HALIFAX, July 17, 2012 /CNW/ - Namibia Rare Earths Inc. ("Namibia Rare Earths" or the "Company") (TSX: NRE) is pleased to report that results from the final eleven holes of the planned resource drilling program in Area 4 on the Lofdal Rare Earth Project in northwestern Namibia have been received and confirm continuity of the Main Zone to 250 vertical meters. The deposit also remains open at depth. These wide spaced step back holes all intersected the heavy rare earth-enriched ("HREE") Main Zone exactly as targeted, confirming the integrity of the geological model with the best intercept returning 17 meters @ 0.99% TREO with 92.3% (including 6 meters @ 2.22% TREO with 96.3% HREE) at a vertical depth of 175 meters. These results complete the planned resource drilling program in Area 4. All analytical and technical data has now been delivered to MSA Group of South Africa who will complete the initial 43-101 compliant resource scheduled for delivery in the third quarter 2012.
Results from these latest drill holes are confirming the continuity of the heavy rare earth enriched mineralization with similar grades and widths to previously reported results from Area 4. New results are highlighted by:
All holes were drilled at an azimuth of 345 degrees and inclined at -55 to -75 degrees. Intercept widths are reported as down the hole widths and are not necessarily true widths. Interpreted dips of the mineralized zones vary from 45 to 80 degrees and all holes were drilled at -55 degrees. A complete listing of all analytical results is provided in Table 1.
Don Burton, President of Namibia Rare Earths stated,
"These deeper holes in Area 4 attest to the potential of Lofdal to host a heavy rare earth deposit. The drill program was designed to provide a high level of confidence in delineating resources to a vertical depth of 60-75 meters with closely spaced drill holes and to then step back and chase the higher grade mineralization to depth. The geometry of the deposit is simple and consistent. There is clear potential to develop significant tonnage to 250 vertical meters and beyond. For purposes of delivering an initial resource in Q3 2012, it was necessary to select a cut-off date to provide MSA with a verified database. But this is by no means the limit of the ultimate resource in Area 4. Once the geological model has been finalized in 3D we will consider deeper holes in the 200-400 vertical meter range. Exploration drilling options outside of Area 4 are being examined to initiate the next drill program scheduled to begin in late July 2012. We also look forward to receiving updates on the progress from sorting and metallurgical test work by Mintek over the coming months as we work towards delivery of the preliminary metallurgical report in Q4 2012."
Resource Drilling Program
The mineral resource drilling program was carried out on the Area 4 heavy rare earth enriched1 target where the 2011 exploration drilling program had delineated significant rare earth mineralization over a 650 meter strike length (Figure 1). The drilling program focused on the first 75 vertical meters of the zone with 10 selected step back holes to 100-150 vertical meters. A single hole was completed targeting the deposit at a vertical depth of 250 meters bringing the total meters drilled for the initial Area 4 resource estimate to 9,520 meters of NQ diamond core with an additional 310 meters of HQ diamond core available for metallurgical test work. Surface sampling of 13 trenches comprising 870 meters was also completed and will be incorporated into the Area 4 resource database (Figure 2). Drilling services were provided by JGM Drilling and Exploration of Namibia. Down-hole geophysical surveys for rock density measurements have been completed on a number of drill holes by Gregory Symons Geophysics of Namibia.
These drill results and those previously released from Area 4 (Company press releases August 3, September 15, December 5, 2011, March 30 and June 4, 2012) have demonstrated that the zone exhibits exceptional heavy rare earth enrichment of 70 to 95% over drill widths of 3.0 to 28.0 meters with average grades of between 0.2 to 1.4% TREO. Within this zone there are higher grade intervals over drill widths of 0.35 to 7.0 meters with average grades of 1.0 to 6.2% TREO with up to 98% heavy rare earth enrichment. The deepest drill intercept was obtained from hole 4096 which intersected the heavy rare earth-enriched Main Zone as targeted at a vertical depth of 250 meters (Figure 3).
Sample preparation and analytical work for the drilling program is being provided by Activation Laboratories Ltd. (Windhoek, Namibia and Ancaster, Ontario) employing ICP-MS techniques suitable for rare earth element analyses and following strict internal QAQC procedures inserting blanks, standards and duplicates.
43-101 Resource Estimate
MSA Group of South Africa has been engaged to deliver a National Instrument 43-101 compliant resource estimate which is targeted to be completed in third quarter 2012. Independent Qualified Persons working with MSA on the project include H. Scott Swinden, PhD, P.Geo. of Swinden Geoscience Consultants Ltd. and Peter Siegfried, MSc, MAusIMM of GeoAfrica Prospecting Services cc who co-authored the qualifying technical report for the Company's initial public offering in 2011. Geological services are being provided by Remote Exploration Services Namibia (Pty) Ltd. under the supervision of Franck Bizouerne, Exploration Manager for Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Mineralogical studies and support are being provided by Dr. James Clarke of Applied Petrographics (USA) and samples are being submitted to Activation Laboratories Ltd. for preparation (Namibia) and analyses (Canada).
Metallurgical Test Program
As previously announced (Company press release July 3, 2012), Mintek has been engaged to undertake preliminary metallurgical test work on representatives samples obtained from two HQ diameter drill holes. These samples have now been shipped to Commodas Ultrasort in Germany where large scale sorting test work will be carried out with the objective of determining the optimum sorting technologies to upgrade the respective run of mine grades on a variety of crushes for high grade (>1% TREO) and low grade (0.5% TREO) samples. Subsequent metallurgical test work will be performed by Mintek in South Africa on the upgraded material to optimize concentrate grades and determine the optimum extraction flow sheet. The Mintek test work will undertake a broad scope of test work including but not necessarily limited to:
Donald M. Burton, P.Geo. and President of Namibia Rare Earths is the Company's Qualified Person and has reviewed and approved this press release.
About Namibia Rare Earths Inc.
Namibia Rare Earths Inc. is developing a portfolio of mineral exploration projects in Namibia and is currently focused on the accelerated development of the Lofdal Rare Earths Project. The Company completed a CDN$28.75 million initial public offering and Toronto Stock Exchange listing in April, 2011 and is well funded to carry out its development program. The common shares of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "NRE".
Please click here for figures and tables: http://files.newswire.ca/985/namibia.pdf
NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED
THE CONTENT OF THIS RELEASE
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1 As per industry norms heavy rare earths ("HREE") and their oxide equivalents ("HREO") comprise europium (Eu), gadolinium (Gd), terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), holmium (Ho), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), ytterbium (Yb), lutetium (Lu) and yttrium (Y). Light rare earths ("LREE") and their oxide equivalents ("LREO") comprise lanthanum (La), cerium (Ce), praseodymium (Pr), neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm). Total rare earths ("TREE") and their oxide equivalent ("TREO") comprise HREE+LREE (HREO+LREO). "Heavy rare earth enrichment" is the ratio of HREE:TREE or HREO:TREO expressed as a percentage. Ratios are calculated from source data and may vary from use of rounded numbers in tables.
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/07/17/20120717_C8627_DOC_EN_16258.pdf
Namibia Rare Earths Inc.
Don Burton, President
Tel: +01 (902) 835-8760/ Fax: +01 (902) 835-8761
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.NamibiaRareEarths.com
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