, Director of Armadale said: “We are pleased at the progress we are making in developing Mahenge Liandu and hope to see an upgrade to the mineral resource estimate by the end of February, which we believe will provide investors, and potential end users, with a better sense of the size and scale of our Mahenge Liandu project. In addition to proving up the resource potential of the Project, these results will feed into the ongoing Scoping Study, which remains on track for completion in Q1 2018, marking an important milestone in the advancement of our Project. In support of this development, we are delighted to confirm that the environmental and social studies have commenced earlier than expected. With these results due in the near term and a new exploration programme commencing as soon as the weather permits, we are expediting project development on all fronts. 2018 is set to be incredibly active and we look forward to regularly updating shareholders on progress in the forthcoming weeks and months.”
An independent Environmental Social Impact Assessment (‘ESIA’) report, which examines the social and environmental impacts of the proposed mine development at Mahenge Liandu, has now commenced.
The report, together with a feasibility study over the Project and a relocation action plan (‘RAP’), are the key steps needed to secure the granting of mining licences over the Project. The study is being conducted by local environmental consults Enviromine.
Armadale plans to commence a detailed feasibility study and RAP on completion of the ongoing Scoping Study, which is due in Q1 2018, allowing for mining lease applications to be submitted later in 2018.
The exploration programme continues to progress with the completion of ground based Differential Global Positioning System surveys, as well as a more detailed drone survey covering the proposed mining area. The results from these surveys will aid mine planning and resource estimation work, which is currently nearing completion.
A Scoping Study, incorporating the updated resource model, is on-track to be completed in Q1 2018 with an initial stage 1 throughput of 400,000tpa expanding to 800,000tpa in stage 2. The study is being completed by experienced Perth based engineering firm BatteryLimits.
A programme of trenching designed to confirm continuity of the deposit has now been successfully completed showing extensions to the known mineralisation to the north and good continuity between drill lines.
The next phase of exploration will focus on diamond drilling, which will aid in defining the product quality and assist with marketing of the high-quality graphite concentrates from the deposit. Negotiations with the drilling company, Coreworthy Drilling, are now advanced with drilling expected to commence at the conclusion of the wet season.
Ongoing mapping designed to help with the exploration drilling programme for 2018 has identified wide zones on mineralisation to the west of the Mahenge Liandu deposit. No sampling has yet been conducted but will be completed prior to drill testing that will make up part of the 2018 drilling programme.
It is noted that the Mahenge Liandu deposit remains open to the north south and down dip of current drilling indicating potential for further expansion.
