Afri-Can Marine Minerals has received the final report on the sampling program conducted in December, 2001, on Block J in Namibia. The prime objective of the report by R.W. (Dick) Foster and K. Lord was to determine the geology and potential of the most prospective areas. The report concludes that the three main features cover approximately 10 million square metres and that untested areas amount to approximately 25 million square metres. The conclusions are as follows.
Analysis of results
The qualitative sampling program achieved its main objective of proving that diamonds are present in Block J. The program also revealed that some areas have the potential to contain diamonds in economic concentrations. The program results have thus vindicated the decision to proceed with a sampling program based on the recommendations of Afri-Can’s experienced consultants resulting from the detailed geophysical survey completed in 2001.
As reported in Stockwatch on Feb. 7, 2002, 23 diamonds were recovered from 338 samples and in spite of the fact that the sample size was very small for sampling marine diamond deposits (2.1 square metres), two of the samples recovered more than one diamond. This is very significant as it proves that concentrations of diamonds occur in some places well in excess of normal background concentrations present along and offshore off the west coast of Namibia.
The sediment patches that were proved to be diamondiferous span the whole length of the lease area, approximately 45 kilometres, from south to north. The total area of the sediment patches shown to be diamondiferous is approximately 10 million square metres. Furthermore, geophysical results suggest that additional similar sediment patches amount to approximately 25 million square metres but these were not tested by sampling in the program.
The three main features are known as features No. 8, No. 6 and No. 17.
Feature No. 8 is a palaeo-surf zone feature that extends over an area of 11.7 million square metres, of which two million square metres have been proven to contain weakly cemented diamondiferous conglomerate. The gravels found in feature No. 8 contain abundant classic “Orange River suite of exotic pebbles” such as jaspers, agates, episodite and banded iron stone, which, in such anomalous quantities, are important indicators of the presence of diamonds. Feature No. 8 stands at 125 metres below present sea level and is characterized by the presence of large elongated accumulations of large slabs of local bedrock, for which the term “gravel waves” has been coined. Afri-Can is the first company after Namdeb (joint venture between the Namibian government and De Beers) to have discovered a gravel wave deposit.
Feature No. 6 is an aeolian/fluvial feature covering 3.69 million square metres of which 3.1 million square metres have been proven to contain diamondiferous gravels. The geology of this feature appears similar to that currently mined by Diamond Fields (Marshall Forks) and Namco (feature No. 19). Feature No. 6 stands at about 105 metres below sea level and is an assemblage of valleys and depressions, which would have been exposed when the sea level was at -125 metres during the formation of feature No. 8, but would have then been flooded as the sea level rose, thus creating shallow marine or lagoon environments.
Feature No. 17 is a series of back beach valleys characterized by the presence of gravel wave formations. This feature covers an area of 700,000 square metres and has been proven to contain diamondiferous gravels. Seaward of the beach is an area designated as feature No. 16, that contains extensive gravel waves and forms part of the possible 25 million-square-metre extension of diamondiferous ground.
Recommendations for further work
While it must be emphasized that the program was very preliminary, the results of the exploratory sampling suggest that Block J has the potential to contain a significant deposit of diamonds. This means that the results strongly justify a program of quantitative follow-up sampling work. It is recommended that the first round of follow-up work is restricted to the aeolian/fluvial valleys and the surf zone environments (features No. 6 and No. 8), as these currently appear to hold the greatest potential. The goal of the proposed program would be to:
determine the continuity of mineralization along and across the features;
establish sufficient quantitative data on the features to support an inferred resource; and
establish preliminary data on potential mining economics.
The recommended program calls for the collection of a minimum of 340 x 10 square metres of samples, which is anticipated will take approximately 90 days. The sampling program layout and budget will be completed within five weeks and the contractor will be named soon after. The sampling schedule will be determined with the contractor and shareholders will be kept advised of developments.
Mr. Foster is an independent consultant with extensive experience in the marine diamond industry. He worked for De Beers for 32 years before retiring in 1996. With De Beers Marine he held the position of geological manager for 11 years and he was involved extensively in the management of exploration and mining programs. He led the teams that discovered the major diamond deposits on the mid-continental shelves off South Africa and Namibia. Since 1996, Mr. Foster has been active in providing geological consulting and exploration management services.
K. Lord, exploration manager of Afri-Can, is a geologist with 19 years of experience in marine diamond exploration.
Block J is the subject of a joint venture agreement between Afri-Can and Woduna Mining Holding Pty. Ltd., a Namibian empowerment group. In terms of the agreement Afri-Can has the right to acquire a controlling interest of 70 per cent. Currently, Afri-Can owns 50 per cent of the concession.
WARNING: The company relies upon litigation protection for “forward-looking” statements.
